NV Energy is replacing power poles at Lake Tahoe and providing firefighting with helicopters

Incline Village, Nevada (News 4 & Fox 11) – A noisy project has just started in the slope area, where firefighting work is being carried out using helicopters.

This week, NV Energy began replacing utility poles and clearing large logs and brush that could pose a fire hazard to the Incline Village area. The noise will continue for approximately five weeks for people at Lake Tahoe.

This work will rebuild a four-mile section of power line between Hidden Beach Plaza and Thunderbird Lodge near Incline.

The emergency services work in steep mountain terrain.

According to NV Energy, removing the old utility poles and eliminating hot spots creates a healthier forest.

Trails and roads in the area may be temporarily closed to ensure everyone's safety while helicopters fly around and other equipment is used on the project.

Some of the clearing of the trees and brush is difficult for ground crews, so helicopters are required.

“Sometimes this happens in very rough areas that we cannot reach by truck. So in such cases a helicopter is required to fly out these trees. In other cases, when we rebuild the track, if it is an area that we cannot reach by truck, we have to carry out the construction by flying in the poles and removing the old ones” said Danyale Howard, director of the NV Energy Natural Disaster Protection Plan.

There are many homes in this area and residents will have to contend with the noise of helicopters hovering over their property for weeks.

“I know they did a lot of work on the trees around power lines etc and then had to move them with helicopters, which is definitely disruptive with things like traffic and things like that. But usually things need to be done around here. “Even if it's a little disruptive, at least we live in a beautiful place and we can deal with it,” said Evan Roa, the owner of Tunnel Creek Cafe.

An Incline resident told News 4/Fox 11 that they dealt with this noise last year when helicopters were used to fight fires on another project.