NV Energy replacing power poles at Lake Tahoe and doing fire mitigation using helicopters

Incline Village, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — A noisy project just started in the incline area which involves fire mitigation work using helicopters.

This week, NV Energy started replacing power poles and clearing large logs and brush that could pose a fire hazard to the Incline Village area. The noise will stick around for those at Lake Tahoe for about five weeks.

This work will rebuild a four mile stretch of power line between Hidden Beach Plaza to Thunderbird Lodge near Incline.

Crews are working in steep mountainous terrain.

NV Energy says removing the old power poles and clearing fire ignitions create a healthier forest.

Trails and roads in the area might be temporarily closed to keep everyone safe while the helicopters fly around, and other work equipment are used on the project.

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

"Sometimes that's in very rugged areas that we can't access by truck. So, in those cases, it does take a helicopter to fly those trees out. In other cases, when we're rebuilding the line again, if it's an area that we can't access by truck, we'll have to perform that construction by flying in the poles, removing the old ones," said Danyale Howard who is the director of the NV Energy Natural Disaster Protection Plan.

There are many houses in that area and residents will have to deal with the noise of helicopters hovering over their property for weeks.

"I know they've been doing a lot of tree work around power lines and stuff and then having to use helicopters to move them, which is definitely disrupting, like traffic and stuff like that. But stuff has to be done around here usually. So even though it's a little disrupting, at least we live in a beautiful place, and we can deal with it," said Evan Roa who is the owner of Tunnel Creek Cafe.

One Incline resident told News 4/ Fox 11 that they've dealt with this noise before last year when another project used helicopters for fire mitigation.