INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – Nine months after a fireworks barge capsized in Lake Tahoe near Incline Village, the debris has finally been removed from the lake.
The barge, along with the fireworks on board, sank after a windstorm on July 4, 2025, capsized the boat.
While a lot of the work to remove the debris was done behind the scenes, filling insurance claims, finding contractors, etc., crews made a big push from March 13-30 to remove the biggest items. Ski Beach was closed during the removal operation.
The crews started by pulling out firework debris and smaller debris items. The barge was broken into three pieces, then divers attached airbags to the pieces to bring them closer to the surface.
According to Kevin Moore of Kevin Moore Associates, the company contracted to lead the barge removal, the operation was a technical one.
Parts of the barge sank to 160 feet. The depth, combined with cold water and high altitude, meant divers were only able to dive for 20 minutes at a time.
“Parker Diving Service and Big Valley Divers have been tenacious in what they’ve been doing,” said Moore. “It’s been very difficult and challenging.”
A portable decompression tank was set up at the beach for the health and safety of the divers.
After the barge pieces were raised closer to the surface, crews began pumping water out of the barges and equipment dragged the barge pieces closer to shore.
Finally, on Saturday, March 28, the barge pieces were removed from the lake using heavy-duty cranes operated by Auto Care Towing.
While many locals have been disappointed in the early arrival of Spring, the calm weather was essential in the success of the operation.
“We got lucky the last two weeks. There were several days where we had the wind pick up and the divers couldn’t go down, so yes, we lucked out big time [with the sunny weather],” said Moore.
Moore acknowledged the community lost access to the beach on some of the warmest and sunniest days and said he appreciated the community’s sacrifice.
The barge pieces were moved to a storage yard near Alpine Meadows.
Ski Beach is now reopened to the public.
