Thick smoke from the Caldor fire enveloped the city of South Lake Tahoe, which was all but deserted during a summer week usually bustling with tourists. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Flames raced across treetops and through drought-stricken vegetation as firefighters scrambled Wednesday to keep a growing California wildfire from reaching a resort city at the southern tip of Lake Tahoe after evacuation orders were expanded to neighboring Nevada. Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Office of Emergency Services. Another 40 have been recorded as damaged. At least 669 structures have been reported as destroyed, including 486 homes, though the count is ongoing as conditions allow assessments. More than 400 fire engines are on the fire, nearly 100 bulldozers and over 70 water hauling tenders. Numerous airplane tankers are assisting when smoky conditions allow them to fly. About 25 helicopters are dropping water and retardant on the Caldor fire. But states across the country are stretched for resources as many rescue personnel have been sent to help with Hurricane Ida recovery. In all, 15,000 fire personnel are working on fires statewide, including the still-burning Dixie fire. Army was also training about 250 soldiers to work as hand crews, who typically hike into wildland fire areas and remove rocks, leaves, bushes and other flammable material using shovels and chainsaws. There are more than 3,900 personnel on the lines, with firefighters coming from as far away as Wisconsin and West Virginia to aid the firefight. 14 near the community of Grizzly Flats, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Lake Tahoe, had ballooned to 312 square miles (808 square kilometers) by Tuesday night. The Caldor fire, named for the road where it started on Aug. The Caldor Fire has burned over 165,000 acres, destroyed over 650 structures and is currently 13 percent contained.Facts about the wildfire threatening communities around Lake Tahoe at the California-Nevada border:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |