Lake Tahoe Fire
A wildfire near Lake Tahoe forced hundreds of residents to flee flames that destroyed more than 200 buildings, and fouled the lake's clear waters with falling ash. Many hotels offered free rooms to families, as no injuries were reported.
The blaze has burned over 2,500 acres; fire officials said the blaze was about 50 percent contained. The U.S. Forest Service expects full containment of the fire by Thursday. About 1,000 people had evacuated from the path of the flames, and authorities feared up to 500 other houses could be threatened in this resort area along the California-Nevada state line.
More than 700 firefighters were on hand, but plans to send up airborne tankers and helicopters to drop water and retardant over the heavily wooded, parched terrain were scrapped because of low visibility from the thick smoke.
Along the lake's southern shore, a layer of black ash surrounds boat docks, raising fears the fire could have disastrous economic and environmental consequences for a community heavily dependent on the lake's tourism industry.
California officials declared a state of emergency. The National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory warning people from South Lake Tahoe to Carson City, Nev., that heavy ash was making it difficult to see and breathe.
June 26, 2007 6:41 AM | Category: Cleanup