Tahoe Fire Update: Some Destroyed, Some Spared By Blaze's Fury

Jun 25, 08:02 PM

Current Headlines: By Mike Zapler, Rod Foo and Leslie Griffy, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.

Jun. 25--Firefighters near South Lake Tahoe are struggling to contain a wildfire that has already burned 173 homes and scorched more than 2,500 acres. Authorities are warning that hundreds of additional homes may be threatened if winds pick up this afternoon.

Here is the latest on the fire:

3:15 p.m.: Devastation highlights caprices of fire

Behind the fire lines, there is devastation everywhere and an indication of how neighboring homes have different fates.

On one side of Lake Tahoe Boulevard near Clear View Drive, a charred refrigerator and stove are surrounded by rubble. Two brick chimneys are also visible, the only remnants of other homes. Also burned out are a Jeep and sport-utility vehicle. Nearby there are smoldering brush fires. Smoke is everywhere.

But on the other side of Lake Tahoe Boulevard sit three undamaged houses.

1:42 p.m.: Heavy smoke grounds air attack

Officials say they hope heavy smoke will dissipate, allowing air tankers and helicopters to rejoin the fight against the Angora fire. But if the wind kicks up too much and the blaze works it's way into the forest canopy, officials estimate it would threaten another 250 to 500 homes.

The light wind is a blessing for the 500 firefighters because it is pushing away smoke that has kept helicopters from operating.

Fire officials have assessed 173 homes damaged by the blaze with most suffering total or major damage, officials said. Nine suffered moderate damage and another 17 escaped with only minor damage.

12:53 p.m.: South Bay firefighters not yet called to help

While state officials said that firefighters from around the state would likely be called into help douse the blaze, a Cal Fire spokesman in the South Bay said none of their crews have been called up yet.

"We've got people calling in saying they want to go and people calling into explain why they can't go," spokesman Ed Schell said. "But we still haven't received a request."

Noon: Lake Tahoe's worst fire in at least 100 years, officials say

State officials called the blaze the worst in the Lake Tahoe area in at least 100 years.

At a news conference this morning, officials said the area is a nightmarish combination of urban living spaces and forest.

It is likely the worst blaze in terms of acreage charred and homes destroyed in the Tahoe basin over the past 100 years, they said.

With dry conditions throughout the state, officials noted that all a fire of this sort needed was wind, fuel sources -- like dead trees and brush -- and an ignition source.

For homes not in the immediate fire zone, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi recommended that home owners trim back brush and dead trees 100 feet from their houses, as required by law.

"It looks like a nuclear bomb went off. It's Armageddon," said Jordan Morgenstern, who has his fire footage on his Web site: http://www.webtvlaketahoe.com .

11:30 a.m.: Federal funds on the way

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi signed a state emergency proclamation late this morning, a move designed to help free up federal funding to fight the wildfire.

U.S. Department of Forestry firefighters are already on scene helping control the blaze and moves have already been made to free up federal grants that could cover 75 percent of the state's cost of fighting the fire, according to the state's office Emergency Services.

Henry Renteria, director of the office, also said officials declared an emergency evacuation for some people living near the blaze.

10:45 a.m.: Firefighters keeping fire outside city limits -- for now

About 225 homes have been destroyed by the Angora fire and another 400 homes have been evacuated, authorities said at a morning press briefing.

Ten helicopters have been employed to fight the 2500-acre, wind-whipped inferno that came perilously close to the South Lake Tahoe city limits, igniting tall pines that exploded into flames like Roman candles. Sunday night, firefighters threw up "a stand" to protect the South Lake Tahoe High School as flames, for a time, threatened it.

"It almost came into town last night and this morning," said South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Martin Hale.

Gusts reached up to 50 mph overnight. But this morning, the winds had tapered off, helping fire crews.

"Right now, the winds are cooperating and we're quite optimistic," said Russ Dow, division chief with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department.

But if the winds pick up, the city will be in jeopardy again, authorities said.

This morning, residents woke up to see cars and roofs blighted with ash that floated like snowflakes. A smoky haze obscured the mountain scenery.

10:16 a.m.: Officials say homes on entire streets destroyed

Authorities have asked everyone evacuated from the fire zone to head to a theater at Lake Tahoe Community College so they can begin putting together a list of destroyed property.

The Tahoe Daily Tribune reported on its Web site that a list of homes either standing or destroyed is being compiled by state and county officials.

The newspaper said authorities are asking people who had homes in the evacuated area but are currently out of town to call (530) 541-4660, extension 336.

"There are some homes and entire streets of homes that have burned down, even down to the mail boxes," said El Dorado County District 5 Supervisor Norma Santiago told the newspaper. "Many of these areas are hard to identify and that's why we need everyone who lived in the evacuated areas to come to the college."

Santiago said there are about 200 address already on the list.

7:46 a.m.: Authorities close Highways 50 and 89 to Tahoe

Authorities have blocked off highways leading to the Angora Fire burning southwest of Lake Tahoe this morning.

As of just before 6:30 a.m., Highway 50 is closed in El Dorado County east of the Sly Park Road exit in Pollock Pines to the state line. In addition, Highway 89 is closed at Picketts Junction and Luther Pass.

To reach the north shore of Lake Tahoe, drivers must take eastbound Interstate 80 to southbound Highway 267.

7:30 a.m.: Air attack hampered by dense smoke

The Tahoe Daily Tribune reports that a blanket of thick smoke has delayed a planned air assault on the fire.

Forest Service spokesman Todd Chaponot told the newspaper air attacks will begin soon.

There will be at least eight to 10 helicopters on the fire today and and several air tankers.

There are 750 firefighters now on the fire, with another 400 firefighters on the way, he added.

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