That’s why crews are also banking on topography to assist: The other side of the ridge is a downhill slope that leads into the Tahoe basin, and wildfires don’t move downhill as quickly as they move up, Hunter said.Įven so, authorities issued evacuation warnings for communities within the southern end of the Tahoe Basin. “The granite gives us the benefit of less fuels, so it slows the rate of spread for the fire and gives us the chance to make a direct attack, potentially,” he said.īut while the ridge could help slow the fire’s progress, it’s not impossible for the flames to jump it - especially if winds pick up again. “We’re focusing a lot of efforts up here, a lot of resources on this side of the fire.”Īs he spoke, simmering flames on the forest floor behind him caught a gust of wind and roared up the spine of a nearby tree. “Our winds are going to be lower today than they were yesterday, but we also have high temperatures and decreased humidity,” said Jason Hunter, a Caldor fire information officer. But climate-driven wildfire behavior has been so erratic this year that nearly anything is possible. “It’s just the extreme fire behavior that we’ve had over the last few weeks has made it difficult for us really to get ahead of the thing.”īut in the stand to save Lake Tahoe, officials said there are several factors working in their favor - including changing topography, slowing winds and a large granite ridge between the town and the flames. “We’re trying to keep it west of the 89, and definitely trying to keep it from Lake Tahoe,” said Rosie Smith, an assistant engine operator with the U.S. Charred branches and fallen rocks dotted the roadside, and small spot fires seemed agitated by even the slightest hint of wind.ĭespite the eye-burning smoke, crews were working fast and hard with one major goal in mind: to prevent the massive blaze from sweeping down into the basin of South Lake Tahoe. Heading west on Highway 50 from the tiny town of Strawberry - toward the fire’s northeastern edge - was an exercise in blind faith, as even the nearest of pine trees were obscured by sickly yellow smoke. Fueled by low humidity and gusty winds, the Caldor fire on Friday continued to close in on South Lake Tahoe, where the threat of the fire has triggered evacuation warnings and sent residents and vacationers packing as toxic smoke converges over the region.
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