Firefighters are continuing to battle the Caldor Fire early Tuesday, attempting to save homes from the destructive path of the raging wildfire in the South Lake Tahoe area.
As of Tuesday morning, the fire had grown to 191,607 acres and was 16% contained, according to an update from CAL FIRE.
Flames remained active throughout the northeastern and eastern part of the fire area due to poor humidity recovery as of Tuesday. Sparks remained active as well, covering distances of up to three-quarters of a mile.
Evacuation warnings became orders in South Lake Tahoe on Monday, as the Caldor Fire jumped Highway 50. Red Flag Warnings are now in effect around Lake Tahoe through Sept. 1. High winds combined with the difficult terrain and dry forest floors have fueled the fire’s advance.
The Caldor Fire and Dixie Fire have dashed the conviction that no fire would be able to cross the Sierras. Both fires have crested the Sierra Nevada. No fire had crested the mountain range prior to this month, CAL FIRE Director Thom Porter said a briefing Monday.
"We need to be really cognizant that there is fire activity happening in California that we have never seen before," Porter said.
At first the evacuation order on Monday clogged the roads out of town. By Tuesday morning, the area became deserted. Shopping centers and casinos normally rife with tourists were empty. Steets became quiet and restaurants and businesses closed.
So far, the fire has destroyed 482 homes, and is threatening another 33,679 structures.
According to CAL FIRE’s latest update, the fire is not expected to be fully contained until at least Sept. 13.
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