Big Forest Fire at Lake Tahoe

I turned on the TV a little bit ago and found out there's a big fire burning up at Lake Tahoe right now. It started this afternoon and within about 5 hours has already grown to over 500 acres with at least 50 homes burned. The winds are really crazy today so they had to ground all the air tankers. That's very bad...those air tankers can do a lot to try and stop a fire's fast progress by dropping retardent on houses and ahead of the flames. It's only June...this is too early for big fires up in the high country! But we had a super dry winter so even though it's not very hot yet, the forests are very dry. What a nightmare...all those poor people who've lost their homes. Please everyone send your prayers and good thoughts!

That's so sad. :( And here we've been dealing with the effects of too much rain lately. I wish it could even out and everyone could have the right amount to stave off floods, fires, and droughts.
Hopefully they'll get it under control soon...

I understand what the folks are dealing with :( Although i'm in aussie, I can assure you we had some nasty bush fires in our summer. Country Victoria was the hardest hit.

I do hope the firefighters get a break with some rain or a wind change.

If you see any extra rain, send it to Australia please.

Be safe

C

50 homes?? OY! So scary. I do love that area, and I hate to see it ravaged by fire. It looks like it was human caused too! Arggh!! :mad:

CNN reports that another 500 homes are threatened there; and that the Alaska fire has destroyed 30 cabins and 40 other structures, and there are another 600 homes threatened there.

I agree, this is way too early in the season for such huge fires in the mountains and up north. Yikes! CWR - are you in Anchorage?? You must see smoke? I hope you and all the TE'ers in both areas are totally safe. If they tell you to evacuate; please do!! And report in as soon as you can, we're sending our positive energy...

Sending drenching rain on butterfly wings.....

Hugs,
~T~

I live on the north end of Lake Tahoe, about 50 miles from the fire. Right now the entire basin is filled with smoke. You can taste it in the air even at this distance.

The news this morning said it was 40% contained and that 240 homes were lost. The fire is "only" 2700 acres. That's tiny for one of our wildfires, but it's in a developed area. So far, many thanks, no lives have been lost.

I've spoken to someone who lives down there. She said the community response has been tremendous. The hotels are taking in people whose homes have been destroyed. There are people taking in animals and donating food for them. The whole area is really taking care of it's own.

It's so scary to those of us who live anywhere around the lake. It could be us next. It was a very dry winter after a big, wet one last year. There's a ton of underbrush and small trees that will burn given any chance.

I have a very dear friend who was camping in Richardson when her 2 year old forced them home (still not too far away...in the Gardnerville area) with her two-year molars peaking through and a fever. I was so glad to hear they were ok!

Some friends they were camping with were out on a bike ride and got stuck on the outside of the fire (not sure of the logistical details) ...they had to bunk down in a shelter with their bikes till they were taken back to their truck...

All in my circle of friends are OK but my heart goes out to those who have lost! But it is good to hear no lives have been taken!!!

wishing wet and smokeless thoughts to you Tahoe friends....

Just an update:

They got it up to 44% contained yesterday even with a setback when the fire took off in a different direction.

Still (Yay!) no one hurt although 2 firefighters had to deploy their "shake and bakes".

Unfortunately, the winds are supposed to pick up today - 20 mph sustained and 35-50mph gusts.

Keep your fingers crossed for the firefighters and all of the folks who live down there.

The community support has really been HUGE. Even Reno is having a big clothing/food/money drive. A bunch of people from work have chipped in and I'm going down to Costco tomorrow to get a bunch of socks, underwear, etc. to donate.