Lake Tahoe ski resort fires snow-making cannons as 'big wall of fire' rages and large chunks of red-hot ash rain down on evacuated tourist destination
A ski resort near South Lake Tahoe rolled out its snow-making machines to help stave off the fast-spreading Caldor Firefight as large chunks of ash rained down on the mostly desolate tourist destination.
Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort manager John Rice, who has managed the 2,000-acre resort in Twin Bridges for nearly three decades, told the San Francisco Chronicle that for the past two weeks he watched the wildfire slowly approach the property until it finally reached the resort on Sunday as he watched from the roof of his office.
'It came in from the west side, almost a bulls-eye right towards us, this big wall of fire,' he said.
But Rice and his co-manager were not caught unprepared and did what they could in the days leading up to Sunday, including taping up air ducts to block embers, moving heavy equipment into the resort's parking lots to spare them from damage.
They also made smart use of cannon-shaped water hydrants that are usually used for snowmaking and turned them towards the resort's structures, dousing them with water to keep them from catching on fire, the Chronicle reported.
That coupled with help from a 12-man contract crew made up of retired Cal Fire firefighters who helped Rice scrape the landscape of dry materials, chainsaw away branches and drench building exteriors with fire-retardant gel, allowed the resort to survive the passing wildfire intact.
'If I didn't get that crew, it'd be a different story,' Rice told the Chronicle.
Snow making machines are used to spray water on the slopes of Heavenly Mountain Resort located on the California Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort manager John Rice utilized all the equipment at his disposal, including a snow making machine, to spare the resort from damages from the fast-spreading Caldor Fire
Rice used cannon-shaped water hydrants that are usually used for snowmaking and turned them towards the resort's structures, dousing them with water to keep them from catching on fire
Ash nearly the size of a quarter from Caldor Fire has pelted the homes of South Lake Tahoe residents
Dawn Svymbersky stands in the middle of Highway 50 as evacuee traffic stands still in South Lake Tahoe
Residents are stuck in gridlock while attempting to evacuate as the Caldor fire approaches in South Lake Tahoe, California on August 30, 2021
Fire burns along eastern side of Christmas Valley during the Caldor Fire on Tuesday as firefighters continue to try to quell the fast-spreading Caldor Fire
El Dorado county firefighters work stop the spread of Caldor Fire flames on Snowflake Drive at Christmas Valley on Tuesday
South Lake Tahoe resident Jeff Hodge stands by his car outside of a Red Cross evacuation site in Truckee, California on Tuesday after being evacuated from his home the day before
Fire crews arrive to South Lake Tahoe as emergency officials continue to battle the quickly approaching Caldor Fire
WILDFIRE UPDATE: The raging #CaldorFire continues to threaten communities near #LakeTahoe, seen here last evening from @NOAA's #GOES17¿¿¿. At last report, the #wildfire had grown to 186,500+ acres and the governors of Calif. and Nev. have declared states of emergency. #CAwx #NVwx pic.twitter.com/K6qqs5KB8b
— NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) August 31, 2021
WILDFIRE UPDATE: The raging #CaldorFire continues to threaten communities near #LakeTahoe, seen here last evening from @NOAA's #GOES17¿¿¿. At last report, the #wildfire had grown to 186,500+ acres and the governors of Calif. and Nev. have declared states of emergency. #CAwx #NVwx pic.twitter.com/K6qqs5KB8b
Rice's valiant battle comes as large chunks of ash continue to rain down on South Lake Tahoe on Tuesday after most of the city's 22,000 residents packed up their cars and fled for their lives ahead of the fast-spreading Caldor Fire.
After burning for two weeks through the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the wildfire raged toward the now-deserted summer destination, blanketing the area with smoke and chunks of ash the size of a quarter.
South Lake Tahoe residents took to social media to show the unusually large chunks that have fallen on their homes and filled the usually pristine skies with noxious smoke.
The wildfire crisis in California has been so intense the U.S. Forest Service announced that as of Tuesday nearly all national forests in the state will be closed through September 17 for public safety reasons.
'We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,' Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien said in a statement. 'It is especially hard with the approaching Labor Day weekend, when so many people enjoy our national forests.'
On Monday afternoon, the ferocious wildfire crossed state highways 50 and 89 and burned mountain cabins as it churned down slopes toward the Tahoe Basin.
Jarring images show multiple cabins near Echo Summit consumed by flames.
Christian Stevens, who lives in a lean-to he fixed up, waits for a ride out of South Lake Tahoe on Tuesday ss the Caldor Fire approaches the resort city
A woman walks her dog pas the checkpoint in South Lake Tahoe which is under a mandatory evacuation order as the Caldor Fire approaches
National Guardsmen staff a checkpoint in South Lake Tahoe, which is mostly evacuated, on Tuesday as the massive Caldor Fire approaches
The chimney stands in the burnt remains of a home that was destroyed by the Caldor Fire on Tuesday in Twin Bridges, Californiatwin
A burnt tree lays on the remains of a home that was destroyed by the Caldor Fire in Twin Bridges, California
Flames totally consume a home as the Caldor fire pushes into the popular California resort town of South Lake Tahoe
Flames rip across a hillside behind a building donning an American flag as the Caldor fire pushes into South Lake Tahoe
High winds push California wildfire within 20 miles of smoke-drenched Lake Tahoe: Hospital evacuated and tourists and residents flee ahead of Labor Day weekend
Smoke from the Caldor Fire fills the sky above Lake Tahoe's Zephyr Cove in Douglas County, Nevada on Friday
Flames consume multiple homes as the Caldor fire pushes its way towards South Lake Tahoe, California
On Monday, all 22,000 residents of the city of South Lake Tahoe were issued evacuation orders, after the widespread Caldor Fire experienced a 'rapid spread,' according to Cal Fire
Fire crews ride on the back of a truck as they prepare to battle the Caldor Fire on August 30
The new evacuation order was issued for Tahoe Keys, Tahoe Island, Al Tahoe, Sierra Tract, Bijou, Tahoma, Fallen Leaf, Pioneer, Gardner Mountain and Trimmer
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
The Sacramento Bee reported that at least four cabins were on fire Sunday afternoon on the north side of Highway 50 near where Aspen Creek Road intersects with the highway as the wildfire inched closer to South Lake Tahoe.
As the fire nears the resort area, many multi-million dollar homes are in the path of the dangerous flames.
According to realtor.com there are currently 300 homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe ranging in price from $35,000 all the way up to $41 million with the median listing price at $726,000.
Over the course of two weeks the massive Caldor Fire has burned through 191,607 acres as of Tuesday morning and remains 16 percent contained after it began on August 14 four miles south of Grizzly Flats and two miles east of Omo Ranch in the Eldorado National Forest, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.
The popular vacation haven, normally filled with tens of thousands of summer tourists at this time of year, is now clogged with fleeing cars loaded with camping gear and furniture.
Flames are now within just a few miles of South Lake Tahoe and residents just over the state line in Douglas County, Nevada were under evacuation warnings.
On Monday a new evacuation order was issued for Tahoe Keys, Tahoe Island, Al Tahoe, Sierra Tract, Bijou, Tahoma, Fallen Leaf, Pioneer, Gardner Mountain and Trimmer.
'There is fire activity happening in California that we have never seen before. The critical thing for the public to know is evacuate early,' Cal Fire director Chief Thom Porter said. 'For the rest of you in California: Every acre can and will burn someday in this state.'
Cal Fire Chief Chris Anthony said that destructive wildfires, which art one point were an 'anomaly', have unfortunately become the norm because of extremely dry conditions in the state caused by climate change.
'As many of you are aware, we are seeing larger and more destructive fires burn throughout California on a much more frequent basis,' Anthony said. 'Historically, we've used the terms such as anomaly, unprecedented, or extreme to describe the wildfires that we have seen burn throughout the state over the last 20 years. These terms are no longer appropriate given the clear trends associated with drought, changing climate.'
'Unfortunately, these factors contribute to the resistance to control that we're seeing with the Caldor Fire,' he added. 'Many people, including myself, consider the Tahoe Basin a unique treasure and a natural wonder of the world whether you live here full time, own a second home here, visit the basin during family vacations, or simply recreate here, there are simply hundreds of thousands of people who hold Tahoe dear to their heart.'
As residents flee the fast-approaching fire, remarkable images show flames burn through cabins and overwhelmed firefighters attempt to quell the fast-spreading flames.
The evacuation order was issued for El Dorado and Alpine County, according to a news release from Cal Fire
According to Cal Fire, the Caldor Fire now ranks 17th place in top 20 largest wildfires in California history as it currently remains only 16 percent contained
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
Three first responders tackling the blaze and two civilians have so far been injured, but there have been no reported fatalities.
Fire officials said they do not expect to fully contain the Caldor Fire until September 13th.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown.
According to Cal Fire, the Caldor Fire now ranks 17th place in top 20 largest wildfires in California history.
More than 15,000 firefighters are battling dozens of California blazes, including crews from Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia, said Mark Ghilarducci, director of California´s Office of Emergency Services.
About 250 active-duty soldiers were being trained in Washington state to help with the arduous work of clearing forest debris by hand.
The Caldor blaze that broke out August 14 has damaged 40 structures and destroyed 669, while leaving 33,000 structures under threat.
The new evacuation orders came after a Red Flag Warning went into effect at 11 am Monday for the Northern and Southern Cascades and is expected to remain in effect until Wednesday evening.
Firefighters remain on high alert as embers from the fire have been traveling far distances, passing containment lines and creating spot fires in areas three quarters of a mile to one mile away, WSJ reported.
Fire conditions also prompted patients from Barton Memorial Hospital to be evacuated, as emergency officials continued to expanded mandatory evacuation orders.
For those evacuating from the region, a Red Cross Shelter will be provided at the Douglas County Community Center in Gardnerville, Nevada, the release stated.
'The most important thing people can do now is get their go-bags ready and have a plan in place to evacuate should an evacuation order get extended,' city spokeswoman Lindsey Baker told CNN.
When speaking to KTVN, Clive Savacool, fire chief for South Tahoe, said the call for preparation came as the fire worsened and conditions are expected to intensify this week.
'The Caldor Fire has made a pretty big jump in the last few hours, so that's had a pretty big impact on the community and expansion of evacuations,' Savacool explained.
He said the winds, low humidity and low moisture are making the conditions 'very, very treacherous' for the fire and why it's expanding so quickly.
Crews dealt with a two-week old blaze they said was 'more aggressive than anticipated,' and continued to edge toward the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe.
'Today's been a rough day and there's no bones about it,' said Jeff Marsoleis, forest supervisor for El Dorado National Forest.
A few days ago, he thought crews could halt the Caldor Fire's eastern progress, but he said: 'today it let loose.'
Flames churned through mountains just a few miles southwest of the Tahoe Basin, where thick smoke sent tourists packing at a time when summer vacations would usually be in full swing ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
The new evacuation orders came after a Red Flag Warning went into effect at 11 am Monday for the Northern and Southern Cascades
Traffic backs up on Hwy 50 as people evacuate ahead of the Caldor Fire on August 30, 2021 in South Lake Tahoe, California
Traffic backs up on Hwy 50 as people evacuate ahead of the Caldor Fire on August 30, 2021 in South Lake Tahoe, California
South Lake Tahoe. A continuous stream of people leaving the city. @KQED @KQEDnews pic.twitter.com/ALe65Fx09x
— Ezra David Romero (@ezraromero) August 30, 2021
South Lake Tahoe. A continuous stream of people leaving the city. @KQED @KQEDnews pic.twitter.com/ALe65Fx09x
'To put it in perspective, we've been seeing about a half-mile of movement on the fire's perimeter each day for the last couple of weeks, and today, this has already moved at 2.5 miles on us, with no sign that it's starting to slow down,' said Cal Fire Division Chief Eric Schwab.
Some areas of the Northern California terrain are so rugged that crews had to carry fire hoses by hand from Highway 50 as they sought to douse spot fires caused by erratic winds.
The forecast did not offer optimism: triple-digit temperatures were possible and the extreme heat was expected to last several days. A red flag warning for critical fire conditions was issued for Monday and Tuesday across the Northern Sierra.
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
The Evans family pack up their home as they prepare to evacuate South Lake Tahoe during the Caldor Fire on Monday
Michael Posadas packs his truck while preparing to evacuate from South Lake Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort General Manager John Rice evacuates for the second time in two days as the Caldor fire approaches in South Lake Tahoe, California on August 30, 2021
Now that evacuations are mandatory in South Lake Tahoe law enforcement officials are going door-to-door knocking on doors asking people to leave. @KQEDnews @KQED #caldorfire pic.twitter.com/ymqq28Ja41
— Ezra David Romero (@ezraromero) August 30, 2021
Now that evacuations are mandatory in South Lake Tahoe law enforcement officials are going door-to-door knocking on doors asking people to leave. @KQEDnews @KQED #caldorfire pic.twitter.com/ymqq28Ja41
The blaze that broke out August 14 was 19% contained after 600 structures were destroyed and at least 18,000 more were under threat
The Caldor Fire has proved so difficult to fight that fire managers pushed back the projected date for full containment from early this week to Sept. 8. But even that estimate was tenuous
The Caldor Fire has proved so difficult to fight that fire managers pushed back the projected date for full containment from early this week to Sept. 8. But even that estimate was tenuous.
The air quality around Lake Tahoe has remained among the worst levels in the world since Wednesday after reaching levels as high as 530 on an index maintained by Purple Air, a company that sells home air quality monitors.
By around 2 a.m. on Monday morning, the air quality in South Lake Tahoe had reached an alarming index of 598, according to the company.
An air quality index of between zero and 50 is considered clean and healthy, while 51-100 is considered moderate, and anything from 101 upwards is considered potentially dangerous.
Stunning photos from Lake Tahoe showed the dense, orange haze hanging above the pristine freshwater mountain lake caused by the massive blaze.
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
Horrible air quality conditions are seen at Lake Tahoe on Sunday as the massive Caldor Fire has encroached on the California mountain resort town
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed
In Southern California, a section Interstate 15 was closed Sunday afternoon after winds pushed a new blaze, dubbed the Railroad Fire, across lanes in the Cajon Pass northeast of Los Angeles.
Further south, evacuation orders and warnings were still in place for remote communities after a wildfire broke out and spread quickly through the Cleveland National Forest on Saturday.
A firefighter received minor injuries and two structures were destroyed in the 2.3-square-mile Chaparral Fire burning along the border of San Diego and Riverside counties, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It was 10% contained Sunday.
Meanwhile, California's Dixie Fire, the second-largest in state history at 1,193 square miles was 48% contained in the Sierra-Cascades region about 65 miles north of the Caldor Fire. Nearly 700 homes were among almost 1,300 buildings that have been destroyed since the fire began in early July.
A map from Cal Fire shows its proximity to Lake Tahoe as of Monday morning
Smoke from the Caldor Fire fills the sky above Lake Tahoe's Zephyr Cove in Douglas County, Nevada on Friday
Smoke from the Caldor Fire fills the sky above Stateline, Nevada on Friday
A firefighter is dwarfed by an aerial drop at the the Chaparral Fire in Murrieta which still blazes, Sunday, August 29, 2021. Several homes appear to be evacuated in the area
Containment increased to 22% on the 12-day-old French Fire, which covered more than 38 square miles in the southern Sierra Nevada. Crews protected forest homes on the west side of Lake Isabella, a popular recreation area northeast of Bakersfield.
The California fires are among nearly 90 large blazes in the U.S. Many are in the West, burning trees and brush desiccated by drought. Climate change has made the region warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.
The Defense Department is sending 200 U.S. Army soldiers from Washington state and equipment including eight U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft to help firefighters in Northern California, the U.S. Army North said in a statement Saturday.
The C-130s have been converted to air tankers that can dump thousands of gallons of water on the flames.
more videos
NZ minister's interview interrupted by son holding very rude carrot
Train smashes through semi-truck carrying turbine blade in Texas
Festival-goers dump huge amounts of litter at Reading Festival
Taliban leaders pose for cameras taking over Kabul airport after US depart
People gathering to celebrate in the streets of Kandahar
Taliban reinforce dominance in Panjshir valley after militia clashes
Driver performs agonisingly long turn in narrow parking space
Bouncers kick man in the head and completely knock him out
Suspected landlord smashes windows of shop after alleged rent row
Driver opens car door and it's ripped from hinges by oncoming vehicle
Baby elephant stuck on riverbank gets a helping hand
Rider falls off bull shortly before being stomped on and killed