California Wildfire Destroys 165 Structures

June 29, 2007

A raging wildfire Sunday destroyed at least 165 homes and other structures and threatened some 500 others near the popular resort community of South Lake Tahoe, officials report. Among the buildings threatened was South Tahoe High School.

A state of emergency was declared by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors as the 2,000-acre blaze continued to burn out of control and headed toward the town. Wind gusts of 35 miles per hour during the day helped push the blaze, but the winds subsided in the evening.

Hundreds of homes were evacuated in the Angora Lakes Resort and in the north Upper Truckee area next to South Lake Tahoe. Residents in several other areas were advised to be ready to evacuate. At least 1,000 people were evacuated.

More than 400 firefighters were battling the blaze, which broke out around 2 p.m. Air tankers and helicopters were also used, although windy conditions grounded some of the tankers, according to reports.

An emergency shelter was set up at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center, according to city officials. The National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory for the area until 11 a.m. Monday. The advisory said that smoke from the wildfire would make it difficult to see and breathe.

- Disaster News Network

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