Gusty Winds Hamper Tahoe Wildfire Efforts

Strong Afternoon Winds Could Stoke Blaze That Has Destroyed 200 Homes, 3,000 Acres

(CBS/AP) 

Wind was expected to reach speeds up to 35 mph, National Weather Service forecaster Jim Wallmann said.

“It really is hard to predict what these winds are going to do,” said Kelly Martin, a fire behavior analyst who addressed hundreds of firefighters from across the state at a pre-dawn briefing Wednesday.

"They said 'We think we have it contained and everything's fine.' In fact, we started kind of relaxing. We thought, 'well, we're OK,' so we were surprised when we saw the thing jump," resident Jim Baitge told Kaufman. "It took off really fast."

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons planned to visit the area Wednesday.

At one point Tuesday, authorities said the danger to homes had diminished as the wind abated, but by Tuesday evening the blaze that started Sunday had charred more than 3,000 acres — about 4.7 square miles — and was only 44 percent contained, fire officials said.

Containment is not expected before next Tuesday, said Rich Hawkins, a Forest Service fire commander.

Tuesday's flare-up occurred in an area where firefighters had set a backfire to keep the main blaze from reaching more houses. The gust blew embers across the fire line and started new spot fires, Hawkins said.

The blaze moved so quickly that two firefighters were forced to deploy their emergency shelters. They were missing for nearly an hour, but walked away uninjured, Hawkins said.

Without the tent-like shelters, the men would have died, Hawkins said.

About 2,000 people evacuated, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Lt. Martin Hale.

Investigators have located the fire's point of origin, near the popular Seneca Pond recreation area, and are close to identifying its cause, Forest Service spokeswoman Beth Brady said. Authorities have said they believe it was caused by human activity, but there was no indication it was intentional.

The forest is so dry that a discarded cigarette butt or match could easily have ignited the fire, Brady said. The area was also dotted with the remnants of illegal campfires, she said.

Many homeowners got their first look at the wildfire's destruction Tuesday, finding some houses reduced to charred ruins and others largely unscathed, except for the odor of smoke and a blanket of ash.

Concerned about looting, dozens of sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers patrolled the burned neighborhoods, and only people who lived in the area were allowed in.

“I didn't save hardly anything in the house,” said retired firefighter John Hartzell, who lost his home of 20 years. Along with his wife, adult son and daughter, he sorted through the rubble in search of any mementos.

“I got out with the clothes on my back, my fire coat and my helmet,” he said.

Elsewhere, arson has been blamed for a wildfire in western South Dakota that has blacked about 3.5 square miles in Custer State Park, said Joe Lowe, state wildland fire coordinator. The blaze was about two-thirds contained late Tuesday.

Custer State Park remained open but a campground and a lodge had been evacuated, disrupting the vacation plans of hundreds of visitors.

[ubrew12]

"This has nothing to do with global warming" R-U-KIDDING
"There is no such thing as global warming. " hlgplfe5
I'm pretty sure drought in the West and MidWest and flooding elsewhere (like in Texas) is expected under most Global Warming scenarios, so you're wrong, this is Global Warming. Regarding drought, it'll get alot worse this century. Tahoe is right next to Nevada, and Nevada is desert. The desert expands, so these trees gonna burn. It's not just underbrush and dead trees, although it is that as well. Its also drought, and drought is El Nino, and El Nino is Global Warming. Live with it.

[jdubs63]

Really creepy and insensitive remarks...insurance beer, politics. Tahoe is beautiful and now is being destroyed. Instead of blah blah about insurance and beer offer some type of help it is desperately needed

[toyfield]

Fires at Lake Tahoe are inevitable as they are in all forests and brush areas in California. In Lake Tahoe area there are too many conflicts between all the agencies, visitors, locals, and mother nature. Nature will have the last word. The droughts have weakened the trees and the bark beetles have killed off many acres. The previous fire policy have allowed fuels to increase. People are warned to clear dead brush and overhanging limbs. There is a balance required as erosion is a problem with granitic soils. So as with all things people should prepare but they do not. The fires must happen for the environment to stay healthy and people must adapt to the ecology and be willing to accept the consequences if you want to live among such splendor.
The only consolation is that this forest area will recover and will be healthier and more productive than it has been in years. As Yellowstone burned I cheered knowing it would recover. It has recovered gloriously and Lake Tahoe will also recover. My only wish is that the firefighters who are working to save houses and protect people and limit damage are spared any injury.
So even though my parent have a home on south shore, my great grandparent's summer cabin is still on the west shore, and I have worked and lived on the LTBMU, I am glad for the fires.
Only please tell me if the Angora Lookout survived.

[mnelsonix]

Some really retarded posts here...geeze

[opqual]

Thats what homeowners insurance is for...

You do have it, don't you... ?

[rushlimpdrug]

BACK DOOR to
elect a PRESIDENT who was not BORN inthe USA
Posted by USAwatchman

What are you talking about? ?
This is a fire.

[usawatchman]

HEADS UP - Immigration bill may be a BACK DOOR to
elect a PRESIDENT who was not BORN inthe USA

[hlgplfe5]

There is no such thing as global warming. Give it up.

[rushlimpdrug]

Smokey looks grim.
I think he needs to get his lard azz to work.
Holding that shovel ain't gonna cut it.
"People don't cause fire. Trees cause fire"

[r-u-kidding]

Give me a break. This has nothing to do with global warming. Good Lord, this is just a natural event on planet Earth and has been happening for eons. That's what fire insurance is for. At least people are able to get out unharmed, and for the most part even have time to pack valuable and memories into their cars beforehand.

[ubrew12]

I've backpacked in the area, its pretty dry in the summer, just to the lee of the Sierra Crest, but it's been getting dryer every year. This may also be related to Global Warming, like most of the Western Drought. I agree that if they're going to let people build homes in this kind of area, they should have the right to clear a green-zone.

[aaabee-2009]

"The homes sit in national forest lands and the beauty of these wooded surroundings are both a powerful draw to homeowners and what set them up for devastation."

Can anyone tell me if by "in", they mean these homes are actually in national forest lands? I thought national lands are held in public trust, away from development and human encroachment?

It costs money to visit public spaces these days, some cost enough that poorer people don't get in. I guess we are only saving green unspoiled spaces for the rich, like everything else these days.

[peacethinker-2009]

I hope those folks have to pay extra high insurance rates since they know well in advance the clearing policy and fire threat of the area.

[jetranger7]

DRINK MORE BEER TO PUT OUT THOSE FIRES !

[peacethinker-2009]

Wow, the policy makers for that area need to take a sip of reality, be smart, sure don't over do it, but come on, some of it is needed.

[lovereno]

To the reader who commented about clearing the trees. This is the whole problem in this area, the Tahoe Regional Planning Commission will NOT let you clear an area. Even if the tree is dead and lying on the ground, it must stay there. My understanding is they are worried about erosion.
Hence TONS of fuel for the fire. This is what the homeowners are so upset about. They would of loved to clear the area.

[oeangus]

I once worked in a once-pristine lake district/holiday resort area with all its over-population, pollution and crime problems. Hard for me to sympathize with the homeowners here. Do your thing, nature.

[peacethinker-2009]

Why don't these people cut the trees back from the houses. Looks like they're way to close to prevent this type of thing (houses burning). Come on, there's trees right up close and they act like they don't know how to prevent the fire from getting close to the house. Cut a swatch around the house, I understand it's nice to have the trees close, but a child can figure out the problem/solution here. Seems the insurance companies would have a problem with it too.