Tahoe fire could expand rapidly

June 28, 2007

Lake Tahoe - Firefighters in Lake Tahoe, California are making significant progress in containing a wildfire raging south of the city but are bracing for blustery winds and dry conditions that could threaten their efforts in coming days.

Firefighters in Lake Tahoe, California are making significant progress in containing a wildfire raging south of the city but are bracing for blustery winds and dry conditions that could threaten their efforts in coming days.

Wind gusts over 30 miles per hour are forecast for later in the day, which could spread burning embers near the Emerald Bay housing subdivision, threatening 750 homes there. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for high winds until Saturday.

Winds had been forecast to increase Wednesday but did not, allowing firefighters to contain more than half of the fire and hold the blaze to about 3,100 acres. Containment of the fire was at 55 percent Wednesday night. No structures or homes were lost Wednesday.