Posted on 06/27/2007 6:07:59 AM PDT by I'll be your Huckleberry
Resurgent Tahoe fire ignites chaos, panic
By John Simerman, MEDIANEWS STAFF Article Last Updated: 06/27/2007 04:27:24 AM PDT
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Firefighters battling the northernmost edge of the Angora fire ravaging the South Lake Tahoe area lost control of a back burn Tuesday afternoon, which jumped over Highway 89 and forced evacuations of several neighborhoods.
The Tahoe Basin's worst fire in a century bolted northeast into a subdivision about sixmiles southwest of the Stateline casinos, within a mile of the lake itself, sparking evacuations of a popular village and an enclave of pricey, waterfront homes. The marching flames ignited a scene of chaos as panicked residents waded through smoke while rushing home to meet loved ones, retrieve precious items or rescue pets.
"Everybody standing here right now better have a car and an escape plan, "a fire official shouted from the middle of an intersection as cars and people rushed by.
The setback came on the eve of winds forecast to gust up to 30 mph today.
The fire jumped a barrier created to prevent the flames from spreading from four smaller fires when a tree exploded, sending embers that sparked the flare-up.
Two firefighters had to deploy their emergency shelters to escape the suddenly advancing flames, which also forced the evacuation of about 98 Contra Costa youths at Camp Concord, who headed back by bus to the Concord Civic Center.
Hundreds of residents along Tahoe Keys Drive were forced to fight or flee the fire, and fleeing became difficult as cars and trucks jammed Tahoe Keys Drive. "It's a fairly populated area," said Tim Evans, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. "That certainly is not good news for our firefighting efforts here."
Some of the people along the road were frantically loading up cars, trucks and motorcycles at 4 p.m. after the fire broke free an hour earlier.
"We're doing this ourselves. I'm not going to wait around" for an evacuation order, said Drew Norton, 20, as he loaded goods on his motorcycle. Police officers were circulating through the neighborhood but did not seem to be ordering people to leave.
It was firefighters' first significant setback in two days, which came as authorities were allowing people to return to lesser-damaged areas.
The problem began just after 3 p.m. as firefighters were conducting a back burn, north down Gardner Mountain that grew beyond their control, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Tom Efird. Back burns are controlled burns used to eliminate fire fuel.
The fire spread a quarter- to a half-mile beyond the original containment line, pushing it back to the east of Highway 89.
As the wind picked up, it sent the back burn swooping down on two of a group of firefighters working to protect Tallac Village, said Chuck Dickson, a U.S. Forest Service spokesman.
The pair were forced to deploy the emergency shelters that firefighters carry to protect themselves during burnovers as a last resort, Dickson said. They were uninjured, he said.
Firefighters now are more worried about northeasterly gusts of up to 30 mph forecast for Wednesday which now could endanger more residential areas and historic recreation sites toward Camp Richardson. The spread could set back the containment date of July 1. "We thought we were going to have a full day of preparation and were actively fighting fire," Efird said. "We don't
Panicked residents of South Lake Tahoe run for safety as fire approaches their home Tuesday afternoon. (Wally Skalij - Los Angeles Times) call that a setback, that's just part of the game." We have four days of bad weather conditions coming," said Rich Hawkins, incident commander for U.S. Forest Service. "I can't promise you we'll control the fire during the next four days just because the winds are going to work against us."
Camp Concord, administered by Concord's parks and recreation department, operates in the Sierras between Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake on 29 acres of the El Dorado National Forest. Participants had been camping about a half mile from the south shore of the lake, at least two miles away from the fires. Up until 3 p.m. Tuesday, activities went on as usual, said spokeswoman Leslye Asera.
"Then the fire broke through the fire line, so forest services suggested that neighborhoods in the path be evacuated.
"We agree," she added. "'Better safe than sorry.'" Traffic was at a standstill as residents voluntarily evacuated in droves from Tahoe Keys, which is between Venice Drive and the lake at the far reaches of the threat area.
Mandatory evacuations were under way near 15th and 13th streets and Venice Drive and the Gardner Mountain area, said Laurel Owen of the U.S. Forest Service.
Several helicopters and airplanes were battling the blaze where it jumped Highway 89, with the choppers drawing water from Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. Many residents were on their rooftops hosing down houses as a dark orange cloud began roiling over what had been a clear blue sky.
Some people in the Tahoe Keys and Camp Richardson area said they were second- and third-time evacuees who had fled the fire from earlier positions.
"We are getting better at it," said second-time evacuee Dan Ott.
A long line of cars was nearly at a standstill on Tahoe Keys Drive.
The fire has consumed more than 2,700 acres of forest studded with homes and vacation cabins. It has taken 200 homes and 75 commercial buildings, according to the California Department of Forest and Fire Protection.
About 1,900 firefighters were on the lines along with 11 helicopters battling the blaze Tuesday. A strike team of 21 firefighters from Contra Costa, Alameda and Santa Clara counties were fighting the flames along Highway 89 when the blaze jumped the road, said Contra Costa fire Capt. Dave George. They had departed for the fire line 24 hours before.
"Their comments was, today was a very interesting day," said George, who talked with the team after they came off of the fire line after a 12-hour shift. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, who toured the area Monday, said fire officials estimated the cost of fighting the blaze at $35 million to $50 million, and the overall damage at more than $100 million. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to tour the damage today.
The winds are calm, both in Carson City and up at the lake.
The smoke is light here in the Valley, forecast is for high winds and heat.
Red flag warnings are out.
Everyone is holding their breath.
Please help yourselves and the fire fighters with defensible spaces.
Beetle killed trees should all be removed; brush on the ground should be removed...before fire season.
Can’t we send in Madeline Albright to negotiate with the fire?
I heard one report say that the radical enviro-nazis prevented salvage logging and brush clearing in the area which lead to the ferocity of the fire. True?
Since nothing on Tahoe sells for less than a million, what percentage of California’s assessed valuation is going up in smoke?
Yesterday afternoon the winds came up and spread a back burn to over 400 acres - the keys are under voluntary evacuation.
High winds will hit in mid day and the direction of the fire will be in the direction of the lake and town.
Lots of houses in the way.
By this afternoon there will be gusts around 30-40 mph.
It is going to get dicey.
I heard the same that the Sierra Club ....
” I heard one report say that the radical enviro-nazis prevented salvage logging and brush clearing in the area which lead to the ferocity of the fire. True?”
Yes.
200 more homes may be gone in a few days ( X ) $ 5 million average each is...one Billion $$.
Not counting the ones already lost.
The costs are staggering.
The home that are in the path today are closer to the lake and very valuable.
500 home are about 1 mile from the fire line.
Lines have been set up to defend this morning, but if the flame gets into the crowns it will run hard and fast.
Two evacuation centers are up - one here in Carson.
Donation centers are overflowing with water and blankets.
Many of our neighbors have lost everything but their pets.
There was a dude on Fox last night whose house was spared because he cleared a 75 ft area from his house. He said it was illegal (you’re only allowed 10 ft.), but did it anyway. I’m sure they’ll be coming after him.
We are in for three or four days of high winds.
It is impossible to overstate how dry and explosive the lake area is.
After years of being forbidden to remove trees and brush, we are reaping the rewards of stupidity.
From the mood of this community - it is the environuts who better be looking over their shoulder.
Do these home owners not realize that all this fuel has been building up for decades ?
If not now, a fire would go thru here next year .
We see many areas of America that is only a spark away from another massive fire.
The Sierra Club has made the public lands a disaster and a fuel box; private people should wake up to protest for a ‘healthy forest’ and to create personal ‘defensible spaces’ around their homes.
Until then, massive fires will be us.
We saw that guy on Fox too.
Smart of him to create a defensible space. That is why he has a home and his neighbors do not.
A lesson for anyone lurking. Do it today !
The eco-police will likely try to fine him.
Support the logging industry; denounce environmentalism.
Environmentalism kills!
If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it. It's much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.
RADM Grace Murray Hopper
With a good draft from a firestorm a 2" chunk of burning manzanita can travel over a mile.
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