Meyers, Calif. – A raging wildfire near Lake Tahoe on Monday forced hundreds of residents to flee towering flames that destroyed more than 200 buildings, turned the sky orange and fouled the lake’s famously clear waters with falling ash.
Many hotels offered free rooms as families clung to one bit of good news: Despite the destruction, there were no reports of injuries.
“All the memories are gone,” said Matt Laster, a legal assistant forced to flee his rented home of five years with his wife, two children and cat. He showed up at a recreation center looking for clothes and a sleeping bag.
The blaze had scorched almost 2,500 acres – nearly 4 square miles – but by early Monday evening, fire officials said the blaze was about 40 percent contained. Full containment was expected by Sunday, the U.S. Forest Service said.
About 1,000 people had evacuated, and authorities feared that up to 500 other houses could be threatened in this resort area along the California-Nevada line.
El Dorado County sheriff’s Lt. Kevin House said there were no reports of missing persons, but “the truth is we haven’t really been able to get in there and see.”
Along the lake’s southern shore, a layer of black, mushy ash lapped along boat docks, raising fears the fire could have disastrous long-term economic consequences for a community heavily dependent on the lake’s recreational tourism.
California officials declared a state of emergency, meaning the state would cover all firefighting costs.
Meanwhile, in Alaska, damp, cooler weather helped slow a wildfire on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage that had destroyed about 70 homes and cabins and was threatening hundreds more.
