The Lake Tahoe area was on high alert Sunday as high winds brought an additional approach to the popular holiday resort as the blaze that has already destroyed hundreds of buildings began to move closer.

Fire crews continued their efforts in the Sierra-at-Tahoe resort region to contain the massive wildfire, which had burned 177.260 hectares as of Monday morning and brought it under control in excess of 14 percent, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

More than 20.000 buildings were at risk, the officials said.

Freeway 50 remains closed from the Sly Park Road exit to Highway 89 junctions in Meyers.

Sierra-at-Tahoe becomes major outpost of Caldor firefight as South Lake Tahoe pool is evacuated

Most of the growth and activity was down along the northeast border of the fire, near the town of Strawberry and toward Lake Tahoe basin, authorities said.

Near Camp Sacramento, the fire scorched a number of shacks along Ralston Road Sunday evening.

Times staff researcher Smith reported from South Lake Tahoe, Seidman and Newberry from Los Angeles.

Lake Tahoe

READ MORE:  UK weather forecast: Britain set to be hotter than SAHARA tomorrow as heatwave reaches sweltering 34C

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at 6,225 ft , it straddles the state line between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. (wikipedia)


Caldor Fire

The Caldor Fire is an active wildfire burning in El Dorado County, California, about 15 miles southeast of Placerville. As of August 17, 2021, it had burned more than 30, (wikipedia)


Sierra-at-Tahoe

Sierra-at-Tahoe is a ski and snowboard resort in Twin Bridges, California south of Lake Tahoe. Sierra-at-Tahoe is approximately 16 miles south of Stateline, (wikipedia)


Mendocino Complex Fire

The Mendocino Complex Fire was a large complex of wildfires that burned in northern California for more than three months in 2018. It consisted of two wildfires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire, (wikipedia)