Monday, October 17 Update: The Emerald Fire is 100 percent contained as of noon, according to CAL FIRE. State Route 89 is estimated to re-open today. Traffic will be metered through the fire area by Caltrans. The highway will be subject to future closure as repair work and tree removal continues and debris is removed from the highway. The fire burned 176 acres and its cause remains under investigation.
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Saturday, October 15 Update: The Emerald Fire is 90 percent contained and forward progress of the fire has been stopped as of 6 p.m., according to CAL FIRE. Heavy precipitation is falling over the fire area and winds are impacting firefighting operations. The removal of hazardous trees from state Route 89 and around residences is ongoing. Debris continues to impact the roadway due to the high winds and torrential rains. Fire suppression repair continues on the fire where safe. Liberty Utilities is working to restore power to the area.
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South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—A wildfire burning off state Route 89 near Cascade Lake and Emerald Bay has burned 200 acres, prompting mandatory evacuations for 500 homes in the area, and voluntary evacuations for another 500 homes.
The wildfire started at 1:28 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14. As of 10:15 a.m., the fire is about 25 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.
CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, and Lake Valley Fire have command of the incident and are reporting information about the fire at http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1460.
Meeks Bay Fire, Fallen Leaf Lake Fire, North Tahoe Fire, South Lake Tahoe Fire and Police, California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, Caltrans, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and Liberty Utilities are also assisting.
Evacuation information is available at http://pio.edso.org/press-release/. Residents being evacuated from the area are being asked to travel north on state Route 89 towards Tahoe City. State Route 89 has been closed from Camp Richardson to Meeks Bay. An evacuation center has been established at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center, 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd., and a second evacuation center has been established at the Rideout Community Center, 740 Timberland Lane in Tahoe City.
Twenty fire engines, seven fire crews, two dozers, and two water tenders are on scene. Very strong winds ahead of an incoming storm system are fanning the fire in different directions resulting in dangerous rates of spread, but it is starting to rain over the fire.