House fire sparks wildfire at Tahoe, five structures destroyed

By: Associated Press - | Saturday, August 18, 2007 7:07 PM PDT ∞

TAHOE CITY, Calif. -- A house fire sparked a blaze Saturday on Lake Tahoe's west shore, destroying at least three homes and forcing the evacuation of some homes and businesses, authorities said.

Placer County sheriff's deputies said the wind-whipped, 25-acre blaze began near the resort community of Sunnyside just south of Tahoe City. No injuries were reported.

The Washoe Way house was fully engulfed when crews arrived shortly after 1:30 p.m. and the fire spread to nearby structures, causing the evacuation of an unknown number of homes and businesses, deputies said.

"We're calling all our guests and asking them to leave. It's a mandatory evacuation," said a Granlibakken Resort front desk clerk who would only identify herself as Dina. "We're hoping the fire won't reach us."

U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Barbara Rebiskie said five structures have been destroyed, but that firefighters are making good progress and that they expect to have the fire contained at just 35 acres.

"We have got multiple spot fires and I'm sure it's caused by winds," Rebiskie said late Saturday afternoon. "I just think given what we have weatherwise -- high temperatures and extremely low humidities -- any wildfire in the state of California could potentially be devastating."

Flames were being fanned by wind gusts of up to 30 mph, and the National Weather Service was calling for similar gusts through midnight Saturday.

The blaze is about 20 miles north of South Lake Tahoe, where a wildfire that began June 24 destroyed 254 homes and charred more than 3,000 acres. It took firefighters eight days to contain the fire, at a cost of $12.1 million.

An unknown number of helicopters and air tankers have joined scores of local firefighters in attacking the Tahoe City-area fire, Rebiskie said.

Highway 89's southbound lane was closed through the fire area late Saturday afternoon but its northbound lane remains open, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Graham Rock at Chambers Landing Restaurant in nearby Tahoma told the Reno Gazette-Journal that flames were visible from the highway and the fire appeared to be growing.

"I've got a spectacular, actually I guess a horrible view of it right now," Rock said. "The wind is blowing it away from the road right now."

Don Edelstein, lodge manager of the Sunnyside Resort, said the fire was moving north up a steep hill toward the Tahoe City area.

"The fire is about a quarter mile away from us but it's moving away from us," Edelstein said, adding his business remained open. "For any of the houses north of where the fire started it's a huge problem."