Wildfire Burns 165 Homes, Menaces 500 More

A wind-driven forest fire burned out of control early Monday near the popular California resort of Lake Tahoe, destroying at least 165 structures and forcing about 1,000 people from their homes.

The fire, believed to be caused by human activity, has scorched more than 2,000 acres — or more than 3 square miles - since it started Sunday afternoon. No injuries were reported.

Winds, which gusted as high as 35 mph Sunday night, had slowed to about 12 mph overnight and temperatures dipped into the 30s Fahrenheit, aiding firefighters' efforts to corral the flames in the heavily wooded, parched terrain.

Residents and campers sought shelter at evacuation centers in South Lake Tahoe and at the homes of friends and the many hotels in the area.

The fire is roughly 5 percent contained, reports Stefanie Cruz of CBS station KOVR-TV in Sacramento.

Fire crews planned to continue their attack with water and retardant drops from aircraft after daybreak Monday. Firefighters would also continue working on the ground cutting fire lines.

"It has two things going in the wildfire's favor: the terrain and the wind," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Rex Norman told CBS' The Early Show.

"The fire is pretty much staying in the same place right now," Norman said. "But that could change if the winds change."

Norman added, "If we can make some really good progress tonight, and the early morning hours when we have some cooler temperatures and light
winds, then we should be able to see some progress on containment."

State and federal fire officials had warned of a potentially active wildfire season in the Sierra Nevada following an unusually dry winter. The annual May 1 snow survey found the Tahoe-area snowpack at just 29 percent of normal levels, the lowest since 1988.

Among the communities evacuated were the Angora Lakes Resort and hundreds of homes in Meyers, authorities said. A campground was also was evacuated.

Meanwhile, crews in Alaska worked to protect hundreds of homes tucked in the hills of the scenic Kenai Peninsula, where a fire has already destroyed dozens of homes and cabins.

It has burgeoned to 81 square miles since Tuesday, consuming 35 far-flung cabins in the Caribou Hills, state fire information officials said. Forty other structures, including sheds and outhouses, were also lost in the popular hunting and snowmobiling area about 80 miles south of Anchorage.

The fire threatens another 600 homes and cabins, Hall said. An evacuation order has been in effect since Friday, but fire officials said an unknown number of residents have refused to budge.