High winds threaten to whip up flames approaching Lake Tahoe

By SAM METZ and JANIE HAR
Associated Press/Report for America

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters are bracing for strong winds a day after an explosive wildfire emptied a resort city at the southern tip of Lake Tahoe. The flames forced the evacuation of California communities on the south end of the alpine resort as well as some residents across the state line in Nevada. The streets of South Lake Tahoe are normally filled with thousands of summer tourists. But they were all but deserted Tuesday after rapid growth of the Caldor Fire forced a mass evacuation and triggered hours of gridlocked traffic. A California fire spokesman said the blaze was 3 miles outside South Lake Tahoe.