The Associated Press
MEYERS, Calif. — A wind-driven wildfire destroyed at least 165 homes and other structures and scorched 750 acres just southwest of Lake Tahoe, a spokesman for the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday. Sheriff’s Lt. Kevin House said the fire is less than 5 percent contained and has more than 500 homes in its path, but no injuries or deaths have been reported. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
“This thing is raging out of control, and there’s no estimate as to when that may change,” House said. The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has issued a declaration of emergency, House said.
Kit Bailey, the agency’s fire chief for Lake Tahoe, said high winds hampered the battle against the fast-moving about five miles south of the lake. The Angora Lakes Resort and hundreds of homes in Meyers were evacuated, authorities said. Winds as high as 25 mph fanned the flames, and the National Weather Service called for gusts as high as 35 mph Sunday evening.
“They’re definitely having problems with the winds up there,” said Linda Curran of the Camino Interagency Dispatch Center. “The fire has a rapid rate of spread because of the winds.”