Before and after photos reveal the horror of California's Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe
The Caldor Fire tearing through Northern California has forced evacuations of one of the state's most popular resort areas. Much of idyllic lake town South Lake Tahoe is under an evacuation order, and a red flag warning is in effect across the Northern Sierra region.
Firefighters have been battling the blaze for two weeks, and Gov. Gavin Newsom was forced to declare a state of emergency in El Dorado County earlier this month. The fire has burned over 276 square miles, destroyed more than 470 homes and injured at least five people, but is only about 15% contained.
Conditions on the ground have worsened since Sunday. Crews face low humidity and gusty winds as the fire races east and threatens to reach Lake Tahoe, but the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection expects full containment by Sept. 8.
More: Caldor Fire: South Lake Tahoe now under evacuation warning as crews struggle to slow blaze
In the wake of the blaze, before and after photos reveal charred buildings in abandoned communities and blackened forests beneath a smoke-filled sky.
Two views from my favorite spot on Echo Summit. I just evacuated from the #Caldorfire. Jul 7 v Aug 26, 2021. Despite its beauty, the 1st photo doesn’t escape the pyrocene era CA is experiencing-the #Beckwourthcomplex plume is on the horizon. #tahoe #firewx pic.twitter.com/NIb6OCzBmz
— Craig Veramay (@CraigVeramay) August 27, 2021
6am view from Strawberry CA on Hwy 50, viewing WSW to fire on S side of river aprox at milestone 40 #CaldorFire pic.twitter.com/HVFKSSr56w
— craig philpott (@CphilpottCraig) August 28, 2021
#CaldorFire This How Lake Tahoe looked like earlier this year in 2021, and how it looks right now…. pic.twitter.com/lbdMdGBslj
— DanielFireCopter (@DanielFireTruck) August 30, 2021
Reach out to Chelsey Cox on Twitter at @therealco.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California Caldor Fire photos near Lake Tahoe show ski resort damage