Facts about the wildfire threatening Lake Tahoe communities
Associated PressSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Facts about the wildfire threatening communities around Lake Tahoe at the California-Nevada border: — The Caldor Fire, named for the road where it started on Aug. 14 near the community of Grizzly Flats, about 35 miles from Lake Tahoe, had ballooned to about 300 square miles by Tuesday morning. The U.S. Army was also training about 250 soldiers to work as hand crews, who typically hike into wildland fire areas and remove rocks, leaves, bushes and other flammable material using shovels and chainsaws. — More than 400 fire engines are on the fire, nearly 100 bulldozers and over 70 water hauling tenders. — At least 669 structures have been reported as destroyed, including 486 homes, though the count is ongoing as conditions allow assessments.