Camp near Kyburz evacuated; fire at 160 acres
Smoke rises from a wildfire near Kyburz on Highway 50 on July 8. Photo/Ty Robben
Updated 11:05pm
Fire officials have revised the earlier estimate of number of acres burned in the Kyburz Fire. It is 160 acres.
A music camp in the area has been evacuated. The nearly 100 people left on their own and not to a shelter.
Updated 9pm:
The Kyburz Fire has consumed 600 acres as it moves north into timberland. There is zero containment.
This is the same area of the Fred’s Fire that burned 4,302 acres in 2004, and the much more devastating Cleveland Fire of 1992 that destroyed 41 homes and several outbuildings, and charred 22,485 acres.
The Kyburz Fire has destroyed one outbuilding. No other structures are threatened.
Laura Hierholzer, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service, said because of those previous fires what is burning now is much smaller trees in the Eldorado National Forest.
Updated 8:25pm
The fire has grown to 50 acres.
Highway 50 is open to controlled traffic in various sections through the American River canyon.
Six air tankers, five helicopters, 13 engines, six hand crews and five water tenders were helping fight the blaze.
A plume of smoke from the Kyburz Fire could be seen from as far away as Cave Rock Monday night.
—-
Highway 50 near Kyburz is closed in both directions because of a wildland fire.
It is believed that a trailer lost a wheel and sparked the blaze that was first reported at 12:41pm July 8.
The fire is on the south side of the highway. It has consumed at least 5 acres.
Traffic is being held in Meyers on the east and at Sly Park Road on the west side. There is no estimate on when the highway will be open.
“The fire started in a rural section of the highway between White Hall and Kyburz. It is spreading east,” Caltrans officials said in a press release.
No evacuations have been ordered, but a nearby music camp has been notified of the blaze.
Wind is fanning the flames.
The U.S. Forest Service is the lead agency.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report