Appreciable smoke continues to linger in the Lake Tahoe Basin this morning.

The Rim Fire that is burning near and in Yosemite National Park is bringing the smoke to the South Shore and Carson Valley. Reports are that the smoke is worse in the Carson City-Dayton area than in the basin.

Counties throughout the region have issued health advisories because of the smoke. More information about what to do and the levels of risk may be found online.

Barton Memorial Hospital’s emergency department reported a higher than normal number of patients in the past 24 hours.

“While we cannot provide an exact count, most patients seen have existing chronic pulmonary issues. Their problems have been escalated due to the smoke. Most symptoms have been shortness of breath,” spokeswoman Monica Sciuto told Lake Tahoe News.

Barton Urgent care is open this weekend from 9am to 5pm at Stateline and the emergency department is open 24/7.

The Rim Fire has grown to more than 125,000 acres and is 5 percent contained. Thousands of homes are threatened and nine structures have been destroyed. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for San Francisco. The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which is about four miles from the fire, provides The City with 85 percent of its water. Two of the three hydroelectric power stations in the area have been turned off because of the fire.

The American Fire near Foresthill is at 22,040 acres and is two-thirds contained. Full containment is expected Sept. 1.

According to fire officials, “The forest, timber industry, local agencies, and private landowners continue to contribute to collaborate to implement strategy and tactics that will minimize impacts on high value timber resources.”

Four outbuildings have been destroyed and part of the Tahoe National Forest remains closed.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report