Fire burning east of Pollock Pines

Updated 5:15pm:

Smoke drifting into Truckee and that is streaming over the ridge on the South Shore is from the King Fire burning out of control near Pollock Pines.

“Heavy fuels are burning and timber,” Terri Mizuhara, spokeswoman for CalFire, told Lake Tahoe News. “It’s traveling east, northeast with a rapid rate of spread.”

It is burning away from the town of Pollock Pines.

It was reported Sept. 13 at 4:32pm. Less than 24 hours later about 2,000 acres near Mountain Road had been consumed; with zero percent containment. This is a steep canyon area. Winds have been brisk.

Evacuations have been ordered for 188 residences, with more than 400 on voluntary evacuation. Pollock Pine Community Center was the evacuation center, with 120 people having shown up. However, it lost power. Red Cross has established an evacuation center at Sierra Ridge Middle School, 2700 Amber Trail, Pollock Pines.

Power is out in the area to about 4,000 PG&E customers.

Air and ground resources are attacking the fire. A strike team from Lake Valley Fire Protection District has been sent to the fire.

Highway 50 is open in both directions, but there are road closures closer to the fire.

At this time the cause is under investigation.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report