Land near LTCC was burned June 14 in a suspicious fire. Photo/Diana Hamilton

A Sunday afternoon fire that burned a small swath of land between Lake Tahoe Community College and the U.S. Forest Service is still under investigation, though it is believed to be human caused.

A large plume of smoke could be seen June 14 coming from the meadow area behind those entities to make people believe a structure was on fire. No buildings were ever threatened.

The fire consumed a 100-foot by 150-foot area. This is the first fire like this in South Lake Tahoe this season.

“We want to remind people though we got quite a bit of rain in the last several weeks all that will do is for the light grassy fuels to grow better,” Fire Chief Jeff Meston told Lake Tahoe News.

He said the rains put the fire season of a couple weeks, but also will help create more flammable vegetation, especially as things dry out.

Lake Valley and Forest Service crews assisted South Lake Tahoe to douse the flames.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report