1 person hurt after fire engulfs Zephyr Cove cabin

A Zephyr Cove cabin is uninhabitable after fire gutted it Sept. 4. Photo/Ross Rittiman

By Kathryn Reed

A cabin along the Old Lincoln Highway in Zephyr Cove was totally destroyed by fire Friday night.

One occupant, who was visiting from out of town, was taken to Barton Memorial Hospital with minor burns from having tried to extinguish the blaze. That person has since been discharged.

The cause of the 11pm Sept. 4 blaze is under investigation. However, Tahoe Douglas Fire Marshal Eric Guevin said people had started a fire in the fireplace, were taking their suitcases to a room and then noticed a glow coming from the other room.

They called for help right away, but the older structure burned rapidly.

“Someone opened the door and it fed a lot of air,” Guevin told Lake Tahoe News.

“We want people to get out of the home and stay safe. They attempted to put the fire out with a garden hose and other pots and pans of water. It grew too quickly.”

Guevin said he encourages people to have a fire extinguisher nearby – and for people to know how to use it. Firefighters checked on the smoke detectors in the neighboring cabin, found they were not working and replaced them.

There is another cabin on the property that was not damaged that the group will be able to use for the weekend.