Caldor fire rages near Lake Tahoe as thousands evacuate

When the Caldor Fire began on August 14 in northern California, no one expected that two weeks later its flames would sweep through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, threatening communities and tourist attractions as well. loved ones around Lake Tahoe. But as temperatures rise around the world due to climate change, massive and destructive wildfires have become the new normal in California. A dangerous mix of embers, wind and dry land allowed the wildfire to consume more than 191,000 acres, and South Lake Tahoe, a city of 22,000, faced a tense traffic backlog on Monday as people were forced to evacuate. As fire crews worked through the night – using fire retardants, water sources and even snowblowers from a local resort – the blaze continued to resist containment, leaving residents and firefighters uncertain of the scale of the blaze.

These photos show the relentless power of the fire and the community it affects.