Fire damage at Tahoe National Forest not as bad as initially feared
A wildfire exploded Monday in Tahoe National Forest near Emigrant Gap to consume about 500 acres, authorities said Tuesday morning.
Monday night’s estimate placed the size of the fire at 650 acres, but new observations made in daylight with the aid of GPS led officials to reduce the scope of destruction. The North Fire is just 10 percent contained, officials said.
The fire started at around 4:30 p.m. in the North Fork campground, south of Emigrant Gap, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
It spread quickly, leading to the evacuation of several campgrounds in the area and closing on- and off-ramps to Interstate 80 at Yuba Gap Road and Emigrant Pass Road.