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Crews struggle to stop fire bearing down on Lake Tahoe

US Western Wildfires
US Western Wildfires
Posted at 5:28 PM, Aug 25, 2021
and last updated 2021-08-25 20:28:29-04

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of firefighters are trying to box in a California wildfire that's advancing toward Lake Tahoe and has shrouded the popular vacation spot in ash and yellow smoke.

The Caldor Fire, less than 20 miles southwest of Tahoe, has destroyed at least 461 homes since it began Aug. 14. It's still threatening more than 17,000 structures.

Fire officials say it's the nation's top priority for fire resources.

The Lake Tahoe area had the nation's worst air pollution again Wednesday.

Meanwhile in Southern California, an unknown number of remote homes burned after a fire broke out Wednesday and quickly ran through tinder-dry brush in mountains northeast of Los Angeles.