Smoke in Lake Tahoe skies from large Siberian fire

You may have noticed hazy skies in Lake Tahoe this weekend, and again today, but they aren't from any fires in the Sierra. The smoke is from catastrophic grassland fires in Siberia which have burned almost 800 square miles.

The Siberian Times is reporting the wind whipped blazes in Siberia have killed 33 people after farmers burned dried grass that got out of control. The damage was especially acute in Khakassia republic where 1,328 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, leaving 4.694 people without shelter, but the area around the city of Chita was also badly hit.

Washington and Oregon are reporting more smoke that Lake Tahoe. Many papers and new services in the Northwest are showing sunsets with deep red colors from the smoke.

Lisa Heron, Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S Forest Service in South Lake Tahoe, confirmed the smoke seen in Lake Tahoe is from the Siberian fires of a week ago.