Kyburz Fire west of South Lake Tahoe downsized to 160 acres; Highway 50 partially reopened with controls

The size of the Kyburz Fire burning in El Dorado County has been adjusted from 600 acres down to 160 acres as of 9:53 p.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service. Highway 50 has been reopened under controlled measures between South Lake Tahoe and the Meyers area and Pollock Pines, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Firefighters are trying to get the upper hand on the fire that began Monday west of South Lake Tahoe in the Sierra. The Kyburz fire was downsized after better mapping, reports Laura Hierholzer, spokeswoman for the Eldorado National Forest. The fire, at the time of this report, was zero percent contained.

The Kyburz Fire began at 12:41 p.m. and is located 1/2 mile east of Mile Post 29 off of Highway 50. Six air tankers worked the fire before being grounded for nightfall; seven helicopters, 14 engines, and 6 hand crews have responded. More firefighters and apparatus and a Type 2 Team has been ordered, she said.

It is burning in steep terrain with a mix of timber and brush, she said. One small outbuilding has been destroyed. No other structures are threatened at this time.

The Forest Service reports it was a vehicle-caused fire. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports it may have been a blown tire. The Forest Service could not confirm this.

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