Expect lingering smoke in Lake Tahoe Basin; Winds change direction Wednesday night

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke from the prescribed burn near Caples Creek should affect the Lake Tahoe Basin through Wednesday afternoon, then shift direction as the winds come from the Northeast.

The USFS Eldorado National Forest has completed ignitions on the Caples Prescribed Fire. Crews will patrol and monitor the area over the next few days during the wind event Wednesday through Thursday. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by avoiding smoky areas, closing windows, or staying indoors.

Smoke seemed particularly thick Wednesday morning around South Lake Tahoe but that was due to an inversion layer and colder air temperatures. This situation occurs mainly at night and since colder air is heavier it traps the smoke closer to the ground, a common occurrence in Fall.

An inversion layer is very common in Lake Tahoe in fall. This is when there is a warmer band of air just above the surface, giving an area for smoke to be trapped.

Winds will become easterly Wednesday afternoon, behind the cold front, sending any remaining smoke in the opposite direction..

The Caples project area is located on the northern ridge above Caples Creek north of Highway 88. Over ten years they will be burning 8,000 acres and the prescribed burn this week is part of this project.

There is a fire burning near the entrance to Yosemite. Highway 140 is closed from Colorado Road to Savages Trading Post but the park remains open. There are some evacuation advisories in the area, but not mandatory at this time. This fire, called the Briceburg Fire is at 3,600 acres and is currently ten percent contained.