kyburz fire

CalTrans working on new South Lake Tahoe message signs

When CalTrans unveiled the three new message board signs in South Lake Tahoe before the 4th of July weekend, many were appreciative of the head's up on travel times over Echo Summit.

Super Scooper back at Lake Tahoe Airport after helping fire

Smokey Bear visited the new Forest Service firefighting aircraft "Super Scooper" at the Lake Tahoe Airport.

During the Kyburz Fire last week, the new addition to the Forest Service was able to drop 36,000 gallons of water at the front line of the fire, helping to keep it under 75 acres.

Each drop of the plane puts 1,600 gallons of water on the fire. The first load for the Kyburz Fire came out of Lake Tahoe, and the rest were from Union Valley Reservoir which was closest to the fire.

Training the next generation of wildland firefighters

Kyburz Fire 667 personnel. Lowell Fire 771 personnel. Washington Fire 1,113 personnel.

These recent fires in the forests near Lake Tahoe have had hundreds of fire fighters on the ground, digging fire lines, cutting down trees and putting out fires. It's not an easy job, the hours are sometimes endless or never enough. But those that do it, love it.

The U.S. Forest Service has been training the next front line of defense against forest fires.

"Super Scooper" based in South Lake Tahoe being used in Kyburz Fire

On Monday, the U.S. Forest Service welcomed a Bombardier CL415 firefighting aircraft to the South Lake Tahoe. On Friday, it is already seeing action after being called out to the Kyburz Fire burning just west of Lake Tahoe.

Kyburz Fire now 98% contained; 75 acres burned

The Kyburz Fire is burning about 25 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. It has burned both sides of Highway 50 near and around the American River. It started on Highway 50 near Whitehall.

10 a.m. update 7/27/15:

The Sand Flat Campground has reopened as firefighters can almost total control of the fire lines. They now have 98% of the fire contained.

An updated infrared look at the scene has again reduced the amount burned to 75 acres.

They will not be updating the fire command website after Tuesday as they transfer o a forest Type 4 organization.

Firefighters get better handle on Kyburz Fire overnight, 40 percent contained

Firefighters made significant progress on the Kyburz Fire overnight, which is now 40 percent contained and remains at 160 acres as of Tuesday morning, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Laura Hierholzer.

The size of the Kyburz Fire, west of South Lake Tahoe in the Sierra, was adjusted from 600 acres down to 160 acres on Monday night because of better mapping, she said. Overnight the firefighters were able to get a better handle on it and stop the spread. A second outbuilding was listed as damaged or destroyed.

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.

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