Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe near Loon Lake

UPDATE 10:30AM 9/9: The Fork Fire is now measured at 2,500 acres. It continues to burn in the Crystal Basin/Gerle Creek area, 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines.

UPDATE 7:30PM: The Fork Fire in the Pacific Ranger District is 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines. It is now 500 acres with 0 percent containment and is spreading toward the 2014 King Fire burn scar in the Rubicon drainage on the Georgetown Ranger District.

The fire cause is under investigation. It began off Wentworth Springs Road, east of Gerle Creek and south of S. Creek Rd. Evacuations are in effect for Loon Lake, Gerle Creek and Rubicon Trail Area.

Overnight and into Wednesday fire officials expect the fire will continue to spread rapidly in westerly direction in the Rubicon canyon towards communities of Quintette, Volcanoville and Georgetown.

Once fire is established in Rubicon and a return to diurnal wind patterns, it will have potential to run up slope/canyon towards Hell Hole reservoir, same path as King Fire.

UPDATE 4:35PM: The Fork Fire is estimated to be 400+ acres, and is moving toward the 2014 King Fire burn scar in the Rubicon drainage on the Georgetown Ranger District. The fire cause is under investigation. It began off Wentworth Springs Road, east of Gerle Creek and south of S. Creek Rd. Evacuations are in effect for Loon Lake, Gerle Creek and Rubicon Trail Area. Initial attack in progress. An incident management team is being mobilized.

UPDATE 3:30PM: The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit reports the Fork Fire has grown to 400 acres. Ground and air crews are working at the scene.

UPDATE 1:15PM: The Fork fire is 100 acres with significant growth potential according to the USFS Eldorado National Forest. It is located off Wentworth Springs Road and the Gerle Creek access. It is east of of Gerle Creek, sooth of South Creek Rd. Evacuations are in place for Loon Lake, Gerle Creek and Rubicon trail area.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a fire currently burning near Loon Lake in the ELdorado National Forest. The wind driven fire is currently 60-75 acres in size and firefighting crews are responding. It has been named the Fork Fire.

Tuesday is a Red Flag Warning Day.

This is a developing story.