Thousands of people fled the fire-threatened tourist area

It has been destroying the area for more than two weeks. On Monday, August 30, thousands of people were ordered to evacuate as a fire broke out on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe, a tourist area in California. Known as the Caldor Fire, the wildfire has already covered more than 700 km2, destroying several hundred buildings and emitting dense smoke that pollutes northern California.

Thanks to severe drought and prolonged winds, the flames advanced Monday towards South Lake Tahoe on the shores of North America’s largest alpine lake on the border with Nevada. “Conditions and Fuels Historical”, Lamented San Francisco Chronicle Fire Commander Jeff Weig. “We’re going to put out this fire. But it won’t be today.”, He declared.

The Caldor Fire is one of dozens of burns devastating western America affected by a prolonged drought that is being exacerbated by the effects of climate change. More than 7,000 km2 of vegetation has already been burned, more than twice the average area at this time of year.

Tens of thousands of people had to flee the blaze, often without even knowing when they would return or find their homes intact.