Angora fire at 2,730 acres, full containment expected Sunday

The Angora fire has burned 2,730 acres as of 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, but containment is at 40 percent.

Two Web sites offering a property status clearinghouse to South Tahoe property owners to check the status of homes are available.

They can be found at www.edso.org, www.cityofslt.us or visit the Lake Tahoe Community College administrative offices.

Residents from Highway 50 to Wintoon with appropriate identification will be allowed to access their property today via North Upper Truckee and Highway 50; residents from Wintoon to Sawmill Road should contact the local assistance center for re-entry information.

Weather conditions will be changing today with increasing southwesterly winds and decreasing humidity whichmay not be good news for firefighters, said Simon Smith, co-op weather observer for the National Weather service. On the other hand light wind will help to disperse the smoke which will make for better conditions for airquality and visibilities, Smith said.

Under sunny skies, temperatures today will be in the upper 70s to near 80 with gusty southwest winds increasing by afternoon to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 30 mph or higher.

Tonight winds will decrease somewhat and become relatively calm in the basin, however ridge winds will continue to blow but not as strong.

Lows will drop back down into the 40s. There may be some good news on the horizon by next week with lighter winds and even the remote possibility of some precipitation by the 4th of July or perhaps later. Update: 7:10 a.m. Highways 50, 89 open. Calm weather conditions have caused a dense amount of smoke over the Lake Tahoe Basin as more than 1,889 irefighters continue to work the Angora Fire.

Some homeowners will be allowed to return to their properties today. The Tahoe Daily Tribune will be following events as they continue this morning.

At a 6 a.m. briefing this morning it was reported there are 12 helicopters, 145 engines and 54 crews on the fire, said Bridgitt Boysen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

All highway closures have been lifted. This includes Highway 50 and 89. The North Upper Truckee Road area to Winton is open this morning, however roads within the main burn area remain closed.