Smoke boils up from the Caldor Fire on the Hawkins Peak fire camera at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday.
The Caldor Fire is continuing to burn in the Lake Tahoe Basin as of 11:30 a.m. threatening the southern end of the South Lake Tahoe Airport and parts of Lake Valley as smoke continues to build in Carson Valley and as firefighters brace for critical fire danger.
Air quality continues to read hazardous in Minden, though it has decreased from the 4 a.m. peak at 496 and is down to 361 as of 11 a.m.
The wind is expected to pick up around lunchtime to 15 mph, with gusts of up to 30 mph out of the southwest around 2 p.m.
While the wind will help blow out the old smoke it will bring more in from the fire.
The fire is still at least five miles from the Douglas County line near Fredericksburg in Carson Valley.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for gusty winds and low humidity through 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Evacuees at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center may obtain food at the Carson Valley Community Food Closet on Waterloo in Gardnerville. Groceries are available 12:30-4 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday. Findout more at 775-782-3711.
An emergency closure continues on the Eldorado National Forest as the Forest Service temporarily closes all other California national forests for public safety.
To better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is closing all National Forests in California. This closure will be in effect from 11:59 p.m. today through Sept. 17. This order does not affect the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is not in the Pacific Southwest Region.
Catholic Charities and the Red Cross are also supporting families evacuated from South Lake Tahoe, which is home to St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Catholic Charities will provide water and snacks to the evacuees at the evacuation center at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno.
