In Pictures

Raging wildfire forces evacuation of major US tourist town

Some 22,000 people were ordered out of their homes, joining tens of thousands of others trying to escape the blaze.

The Caldor Fire burns at the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort in Eldorado National Forest. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

By News Agencies

Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate as a huge wildfire loomed over a major US tourist town, filling the air with choking smoke.

The Caldor Fire has already torn through more than 700sq km (270 sq miles), razing hundreds of buildings.

On Monday, the blaze roared towards South Lake Tahoe, the main resort town in a popular holiday area straddling the California-Nevada border.

“The firefighting conditions, the fuels, are historic,” said Cal Fire Incident Commander Jeff Veik, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “We will put this fire out. [But] it’s not going to be today.”

The fires are being driven by a historic drought that has left swaths of the region parched as man-made climate change takes a visible – and painful – toll, and people living in the area are forced to flee.

Some 22,000 people were ordered out of their homes, joining tens of thousands of others trying to escape the fire’s relentless march.

Firefighters prepare to fight the flames of the Caldor Fire in Meyers, California. [Christian Monterrosa/EPA]

The fire caused authorities to issue an evacuation order for residents of the city of South Lake Tahoe. [Christian Monterrosa/EPA]

James Campos clears vegetation from a neighbouring lot to protect his house as the Caldor Fire approaches South Lake Tahoe. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

Chris, a 40-year Tahoe resident, lies in a pick-up truck while evacuating as the Caldor Fire approaches South Lake Tahoe. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

Michael Posadas packs his truck while preparing to evacuate from South Lake Tahoe. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

Jim Mrazek stands outside his vehicle on Highway 50 as evacuee traffic comes to a standstill in South Lake Tahoe. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

With the Caldor Fire approaching, Dawn Svymbersky stands in the middle of Highway 50 as evacuee traffic stands still. [Noah Berger/AP Photo]

A fire truck drives down Highway 50 as the Caldor Fire approaches in El Dorado County, California. [Christian Monterrosa/EPA]

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Members of the Mexican Navy remove tar-stained seaweed from the shoreline.

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