California Fire Threat High Despite Progress Near Tahoe

Meanwhile, the entire state is showing the potential for extreme fire danger in the next three months.

California could be on track for one of its worst fire seasons ever as hotter, drier conditions across the north raise the threat of new fires or existing ones flaring into dangerous life, officials said. Crews on Tuesday cut miles of new containment line around the Caldor Fire, which was 50% contained after burning up and over the crest of the mountain range and threatening South Lake Tahoe. Evacuation orders for 22,000 residents were lifted Sunday and more orders were reduced to warnings on Tuesday. But elsewhere, some existing large fires continued to grow.