Burnside fire continues to grow

The Burnside fire is estimated to be 125 acres, as of 8:45 p.m. Sunday.

Several Hope Valley businesses and homes are being threatened by the fire along Blue Lakes Road about a mile south of Highway 88 in Alpine County south of Lake Tahoe.

The fire is crowning in treetops and is spotting to the east. High westerly winds are driving the fire, according to Sierra Front Fire Information Office Mark Struble.

Structures threatened by the fire include Sorenson's, Hope Valley Resort, Crystal Springs Campground, Kit Carson Campground, Hope Valley Campground and some homes.

An evacuation center is being set up at Diamond Valley School in Woodfords.

Highway 88 is not closed at this time, but the Forest Service roads to Burnside Lake and Pickett's Peak are closed. The Forest Service road to Blue Lakes Remains open as of 8 p.m. Sunday.

Two airtankers, one helicopter, and four hand crews, totaling 135 personnel, are working the blaze. There is no estimate of containment or control. Struble said the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management, Alpine County, Lake Valley and Tahoe-Douglas are responding.

The Nevada Appeal News Service has dispatched a photographer to the scene.

Crews have been activated to a vegetation fire tonight around Highway 88 and

89 near Hope Valley, according to officials and scanner traffic reports.

The five-acre fire is burning in heavy timber. It is located off of Burnside

Lake Road and is being fanned by wind gusts, officials said. It is said to

be growing. The call came in around 5 p.m.

A large column of smoke can be seen from the Carson area blowing eastward.

Firefighters from Lake Valley Fire Protection District are sending two

engines, a battalion crew and an Angora hand crew,Tahoe Douglas is also

sending engines battalion crews and a hand crew.