This map of the King Fire shows its spread since sparking Sept. 13.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — Crews are getting a handle on the King Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe, as containment was up to 68 percent Friday morning.
The blaze grew by only a handful of acres Thursday; it’s currently at 96,004 acres.
Six people have been injured, and 69 structures (12 residences, 57 others) have been destroyed. However, after thousands of homes remained threatened for two weeks, many residents in and around the Pollock Pines, Calif., area have been allowed to return to their homes.
As of Friday morning, 289 homes continued to be threatened, according to Calfire. There are nearly 7,750 personnel helping fight the arson-caused fire, down from 8,002 from Thursday.
No evacuations are in effect for the greater Truckee-Tahoe area; officials here continue to stress there is no immediate danger.
The Tahoe National Forest, working with the California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 and local partners, this week established a call center at the Truckee Ranger District Office.
The purpose of the center is to “provide residents of Truckee and Lake Tahoe Basin with clear and accurate information on the King Fire,” officials said in a news release.
The Truckee Call Center phone number is 530-587-9096. It will operate every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., until information needs change.
While the fire nears full containment, officials are urging residents to be aware and have an evacuation plan ready should a worst-case scenario present itself.
Residents can visit the “Ready, Set, Go” tabs at wildlandfirersg.org to learn more about proper planning for an evacuation.
Meanwhile, all Tahoe Truckee Unified School District campuses are open Friday. Officials will continue to monitor air quality and will cancel outdoor activities and school if levels are too unhealthy.
The number 530-647-5218 has been set up as a King Fire information line; further, you can follow latest evacuation and other updates at the following Facebook page: facebook.com/KINGFIREPIO.
Fire information is also available online from the U.S. Forest Service.