The Caldor fire is reflected off of Caples Lake near the Kirkwood ski resort Wednesday, September 1, 2021 in Lake Tahoe, California. - Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS
In the scramble to evacuate all of South Lake Tahoe in late August, there was a palpable fear among fleeing residents that the destructive Caldor Fire could raze one of the largest communities in the Tahoe basin. Thankfully, after firefighters mounted a massive defense, South Lake Tahoe was spared. Cal Fire officials and forest managers credited previous forest treatment projects that had helped slow the fire's spread and gave crews precious time to strengthen their lines and protect thousands of threatened properties. California desperately needs to thin more of its forestland and reduce fire...
