this is horrible. What a nightmare for people living there.

glad u r ok!!

I am hearing lots about various forest and bush fires,for a while now,my heart goes out to those with these problems,my prayers too!!!!!..To me global warming is caused internationally and cross boarder help for these areas should be given by the likes of my government too!!!!!!! (UK) The fact that many regions are not considered 'third world' is no excuse to not offer help to these areas!!They are 'family' in my heart and to most UK residents too!!

What a kind thing to say, Phil! My heart goes out, too. Badge, how close DID it get???

No global warming here Phil. This is the monsoon season for the Tahoe basin, which is considered an Alpine lake. We commonly get thunder and lightning coupled with lightning strikes here from June through August. In part due to our high elevation (my house sits at 4800 ft and the peaks run between 9,000 and 11,000 ft), and in part due to the cloud build up on one side of the mountain ridges while the other side is high desert and hot. When the cooler heavy clouds build up enough pressure from being stacked up, they are squished over the peaks and a thunder/lightning storm ensues. They've experienced lightning strikes for as far back as man could record it here.

Wow, incredible.

Badger,if what is in that photo happened with in 200 miles of my humble abode, like EVER!!!!!! You would not catch me in that same continent ACAIN!!!!!!

Hhahah, Phil, you're so cute!

I know this area well. That is a beautiful photo and quite scary. If I'm not mistaken, there is a horse ranch just west of this photo (2-3 miles) and they were having trouble evacuating.

I read someone's comment about global warming. Let me reinforce; this ain't it. This is just a wildfire, something we deal with annually in the West. Please don't read into one fire a global catastrophe. The West is historicallly dry; lightning strikes and the forest/prairie burns. Consider it our tornado/earthquake/flood risk.

Well said Sir Gilmour!

Yes