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Photos: All-out fight to save Lake Tahoe from the Caldor fire

Firefighters battle the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
Firefighters battle the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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President Biden declared an emergency in California that will allow federal assistance for the Caldor fire, which has burned hundreds of structures and continues moving toward Nevada.

The fire barreled toward Lake Tahoe for several days amid heavy winds. But that threat became one of many as the fire moved in other directions, including north toward Wrights Lake and Desolation Wilderness and south toward Kirkwood. Officials say it remains highly dangerous, and thousands of weary firefighters are battling it on several fronts.

Firefighters battle the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe
Firefighters battle the Caldor fire Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters battle the Caldor on Thursday.
Firefighters battle the Caldor on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters battle the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe
Crews work as heavy winds died down Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
By Thursday afternoon, the fire had scorched more than 210,000 acres.
By Thursday afternoon, the fire had scorched more than 210,000 acres.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
An Olympic Valley firefighter stops a truck for more water as the Caldor fire rages
An Olympic Valley firefighter stops a truck for more water as the Caldor fire rages along Highway 89.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter sprays a hose at a tree on fire
Firefighters try to control a prescribed burn.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters try to control a prescribed burn.
Firefighters try to control a prescribed burn.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter on the side of a road
A firefighter clears brush along Highway 89.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A firefighter uses a hand tool to dig into the dirt as flames burn nearby
A firefighter digs a line during a prescribed burn operation.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter carries hose in front of a tree on fire
A firefighter carries hose during the battle against the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A tanker truck sprays red foam on brush alongside a road
A firefighter clears brush as a tanker sprays fire retardant to help battle the Caldor fire along Highway 89 west of Lake Tahoe on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Caldor fire is reflected off of Caples Lake near Kirkwood ski resort Wednesday.
The Caldor fire is reflected off Caples Lake near Kirkwood ski resort Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters stand in front of a firetruck and look toward a smoky sky.
Firefighters from West Covina keep an eye out for embers as the Caldor fire approaches near Caples Lake on Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Mist surrounds an empty chairlift under the sun.
Snow makers spray mist as the Caldor fire approaches the ski resort of Kirkwood on Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Firefighters stand in a smoky forest.
Cal Fire firefighters walk down a hill during mop-up operations from the Caldor fire near the resort of Kirkwood on Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A firefighter in a burning forest.
Cal Fire firefighter Travis Moore lights a backfire along Highway 50 as the Caldor fire burns near South Lake Tahoe.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters spray hoses at the Caldor fire.
L.A. County firefighter Kevin Reid, right, and Capt. Donald Bailey battle the Caldor fire off Highway 89 west of South Lake Tahoe.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
People carry luggage to evacuate ahead of the Caldor fire.
Workers from the Cedar Inn evacuate as the Caldor fire approaches South Lake Tahoe.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Smoke from the Caldor fire rises over Caples Lake.
The sun is blocked by smoke from the Caldor fire as it burns near Caples Lake in Kirkwood.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Trees burn in Twin Bridges amid the Caldor fire.
In this long exposure, embers fly from a tree as the Caldor fire continue to burn in Twin Bridges.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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The Caldor fire glows behind a "Placerville: 40 Miles" mile marker along Highway 50.
A mile marker along Highway 50 points to Placerville as the Caldor fire burns near Strawberry, Calif.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Firefighters are silhouetted against flames from the Caldor fire.
Two firefighters monitor the Caldor fire near homes in South Lake Tahoe on Monday.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Firefighters battling the Caldor fire walk toward flames near South Lake Tahoe on Monday.
(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
Evacuee Mel Smothers plays the violin as he waits in a miles-long traffic jam on Highway 50
Evacuee Mel Smothers stepped out of his car to play the violin while waiting in a miles-long traffic jam on Highway 50 as people evacuated ahead of the Caldor fire on Monday in South Lake Tahoe.
(Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Motorists evacuating from South Lake Tahoe stretch their legs while waiting for traffic to ease.
Motorists evacuating from South Lake Tahoe stretch their legs while waiting for traffic to ease on Monday.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
The Caldor fire consumes trees in Twin Bridges.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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An empty chair lift against a backdrop of trees, flames and smoke.
The Caldor fire burns as a chair lift sits empty at the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort in the Eldorado National Forest.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A fountain of water emerges from a snowmaking machine, with flames in the background.
A snowmaking machine blasts water as the Caldor fire burns at Sierra-at-Tahoe.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A firefighter sits on a log with another standing. Flames rage in the background.
Firefighters discuss their plans while monitoring flames during the Caldor fire in Twin Bridges, Calif.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
Orange and black smoke rises above forested hills.
Seen in a long camera exposure, fire burns in the Eldorado National Forest.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
Long lines of traffic on a highway amid smoke.
Traffic backs up in South Lake Tahoe as mandatory evacuations are underway.
(Andy Barron/Reno Gazette-Journal )
A man stands on a hill beneath equipment. In the background is a huge cloud of smoke.
Dozer operator Todd McAuliffe monitors flames during the wildfire in Tragedy Springs, Calif.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)
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An aerial view of boats , a dock and pine trees.
Smoke from the wildfire fills the sky above Lake Tahoe’s Zephyr Cove in Nevada’s Douglas County.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)
A firefighter amid trees in a burning forest.
A firefighter works to head off a spot fire from the Caldor fire, which started on a ridge behind a business on U.S. 50 in Strawberry, Calif.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
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