American Fire Coverage

The American Fire is 100 percent contained. Fire crews remain on the scene, doing mop-up work in the wake of the blaze in the Tahoe National Forest. Update: 2:12 p.m. Friday

The American Fire is 94 percent contained as of early today, with fire crews keeping hot spots from spreading and doing mop-up work in the wake of the blaze in the Tahoe National Forest. Update: 10:50 a.m.

Containment of the American Fire has grown to 83 percent as of Monday night. Crews along the south, north and west perimeters are in patrol status, with windy conditions still challenging the western edge of the fire. Update: 10:30 p.m.

A community meeting to update residents on the American Fire is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Foresthill Veteran's Memorial Hall. Containment has grown to 78 percent, with 24,135 acres burned. Five structures have been lost. Update: 3:30 p.m.

Favorable weather allowed crews to strengthen containment lines, which stands at nearly 24,000 acres burned and 67 percent containment. Some crews have been assigned to other fires, with 1,429 people still working the incident. Update: 9:30 p.m.

The American Fire has grown to more than 20,200 acres while firefighters have the blaze 66 percent contained. Mop-up efforts are under way on two fronts, to keep the fire from spreading beyond containment lines. Update: 6:15 p.m.

Aggressive firefighting from the air and ground have kept the American Fire from rapid growth. Containment stands at 60 percent as of Thursday night. Nearly 18,000 acres have burnt. Update: 10:30 p.m.

Officials say the American Fire burning in the Tahoe National Forest does not appear to be arson, but was caused by humans. So far, the wildfire has cost $ 1 million a day to fight.

The American Fire was 63 percent contained as of late Tuesday, as winds are pushing the blaze nearer the Foresthills area. A Red Flag warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. today. Fire officials say full containment is expected around Sept. 1.

Fighting the American Fire is slow-going, thanks to heavy timber, rugged terrain and changing weather. The fire is nearly 15,000 acres, with containment at 54 percent as of Tuesday afternoon. Updated: 2:45 p.m.

The air quality in canyons on the west slope of the Sierra has been in the unhealthy range for all groups range for about a week. But air quality is expected to improve as more of the American Fire is contained and as thunderstorms move in.

A public briefing on the status of the American Fire at 7 p.m. today at the Foresthill Veteran's Memorial Hall. The fire continues to grow, consuming almost 15,000 acres, with 49 percent containment. Weather conditions are a concern. Update: 5:30 pm

Predictions of thunderstorms and winds have fire officials ready for the American Fire to become more erratic in the coming days. The fire has grown to nearly 14,000 acres and is 49 percent contained as of late Sunday.

The American Fire is now more than 12,000 acres and is 40 percent contained as of late Saturday night. Heavy fuels, low humidity and steep terrain are contributing to the difficulty of fighting the fire. Smoky conditions persist. Updated: 9:55 p.m.

The American Fire has grown to nearly 10,000 acres and is 31 percent contained. Smoke from the fire, burning in a remote area of the Tahoe National Forest, is expected to settle over the Sierra overnight and early Saturday. Updated: 10:10 p.m.

Closures of areas adjacent to the American Fire in the Tahoe National Forest have been ordered. The fire is in a remote area near Foresthill, and has burned 5,400 acres. It is 35 percent contained. Updated: 11:20 p.m.

The American Fire burning in the Tahoe National Forest has doubled in size to nearly 5,000 acres and it is still growing. But containment has also doubled to 35%.

The American Fire in the Tahoe National Forest has grown to almost 4,000 acres. Nearly 550 personnel are working the incident, which is not threatening structures. The fire is 10 percent contained as of late Wednesday. Updated 11:00 p.m.

The American Fire, burning in a remote area 17 miles NE of Foresthill, has grown to an estimated 1,900 acres. Smoke from the fire is affecting air quality over a wide area, including the Sacramento Valley and Lake Tahoe Basin. Updated: 10:40 p.m.

The 'American Fire' burning in a heavily forested area of steep terrain about 17 miles northeast of Foresthill in Tahoe National Forest has grown to more than 1,000 acres. No evacuations or road closures have been issued.