State and federal emergency crews continue to battle a growing wildfire emitting heavy smoke in the Tahoe National Forest.

The American fire is burning in a heavily forested area of very steep terrain on Deadwood Ridge, about 10 miles northeast of Foresthill, Calif., roughly a half hour west of Lake Tahoe.

The U.S. Forest Service estimated its size at 15,738 acres as of Wednesday morning, when it was 63 percent contained. Officials estimate it will be 100 percent contained by noon on Sept. 1.

Officials attribute the inferno’s growth to hot and dry weather, allowing the blaze to spread along the Deadwood Ridge on the north and south ends.

Roughly 1,813 personnel from Calfire and USFS and other agencies are fighting the fire, the start of which is under investigation.

On Tuesday, the fire’s information officer, Mike Johnson, said the blaze is believed to be human-caused, according to media reports, although he does not think it’s arson.

The fire ignited at about 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10 and has destroyed four structures as of Wednesday morning, according to USFS.

“While the fire is predominantly burning within the North Fork of the Middle Fork American River drainage, there is a potential, given changes in weather or fire behavior, for the fire to threaten areas near Foresthill,” according to a USFS statement.

Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn has signed an emergency closure order for portions of National Forest System lands within and adjacent to the fire, including access roads and trails surrounding it.

Individuals with questions may contact the American River District ranger at 530-367-2224.

Thunderstorms predicted this week may bring additional complexity and increase the potential for new starts, according to the forest service.

Further, the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning through 11 p.m. Wednesday; changing weather patterns are likely to affect fire behavior and smoke patterns.

At Tahoe/Truckee, smoke is expected to be thicker in the evenings, and should linger in the region until the fire is extinguished.

Residents along Donner Lake in Truckee have reported thick smoke in the evenings the past several days. Heavy haze also started filtering into the Lake Tahoe Basin this past weekend.

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