Firefighters battle blaze near Lake Tahoe

HOPE VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 1 (UPI) -- California firefighting crews said Monday they were being helped by cooling temperatures in their efforts to extinguish a wildfire south of Lake Tahoe.

The 125-acre blaze in Hope Valley, Calif., about 20 miles south of the lake, was 5 percent contained Sunday night when an increase in the humidity slowed its spread, the Gardnerville (Nev.) Courier-Journal reported.

Fire officials told the newspaper they expected to have the blaze completely surrounded by Wednesday. Resorts in the Hope Valley, including Sorenson's Resort, Hope Valley Resort, Crystal Springs Campground, Kit Carson Campground and Hope Valley Campground, have been evacuated.

About 20 homes have been evacuated, as well, with an evacuation center up in Woodfords, Calif., officials said.