Since Sunday, more than 225 buildings, including 178 homes, have been leveled by the fire. The immediate cause is unknown, but experts say 150 years of mismanagement of the Sierra Nevada ecosystem set the stage.

Local authorities have said the fire is the area’s worst in a century, considering the amount of homes and property that burned. Brigitte Boysen, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Forest Service, said 1,889 firefighters in the South Lake Tahoe area are battling the blaze, aided by 145 engines, 11 helicopters and 54 inmate hand crews. One firefighter suffered a minor knee injury, but no other injuries have been reported, according to SFGate.com.

South Lake Tahoe, California.

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