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RENO, Nev. (AP) — Reinforcements are on the way to help battle a Sierra wildfire south of Lake Tahoe where nearly 300 crew members already are at work and the town of Markleeville is on standby for possible evacuation.
Sierra Front fire spokeswoman Jenny Ramella says they expect to have 500 personnel on site by Monday afternoon. She says the fire has burned nearly 14 square miles of timber and grass — about 8,900 acres — since it broke out Friday night about 10 miles south of Markleeville.
Highways 89 and 4 in the Monitor Pass area remain closed and some campgrounds have been evacuated. But Ramella says no structures have been damaged or injuries reported.
At least four air tankers and several helicopters are assisting from the air.
The blaze is estimated to be about 10 percent contained.
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