Flames shoot up from a condo in the Tahoe Keys on May 3. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

A fire is raging out of a control at a condo in the Tahoe Keys this afternoon.

Firefighters are working to get a handle on the blaze that erupted about 2pm May 3.

Flames were shooting at least 10 feet into the air from a middle unit on Ala Wai, just down from the four tennis courts. Smoke was coming from the attics of the adjacent condos.

Before the flames shot up firefighters were on the roof with a chain saw to gain access. A second story window blew out and flames were coming through it as well.

John Dean told Lake Tahoe News he was working on the unit to get it ready to be rented. The city inspector had told him the washer and dryer could not block the circuit breakers, so he was moving the appliances and the plumbing to conform to code.

South Lake Tahoe firefighters gain access to the unit via the roof. Photo/Kathryn Reed

“With a torch, I took the fitting off,” Dean said. “It hit insulation. I put water on it. When I left there was no indication of flames.”

He was gone for 90 minutes to get a bite to eat and buy some materials.

On Tuesday he was sitting in his vehicle, dejected, wishing he had never left because he said the damage probably wouldn’t be anything like it will end up being.

Fire officials estimate the damage to be more than $3 million on the eight-plex. Initial reports are that six were damaged. The extent is still being assessed.

It was a neighbor three doors down who called 911 when she saw smoke.

She and about a half dozen other people were evacuated, as were some animals.