Near record-setting snowfall in Northstar California, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe region has added additional days to the ski and snowboard season in America.
Heavenly
Californian resorts use snow cannons to help fight huge forest fire
Three Californian ski resorts in the path of a devastating forest fire appear to have escaped the worst of the dramatic blaze although some equipment and outbuildings have been fire damaged.
The Caldor fire, which began in mid-August, covered more than 200,000 acres and strong winds drove it towards the major resort-town of South Lake Tahoe located on the California/Nevada border. It is located directly below Heavenly Mountain Resort and a full evacuation was ordered when smoke made it difficult for inhabitants to breathe.