‘Knocking on Door to Lake Tahoe Basin;’ Caldor Fireplace Eclipses 100,000 Acres; Nation’s High Firefighting Precedence – CBS San Francisco
EL DORADO NATIONAL FOREST (CBS SF) – The Caldor Fire, burning in the Sierra Nevada, has become the country’s top fire fighting priority, and the chief of Cal Fire acknowledged the potential threat to the Lake Tahoe area on Monday afternoon.
The wildfire has burned 106,562 acres, or nearly 170 square miles, in the El Dorado National Forest since it began east of Omo Ranch and south of Grizzly Flats parish on Aug. 14. A five percent containment was reported on Monday.
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Cal-Fire Thom Porter told reporters at a news conference Monday that Caldor Fire is a top priority in fire-fighting resource allocation because of its proximity to Tahoe.
“It’s so important,” he said. “There is a knock on the door to the Lake Tahoe Basin. We have made every effort to keep it out of the pool, but we also need to be aware that it is possible because of the way the fires burned. “
Firefighters tackle flames during the Caldor Fire in Kyburz, California, the United States, on Saturday, August 21, 2021. (David Odisho / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
After a week of no containment, fire officials reported five percent containment on Monday, and further containment is expected later in the day, particularly along the south edge of the fire.
At a press conference for the California governor’s Office of Emergency Services Monday afternoon, officials announced that two Galt police officers were seriously injured in a head-on collision on Highway 99 early Sunday morning while trying to help in the Caldor Fire. Two other civilians were injured in the fire last week.
As of Monday, at least 403 homes had been destroyed by the fire and more than 17,000 homes and other buildings were threatened. Six commercial properties were destroyed along with 148 other smaller structures, Cal Fire said. The cause has not yet been clarified.
Downhill winds, low temperatures, and moderate overnight humidity helped slow the fire from spreading.
Operations chief Tim Ernst said Monday the toughest area of the fire continues to be around where it originated, with the flames continuing to storm towards Grizzly Flats, where dozens of homes were burned in the wildfire last week.
“To solve this problem, we are installing a lot of emergency lines and bulldozers, and last night we did a long fire operation to remove some of the fuel from the fire,” said Ernst. “But the fire continues to challenge us in this area.”
A firefighter prepares to fight an active fire on a hilltop during the Caldor Fire in Kyburz, Calif., Sunday, August 22, 2021. (David Odisho / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
After jumping on US Highway 50 over the weekend, Ernst said there was no extensive fire growth past Highway 50 overnight and the crews on the northern edge of the fire were busy with extensive building defense and preparation.
On the western edge, a significant amount of work has been done around the Jenkinson Reservoir and Sly Park area to connect the existing fire lines, Ernst said. The eastern tip of the fire continues to be a challenge, as daily winds from the southwest push the fire in an easterly direction.
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More of the southern perimeter was expected to be contained later Monday.
Melissa Gustafson was among the residents of the area who were forced to flee their home. She and her family of seven had to leave their room at the Best Western in Placerville that weekend and stay with relatives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Her bill was several hundred dollars and it was paid by a good Samaritan.
“A lady behind me (in the checkout line) was (with) Cal Fire and told me she would take my bill for me,” said Gustafson, fighting back tears. “I was just so happy! We have nothing. What do you do when you have nothing? “
CALDOR FIRE: Information on incidents, evacuations, maps
Current mandatory evacuations include:
- Grizzly Flats: The areas on Grizzly Flats Road east of Kendra Way in Grizzly Flats Proper. The Diamond Railroad Grade, Old School House, Sweeney Road, Caldor Road, and Steely Ridge areas.
- Grizzly Flats Road east of Four Corners in Somerset in Grizzly Flats Proper.
- The areas of Myers Lane, Varmet Ridge Road, Rodwell Canyon Road, Snowbird Lane, and Mehwald Lane.
- East of Sly Park Road between Highway 50 and the Mormon Emigrant Trail to Ice House Road. These include the Pacific House and Fresh Pond communities.
- North of Highway 50, east of Forebay Road to Ice House Road.
- Junction of Perry Creek and Hawk Haven, the east side of Fairplay Road from Perry Creek South to Cedarville Road. These include Slug Gulch, Omo Ranch, and all roads away from Slug Gulch and Omo Ranch.
- All streets of Omo Ranch from Cedarville Road to Hwy 88.
- The area between Highway 88 and the Mormon Emigrant Trail
- South of Highway 50 from Snows Road to Ice House Road.
- Between Highway 50 and Slab Creek from Snows Road to Ice House Road.
- South of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road. This also includes the community of Kyburz.
- North of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road with the Ice House Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir and Loon Lake.
- Silver Fork Road in Kyburz east to Twin Bridges.
- North and south in a line extending from Twin Bridges to the Placer County Line and south to the Amador County Line.
- Areas south of Farnham Ridge Road and east of Bridgeport School Road to the Amador County Line.
REMINDER: Highway 50 remains closed between Sly Park and Meyers due to #CaldorFire. Listen to your local authorities and know alternative routes. Check @ CaltransDist3 for the latest updates. https://t.co/uvpiHqQn5n pic.twitter.com/hjreey5n6p
– Cal JA (@Cal_OES) August 23, 2021
Evacuations Warnings for El Dorado County and Amador County along with Road closures You will find here.
The Caldor Fire, along with other forest fires in Northern California, has caused the USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Southwest region to temporarily close nine National Forests. From Sunday, August 21st, these parks and the streets and paths in them will be closed to visitors until September 6th.
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