Fire’s footprint expands amid new evacuations

The Caldor Fire’s footprint continues to expand southwest of the Lake Tahoe Basin after more evacuation orders were issued this week as crews try to prevent flames from spreading into more populated areas days after the blaze jumped Highway 50.The wildfire, which ignited Aug. 14 near Little Mountain between Omo Ranch and Grizzly Flats, had burned at least 143,951 acres, or over 224 square miles, and was 12% contained as of Friday morning, Cal Fire said. Echo Summit, a mountain pass where cliff-hanging Highway 50 begins its descent toward Lake Tahoe, is where firefighters plan to make their stand if the Caldor Fire keeps burning through dense forest in the Sierra Nevada.Wind activity, flames, flying embers and smoky skies rapidly expanded alongside Highway 50 just east of Kyburz, leaving zero visibility on some parts of the highway on Thursday. The poor air quality continued Friday.On the fire’s eastern end, dozens of resources were on standby in the community of Strawberry in case the fire made a run toward that direction.”They’re doing a lot of structure protection on the west side in the Pollock Pines and Grizzly Flats area and on the east side. They’re trying to stop the fire from progressing close to Strawberry and then on to South Lake Tahoe,” Caldor Fire incident response spokesperson Sarah Barth said Thursday. Cal Fire added that smoldering trees are creating a challenge for firefighters, as is the steep and rugged terrain that crews are trudging through. Cal Fire Director Thom Porter said during a news conference earlier this week that the Caldor Fire is now, “the No. 1 priority in the nation of fires to get additional and new resources that are becoming available. It is that important.”He added that the fire “is knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe Basin.””We have all efforts in place to keep it out of the basin, but we do need to also be aware that that is a possibility based on the way the fires have been burning and the concerns that we have been living in all of these other fires and their growth,” Porter said. (Scroll down to see a complete list of evacuation orders, warnings and an evacuation map.) “The weather has outstripped and Mother Nature has taken over and taken fires like the Dixie to places that I never thought was possible,” he said.The Caldor Fire jumped Highway 50 near Kyburz on Saturday, and a 40-mile stretch of the highway between was closed Friday. The impact of the Caldor Fire could be felt for weeks on Highway 50. The fire has compromised the highway’s safety with unstable trees lining the roadway’s edge. Even after the flames are out, work to assess and remove trees that pose a threat to drivers on that heavily traveled roadway will take time.As of Thursday, Cal Fire said 469 homes and 11 commercial buildings had been confirmed destroyed. The fire also damaged fiber lines linked to a cell tower. About 18,347 structures remain threatened, and evacuation orders remain in place for more than 20,000 people because of the fire.”This fire has just simply outpaced us,” said Jeff Marsolais, a forest supervisor for Eldorado National Forest. “We emptied the cupboards of resources, and the local fire chiefs of Amador and El Dorado counties sent every resource they could, and no matter how many folks we try to get on it, it just continued to outpace us.”U.S. Forest Service officials said that nine national forests will be temporarily closed through Sept. 6 because of extreme fire conditions.Officials previously announced a complete shutdown of the El Dorado National Forest through Sept. 30 because of the fire, and the Rubicon Trail was closed as well. | VIDEO BELOW | LiveCopter 3 over the Caldor Fire on Aug. 25, 2021| MORE | Wildfire Map: Here’s where California fires are burning A community almost leveledThe community of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, a once wooded area where roughly 1,200 people called home, is hardly recognizable now. The Caldor Fire burned through many of its neighborhoods and businesses, leaving mostly debris. Deputies with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Grizzly Flats and Pollock Pines areas to patrol after receiving several reports of looting. | VIDEO BELOW | A look at the Grizzly Flats neighborhood damaged in El Dorado CountyCaldor Fire structure damage mapEl Dorado County officials launched a structure damage map so residents can see the status of their homes.The map is updated daily at 9 a.m. (App users: Click here to see the interactive charts with this story). More Grizzly Flats coverage: Video: A look at a Grizzly Flats neighborhood damaged in El Dorado County’A miracle’: Woman learns Grizzly Flats home is still standing after Caldor FireEntire neighborhoods wiped, few homes stand in Grizzly Flats following Caldor Fire’It was getting too close for comfort’: Caldor Fire evacuees rush to escape flamesEvacuation orders for Caldor FireEl Dorado County Grizzly Flat: The areas on Grizzly Flats Road east of Kendra Way into Grizzly Flats ProperFlats Proper: The areas of Diamond Railroad Grade, Old School House, Sweeney Road, Caldor Road and Steely RidgeGrizzly Flats Road east of Four Corners in Somerset into Grizzly Flats ProperThe areas of Myers Lane, Varmet Ridge Road, Rodwell Canyon Road,Snowbird Lane and Mehwald LaneEast of Sly Park Road between Highway 50 and Mormon Emigrant Trail toIce House Road. This includes the communities of Pacific House and FreshPond. North of Highway 50, east of Forebay Road to Ice House RoadThe intersection of Perry Creek and Hawk Haven, the east side of Fairplay Roadfrom Perry Creek South to Cedarville Road. This includes Slug Gulch, OmoRanch and all roads off of Slug Gulch and Omo Ranch.All roads off of Omo Ranch from Cedarville Road to Highway 88The area between Highway 88 and Mormon Emigrant Trail south of Highway 50 from Snows Road to Ice House RoadBetween Highway 50 and Slab Creek from Snows Road to Ice House RoadSouth of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road. This includesthe community of Kyburz.North of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road to include Ice House Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir and Loon LakeSilver Fork Road in Kyburz east to Twin BridgesNorth and south in a line extending from Twin Bridges to the Placer Countyline and south to the Amador County lineAreas south of Farnham Ridge Road and east of Bridgeport School Road tothe Amador County lineFrom Twin Bridges east to Echo Summit From Highway 50 South to Amador/Alpine County line From Highway 50 North to Flag Pole PeakClick here to sign up for El Dorado County’s alert notification systemEvacuation warnings for Caldor FireAmador CountyShenandoah Road at the Amador County line west through the River Pines community, continuing west on Shenandoah Road to Ostrom RoadSouth on Ostrom Road to Jibboom Street, west on Jibboom Street to Fiddletown RoadEast on Fiddletown Road to Hale RoadSouth on Hale Road to Shake Ridge RoadEast on Shake Ridge Road to Charleston RoadSouth of Charleston Road to the intersection of Charleston Road and Rams Horn GradeDue east to Highway 88 at Tiger Creek RoadTiger Creek Road east to Salt Springs Reservoir RoadEast on Salt Springs Reservoir Road to the east end of the Salt Springs ReservoirDue north from the east end of Salt Springs Reservoir to Highway 88South of the El Dorado-Amador County line with a western border of Highway 88 due south to the east end of Salt Springs ReservoirThe southern border of the Calaveras County lineEastern border of the Alpine County line El Dorado County North of Slab Creek to Wentworth Springs Road between Sand Mountainand Loon Lake Mosquito Road from the bridge north to include the community ofSwansboroNorth of Highway 50 to Slab Creek between Smith Flat and Snows RoadSouth of Highway 50 to Pleasant Valley between Smith Flat and SnowsRoad, and north of Pleasant Valley between Holm and Newtown South of Pleasant Valley between Bucks Bar Road and Newtown Road, eastof Bucks Bar Road to Mt Aukum RoadSouthwest of Bucks Bar Road to Ladies Valley Road including the communityof Outingdale, Ant Hill Road, Perry Creek Road and Sand Ridge betweenLadies Valley Road and Bucks Bar Road East of Mt Aukum Road (E16) from Bucks Bar Road to Omo Ranch Road.North of Omo Ranch Road to the intersection of Omo Ranch Road andFairplay Road. South of Omo Ranch to the El Dorado County Line between Mt Aukum Road(E16) and Fairplay Road to include Coyoteville Road, Cedar Creek and alltributary roadsFrom the evacuation order line in Twin Bridges east to Echo Summit and from Hwy. 50 south to the Amador and Alpine County lines and north to the Placer County line. Christmas Valley from Highway 89 West to Echo Summit Highway 89 due West to Watershed Ridge and South to the Amador/El Dorado County line. Alpine CountyHighway 89 south from Luther Pass Road to the Pickets Junction (Highway 88)West on Highway 88 to KirkwoodShelter information Shelter: Green Valley Community Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville, CA Shelter: Cameron Park CSD, 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA Shelter: Rolling Hills Church, 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills, CA Temporary evacuation point: Amador County Fairgrounds, 18621 Sherwood Street, Plymouth, CA Shelter: Evelynn Bishop Hall, 701 Hwy 124, Ione, CA. Call 855-755-7711 for more info. Shelter: Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NevadaAnimal evacuation informationEl Dorado County Animal Services (small animals): 6435 Capitol Ave., Diamond Springs, CA. For animal evacuation questions or assistance, call 530-621-5795.Saureel Vineyards (large animals): 1140 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA. Call 530-621-5795 for more info. Amador County Fairgrounds (large animals): 18621 Sherwood Street, Plymouth, CA School closuresThe following schools were closed because of the fire: Gold Oak Union School District: Gold Oak Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Middle SchoolPioneer Union School District: Walt Tyler Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Mountain Creek Middle SchoolBattling the blaze The northeast area of the fire was active overnight as the amount of charred acreage increased, Cal Fire said in its Friday morning incident report.”The fire experienced short-range spotting that aligned with nighttime flow patterns producing several new ignitions within the control lines,” the report said. “Additionally, passive crown fires were common in the Northeastern, and Eastern areas of the incident. Critical fuel conditions, steep and rugged terrain still present a challenge for firefighters.” More than 3,200 personnel are fighting the blaze. Two people have been reported as seriously by the Caldor Fire, Cal Fire said.An injured person from the Grizzly Flats area approached firefighters the morning of Aug. 17, Cal Fire said. Crews tried giving medical care to the victim before requesting air transport for them, Cal Fire said. A second person was also injured in the Grizzly Flats area and was flown to a local hospital.As the wildfire raged, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 17 declared a state of emergency in El Dorado County. By declaring a state of emergency, the state can pull from federal funds to help battle the blaze. More than 41,000 people — roughly 24,500 in El Dorado County alone — have been evacuated from their homes due to wildfires burning across the state, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. — The Associated Press contributed reporting.More Caldor Fire coverageChristmas Valley residents prepare for possibility of Caldor Fire evacuations Caldor Fire creates worry for El Dorado County winemakers, fruit growers Getting the word out. How deputies alert people to evacuation ordersThousands evacuate to shelters in El Dorado, Amador counties as Caldor Fire burnsHere’s how wildfire evacuees can cast their ballot for the CA recall election | GET THE KCRA 3 APP FOR THE LATEST ALERTS | Apple iOS | Android || RELATED | Fire Season 2021 Preparedness Guide: What to know, how to keep your family safe