Incident Update Caldor Fire

Situation Summary

Evacuation Orders have been downgraded to Evacuation Warnings in El Dorado County (9/16/2021 9:10AM)

WHAT: Evacuation Orders Downgraded
WHEN: Effective Immediately
WHERE: El Dorado County

Evacuation Order Update:
The following Evacuation orders have been downgraded to Evacuation Warnings in El Dorado County:

• South of Mormon Emigrant Trail to Highway 88 and west on Highway 88 to Hams Station.
• South of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road, to include the community of Kyburz and east of Mormon Emigrant Trail to Highway 88.

REMINDER: There is still a temporary Emergency Closure in effect for the Eldorado National Forest through the end of September. This closure includes all National Forest Service lands, roads (including Mormon Emigrant Trail) and trails within the Eldorado National Forest. See Forest Order 03-21-14 for more information. To request access to private lands and recreational residences accessible via closed Forest Service roads, please contact your local Forest Service District Office.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit closure order 19-21-05 remains in effect for the following backcountry areas: Desolation Wilderness, Meiss Country, Barker Pass and McKinney/Rubicon through September 19, 2021.

Repopulation consists of complex coordination between fire, law enforcement, public works, and utilities to ensure the safety of residents and fire responders alike.

The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and any evacuation orders and warnings. A reminder to drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel in the area. There will be smoke in the respective areas as firefighters continue firefighting operations. If at any time you feel unsafe, please call 911. For tips on returning home after wildfire visit: Returning Home Checklist - Ready for Wildfire.

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WEST ZONE Situation Summary:

It was hazy across the fire area overnight as smoke from other fires drifted northward. The winds were generally light (5 to 10 mph) diurnal and drainage driven. Fuels will continue to smolder and creep in the surface fuels within the interior islands and pockets of timber. Increasing winds will raise the potential for more active fire behavior in the unburned islands and timber stringers. Areas of the fire have experienced needle and leaf drop which may allow creeping fire through this layer. Over the next operational period, fire fighters will look to continue to construct control lines and mitigate hazard in and around communities and roadways to “make safe” for repopulation efforts.

To better provide public and firefighter safety due to extreme fire conditions throughout Northern California, and strained firefighter resources throughout the country, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forests in California. The closure order can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/USFSClosure.

EAST ZONE Situation Summary:

Weather was favorable overnight, with cold and moderately humid conditions and winds from the south/southwest at gusts of up to 20 mph.
Overnight, firefighters continued to improve and secure contained sections of fireline, with the highest priorities being tactical patrol in populated areas to provide service should any heat or smoke remain, while holding and maintaining sections of line around Christmas Valley and Echo Lakes. Multiple crews remained spiked out near Echo Lakes and Caples Lake to provide ease of access for their shift.

Today, fire crews will continue to build containment on the fire by working west from Echo Lakes into Desolation Wilderness and continuing to construct line in the Trimmer Peak, Convict Meadows and Margaret Lake areas.

Road Closures

ALPINE COUNTY

Road Closures: 

• Highway 88 has reopened from Pickett’s Junction to Kirkwood Meadows Dr.
  • Highway 88 from Kirkwood Meadows Drive Westbound will remain closed at this time due to fire activity 

Evacuation Shelters

EL DORADO COUNTY SHELTERS

• Rolling Hills Church
  800 White Rock Road
  El Dorado Hills, CA

• Reno-Sparks Convention Center
  4590 South Virginia Street, Reno

NEVADA STATE SHELTERS

• Reno-Sparks Convention Center
  4590 South Virginia Street, Reno

Animal Evacuation Centers

EL DORADO COUNTY

• El 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) (FULL)
  1140 Cold Springs Road
  Placerville, CA
  (530) 621-5795

NEVADA

• East to West Grooming
  1368 Hwy 395, Unit B1, Gardnerville, NV
  - (Small Animals Only)
  
  
• Washoe County Animal Services
  2825 Longley Ln, Ste A Reno, NV
  
  
• Douglas County Fairgrounds- (Livestock)
  920 Dump Road, Gardnerville, NV
  775-782-9061

• Douglas County Animal Services
  921 Dump Rd. Gardnerville, NV
  - (Small Animals Only)

USFS Forest Information

• The Region-wide Forest closure order will be terminated at 11:59 PM September 15, 2021
• The Eldorado National Forest forest-wide closure (03-21-14) remains in effect until September 30. Access and orders will be refined over time.
• The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit closure order (19-21-05) remains in effect for the following backcountry areas: Desolation Wilderness, Meiss Country, Barker Pass and McKinney/Rubicon through Sep. 19, 2021. Access and orders will be refined over time.
• A Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) has started evaluating the Caldor Fire area. This is a rapid assessment of burned watersheds by a BAER team to identify imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources on National Forest System lands and take immediate actions to implement emergency stabilization measures before the first post-fire damaging events.

Evacuation Information:

Amador County Evacuations

Amador County Evacuation Orders:

• Zone 4A- South of Highway 88 along the Amador-El Dorado County line from Dufrene Road, north of the line due East from Dufrene Road to the Amador -Alpine County line, West of the line due South from Highway 88 to the East end of Salt Springs Reservoir.
• Zone 5A- South of Highway 88 along the Amador-El Dorado County line, north of the line due East from Dufrene Road to the Amador - Alpine County Line, East of the line due South from Highway 88 to the East end of Salt Springs Reservoir, West of the Amador - Alpine County line.

Amador County Evacuation Warnings:

• Zone 4B- South of Dufrene Road due East to the Amador-Alpine County line, North of the Amador - Calaveras County Line, West of Panther Creek Road, East of the line due South from Highway 88 to the East end of the Salt Springs Reservoir.
• Zone 5B- South of Dufrene Road due East to the Amador-Alpine County line, North of the Amador - Calaveras County line, West of the Amador - Alpine County line, East of the line due South from Highway 88 to the East end of the Salt Springs Reservoir.

El Dorado County Evacuations

El Dorado County Evacuation Orders:

• CAPLES CREEK - This section is south of Highway 50 east of Kyburz up to 41 Milestone Tract and south all the way to Highway 88 between 1 mile east of Mormon Immigrant Trail up to Caples Lake following the county line.
• DESOLATION - This section extends south of the Placer County line in the area of the Rubicon Trail between Spider Lake and Sourdough Hill and extends south into Desolation Wilderness all the way to Highway 50 to include the areas of Rockbound Lake, Rubicon Reservoir, Highland Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Schmidell Lake and Twin Lakes south to Highway 50 between Wrights Lake Road and Twin Bridges. The eastern edge of this area is in line with Clyde Lake and Pyramid Lake.
• DESOLATION EAST - The area north of Echo Lake, following the Desolation Wilderness north staying west of Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake, and Emerald Bay up to the Placer County Line
• DESOLATION NORTH - This is the area of Desolation Wilderness south of the Placer County Line extending to Emerald Bay, but staying within Desolation Wilderness.
• GRIZZLY FLAT PROPER - The communities of Grizzly Flats and Blue Mountain remain Closed. South of the intersection of Cosumnes Mine Road and Sciaroni Road, North and East of the intersection of Grizzly Flat Road and Steely Road, West of the intersection of Capps Crossing Road and Cypress Point Drive.
• HEAVENLY - East of Pioneer Trail between Larch and Al Tahoe, to include the area of Heavenly Ski Resort out to the Alpine County Line and the Nevada State line on the east.
• HELL HOLE - Northeast of Highway 89, west of the Alpine County line, and south of Tahoe Paradise Golf Course.
• MET TO HWY 88 - South of Mormon Emigrant Trail to Highway 88. West on Highway 88 to Hams Station.
• NORTH ECHO - North of Highway 50 between Twin Bridges and Echo Summit, extending to the north just past Upper Echo Lake
• SOUTH ECHO - South of Highway 50 starting at Camp Sacramento to the top of Echo Summit then proceeding due south to the Alpine County Line.
• TRIMMER - The area east of Pioneer Trail to the Alpine County Line stopping south of Heavenly Ski Resort, excluding all residences off of Pioneer Trail.
• US 50 SOUTH TO KYBURZ - South of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road, to include the community of Kyburz. East of Mormon Emigrant Trail to Highway 88.

El Dorado County Evacuation Warnings:

• CALDOR - East of North South Road, West of Service Road 09N78A, north of the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River, south of Caldor
• CRYSTAL BASIN B: From Ice House Road east to the border of desolation wilderness and from the Placer County line, south to Granite Springs Road and the area south of Granite Springs Road to Highway 50 at Wrights Lake Road
• CHRISTMAS VALLEY - All residences accessed from Highway 89 south of Highway 50 in Meyers through Christmas Valley and including all of South Upper Truckee.
• FALLEN LEAF C - The area of Fallen Leaf Road from Tahoe Mountain Road into the end of Fallen Leaf Road. The privately owned residences are open to be occupied under this warning. The US Forest Service permitted residences must get an exemption permit from the US Forest Service prior to returning and that will likely be in the form of a day pass only.
• GREATER GRIZZLY EAST - South of Mormon Emigrant Trail, West of North South Road, North of Omo Ranch Road, East of the intersection of Omo Ranch and Slug Gulch Road, South of the Community of Blue Mountain, East of the intersection of Capps Crossing Road and Cypress Point Road.
• MEYERS - All residences in Meyers north of Highway 89 and east of Highway 50 to include all streets accessed from Apache, Mandan, following Pioneer Trail northeast just past Elks Club.
• PI PI - East of North South Road from Omo Ranch to Cat Creek and east to Highway 88 1 mile east of Omo Ranch Road.
• SOUTHEAST POLLOCK - South of Highway 50 east of Sly Park Road, west of Ice House Road, North of MET.
• WASHOE MEADOWS / NORTH UPPER TRUCKEE - All streets accessed from North Upper Truckee Road which is north of Highway 50 stopping at Sawmill and Lake Tahoe Blvd on the north side. This includes all residences on Sawmill and the residences to the west of Highway 50 in Meyers to include Country Club, Bakersfield, East S and Hopi. 
• THE FOLLOWING STREETS IN EL DORADO COUNTY - Grizzly Flat Road between Steely Ridge Road and Blue Mountain Road. Cosumnes Mine Road between String Canyon Road and the North Fork of the Cosumnes River. String Canyon Road between Grizzly Flat Road and Eagle Hill Road.

Alpine County Evacuations

Evacuation Order:

• None

Evacuation Warning:

• ZONE 19 & ZONE 20 - Highway 88 Pickett’s Junction south to Kirkwood and the Alpine/Amador County Line
  • All areas to the west of Highway 88
    • Red Lake, Caples Lake, Kirkwood
  • Wilderness and forested areas south of 88 and west of Blue Lakes
    • Sisters, Fourth of July Peak, Fourth of July Canyon, Devils Corral, Winnemucca Lake, Frog Lake, Emigrant Peak, Elephants Back
• ZONE 21A – Highway 89 at Pickett’s Junction west to the Alpine/El Dorado County Line
• ZONE 22A – Pickett’s Junction Northeast to Fay Luther Canyon
  • Horse Thief Canyon to Fay Luther Canyon
• ZONE 23 – Blue Lakes Rd. Upper Blue Lake, Burnside Lake & Rd., Elephants Graveyard, “The Patch”
  • Forestdale Rd from Junction 88 to Upper Blue Lake

Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.

Engines

140

Water Tenders

51

Helicopters

18

Air Tankers

0

Dozers

28

Hand Crews

52

Other

25

Total Personnel

2948

Cooperating Agencies