Caldor Fire prompts emergency closure of Eldorado National Forest
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Wed, 08/18/2021 - 7:36am
UPDATE: The Caldor Fire has burned 53,772 acres as of Wednesday morning with no containment, according to the latest from InciWeb.
A Cal Fire report Wednesday said the Caldor Fire experienced unprecedented fire behavior and growth overnight due to extremely dry fuels pushed by the southwest winds. Multiple evacuation orders and warnings are in place.
A Red Flag fire weather warning remains in effect for area through 8 p.m. Wednesday with winds switching to the northeast. These winds, combined with low humidity and extremely dry fuels, lead to critical fire weather conditions.
The communities in proximity to the Caldor Fire experienced multiple evacuations Tuesday due to the fast-moving fire. Some structures were damaged or destroyed. Structure assessment teams will be evaluating these areas as soon as it is safe for them to do so. Two civilians suffered injuries, according to Cal Fire.
"The rapidly changing, complexity and immediate needs of the incident have prevented assessing the quantity of resources resulting in no reported changes to the documented numbers in this update. We received additional resources and immediately utilized them on the fire. Significant resources have been ordered to be assigned to this incident," according to Cal Fire in a news release.
In response to the extreme fire behavior demonstrated by the Caldor Fire and risks to public and firefighter safety, Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais has issued an emergency forest closure of all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Eldorado National Forest.
The forest-wide closure — Forest Order No. 03-21-14 — will be in effect through September 30, 2021 to facilitate unimpeded ingress and egress for evacuations, emergency response, and property access. The closure will also limit the public's exposure to fire danger and impaired visibility due to smoke.
In less than three days, the Caldor Fire has grown to over 30,000 acres, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in El Dorado County as a result of the fire. The Caldor Fire has already burned numerous structures and caused at least two people to be hospitalized with injuries. Because the fire is not controlled and is actively burning, there is a high risk of flare ups or uncontrolled runs within the Forest.
The closure Order prohibits the use of areas, roads and trails on the Eldorado National Forest seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Conditions will be assessed daily to determine if it is safe to lift the closure.
The following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
A violation of the Order is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.
