Tuesday Caldor Fire update: Protecting Tahoe basin becomes national priority
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 08/24/2021 - 8:52am
The Caldor Fire burning in El Dorado County continues to push northeast and remains several miles away from Lake Tahoe, prompting fire officials Monday to declare the fire a national priority.
As of Tuesday morning the fire has been mapped at 117,704 acres, 9 percent contained and has destroyed 632 structures. According to the Tuesday morning Cal Fire update, fire activity overnight was moderate, with some significant terrain-driven runs near the containment line, which is the southwest corner of the fire.
The up-canyon southwest winds decreased and moderate overnight humidity recovery allowed firefighters to engage in direct control tactics while advancing indirect line construction. Fire officials say the fire continues to have passive crown fire runs in the Northeast and in steep drainages, causing small spot fires to develop throughout the evening.
Cal Fire Director Thom Porter said during a Monday afternoon news conference 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."
There are currently no evacuation warnings or orders for the Tahoe basin.
During their nightly community meeting, Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service updated the public on their current plans in fighting the fire. At this time, they plan on holding the eastern end of the fire with "as big of a dozer line as they can."
While there has been some spot fires on the eastern end of the fire near Strawberry, no new evacuation warnings or orders are in place. The fire hasn't reached far enough by Silverfork to trigger more evacuation warnings.
"Things are looking good on US50 until the head of the fire (the eastern side)," said Eric Schwab, Cal Fire incident commander. "The spot fire from several days ago is continuing to grow to the west, but it is stopped to the north and east. It was heavily worked today."
"It is a huge priority to stop the eastern spread," said Schwab of the Lake Tahoe situation. He said no fire has crossed to the western side of Sly Park Road which was rumored.
Calf Fire Chief Martin wanted to remind the public there are currently zero evacuation orders or warnings in the Lake Tahoe Basin. He did say they are working on long range planning with their partners in South Lake Tahoe but no trigger points have been met to evacuate anyone in the Basin.
"It is our goal is to keep it out of the Lake Tahoe Basin," said Martin.
The Caldor Fire is being described as a very complex fire burning in areas of very dry fuels during a historic drought in steep and hard to reach terrain. To date, 1,570,151 acres have burned in California in 2021, 42 percent over last year.
Hundreds of engines and crews have been stationed in the Strawberry area for days to perform structure preparation and building lines of defense.
Martin said the fire coming into Strawberry is a low intensity fire and not spreading with high intensity like other ends of the fire.
It was noted that the granite between Lake Tahoe and the fire helps prevent the spread of fire though some fuels exist, but nothing like the West Slope. They have more concern of spread south of US50 where there is no large rock beds and plentiful fuels.
Many during the community meeting were concerned about the historic cabins along US50 in the "mile tracts."
Martin said every single cabin has had a fire engine parked in front of it as they work to pretreat the area and do all they can to defend them.
What we know as of Tuesday:
Threatened:
Single Residences - 15,980
Multiple Residences - 931
Commercial Property -977
Destroyed
Single Residences - 455
Multiple Residences - 0
Commercial Property - 11
Other minor structures - 166
Damaged
Single Residences - 21
Multiple Residences - 1
Commercial Property -2
Other minor structures - 10
Damage inspections are in progress with approximately 45 percent of the current fire perimeter inspected to date.
One school, one church, a post office, and two fire stations (Grizzly Flats Forest Service and Pioneer F.D Station 35) were destroyed.
Substantial critical utility infrastructure damage and destruction have occurred in the Grizzly Flats area. Damage assessment is underway. PG&E currently has approximately 3,000 customers without power.
Estimated costs associated with fighting the Caldor Fire to date - $25,677,763.
