Firefighters strengthen Caldor fire containment line, more Tahoe area mandatory evacuations lifted
More evacuations orders were lifted Tuesday near South Lake Tahoe for El Dorado county neighborhoods from Al Tahoe Boulevard to just east of Elks Club Drive as firefighting efforts continue. The Caldor Fire was 49 percent contained and mapped at 216,646 acres, according to Cal Fire in a Tuesday morning report.
South and North Upper Truckee and Meyers remain under evacuation orders at this time. There will be another daily 5 p.m. community meeting hosted by Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado unit on their Facebook page here. This will include daily news from the west and east sides of the fire.
According to the Cal Fire report, overnight, multiple crews continued to work throughout the East Zone of the Fire. Suppression Modules worked late into the night mopping up and constructing hand lines near Ralston Lake in the Desolation Wilderness and remained in the area overnight; in doing so, these specially trained firefighters will be in place to continue their work early this morning.
In the areas around Upper and Lower Echo Lake, crews held the line and performed a tactical patrol checking for hotspots.
Near Trimmer Peak and the Luther Spires areas, crews continued to hold and improve the hand line.
In the Meyers and Christmas Valley areas, pockets of heat remain throughout. As a result, crews focused on increasing the depth of mop up.
Around Caples Lake area, crews continued their work holding and improving current hand lines.
Firefighters are laser-focused and continue to work the fire around the clock, building upon the work each other has accomplished the shift prior. This hard work will continue with the goal of keeping containment percentages moving on an upward trajectory.
West Zone
Fire remained active throughout the night due to the poor overnight humidity and higher than normal temperatures. Firefighters actively patrolled the area and kept spot fires in check. Along the northeast and southern edge of the fire interior islands near control lines continued to burn out while crews answered calls for service in the newly repopulated areas for minor heat found near structures and roadways.
On Tuesday, firefighters were to continue mopping up, reinforcing control lines, and clearing hazard trees. Damage inspections continue with approximately 90 percent of structures assessed.
The Numbers
Size: 216,646 acres
Containment: 49%
Civilian Injuries: 2
First Responder Injuries: 7
Structures Threatened: 24,647
Structures Damaged: 77
Single Residences Destroyed: 776
Commercial Properties Destroyed: 18
Other Minor Structures Destroyed: 200
Personnel on the fire: 4,723
Engines: 346
Water tenders: 80
Helicopters: 31
Handcrews: 68
Dozers: 68
Other: 34
Air Tankers: Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.