Caldor Fire: All South Lake Tahoe residents ordered to evacuate
Evacuation orders were issued Monday for all of South Lake Tahoe after expanded evacuations the night before as the massive Caldor Fire in El Dorado County experienced a "rapid spread," Cal Fire said.
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Monday's new evacuation orders are for the following areas:
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.
Stateline: East of Ski run on the lake side of Pioneer Trail and also both sides of Pioneer Trail between Larch and the Nevada State line.
Tahoe Keys: All residences with the Tahoe Keys community and all residents accessed from the streets connected to Tahoe Keys Boulevard, staying east of Third Street.
Tahoe Island: East of Highway 50/Highway 89 at the at the Lake Tahoe Blvd and Highway 89 Highway 50 intersection. This includes the area of Barton Hospital and the area of Winnemucca to the "Y." Also north of Highway 50 west of Tahoe Keys Boulevard following along the north side of Highway 89 through the end of town prior to Pope Beach.
Al Tahoe: All residences off of Lakeview, which is west of Highway 50, north of Blue Lakes Road and east of Tahoe Keys Neighborhood.
Sierra Tract: All residences on both sides of Highway 50 for the streets connected to O’Malley, Lodi, Silver Dollar and Rubicon Trail.
Bijou: The residences between Al Tahoe on the east side of Johnson Boulevard to include the streets of Treehaven and Fremont and extending to the east in to all residences west of Ski Run and east of Pioneer Trail.
Tahoma: The section from Emerald Bay north to the Placer County line in Tahoma, extending west to the border of Desolation Wilderness.
Fallen Leaf: The area from Sawmill Road at Lake Tahoe Boulevard extending north to Pope Beach. Along the water’s edge to Eagle Point. From Eagle Point west, to Desolation Wilderness, across Emerald Bay.
Pioneer: This is the area north of Elks Club along Highway 50 and the west side of Pioneer Trail, also including the streets of Hekpa, excluding the residences west of the airport. This segment includes all residences accessed from Jicarilla, Washoan and Glen Eagles. This also includes the Golden Bear neighborhood, and the neighborhoods of Cold Creek Trail, High Meadows and Marshall Trail.
Gardner Mountain: Northwest of the South Lake Tahoe Airport and west of the Highway 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd and Highway 89 intersection to include the South Lake Tahoe High School, Tahoe Verde and the streets accessed from 5th through 15th street south of Highway 89.
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.
The expanded evacuation orders come as a red flag warning is set to go into effect at 11 a.m. Monday for the Northern Sierra and Southern Cascades.
Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe was evacuated Sunday.
"All patients have been transferred to regional partner facilities and their families have been notified," the hospital said on its website.
The Caldor Fire, which ignited Aug. 14 near Little Mountain between Omo Ranch and Grizzly Flats, has burned at least 177,260 acres, or 276 square miles, and containment has dropped to 14%, as of Monday morning, Cal Fire said. On Sunday, there was 19% containment reported.
As of Monday morning, Cal Fire said 472 homes and 11 commercial properties had been confirmed destroyed. The fire also damaged fiber lines linked to a cell tower.
More than 20,000 structures remain threatened, and evacuation orders remain in place for more than 30,000 people because of the fire.
With thousands expected to vacate the greater Tahoe area, westbound routes toward the Sacramento region are limited. See the travel options here.
An evacuation order means residents need to immediately move out of the area due to an imminent threat to life and the area is closed to public access.
(Scroll down to see a complete list of evacuation orders, warnings and an evacuation map.)
These wave of new evacuation orders comes as a large portion of Highway 88 is now shut down. The closure is from Omo Ranch Road to the Highway 88/89 closure. Caltrans is urging motorists to use an alternate route. With the closure of Highway 88, people in Tahoe will only have Interstate 80 as an option to leave the area to the west as Highway 50 remains closed.
Battling the blaze
The Caldor Fire had "rapid-fire spread" on Sunday, Cal Fire said.
Humidity recovery was poor overnight, which allowed the fire to actively burn, Cal Fire said in its Monday morning incident report.
"Fuel conditions remain critical and we still see active crown runs and group torching in the northeastern divisions of the fire," the report goes on to say.
Fire behavior is resulting in ember casts "traveling up to half a mile," Cal Fire said.
Three first responders and two other people have been injured in the fire.
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 43,000 people — roughly 30,000 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 battle for Strawberry
On Saturday, firefighters worked to keep the flames away from structures in Strawberry by running backfire operations and laying down hose line.
Smith said that Strawberry was chosen as an optimal staging area for firefighters to position themselves should the Caldor Fire begin threatening more homes farther east.
'Knocking on the door to the Lake Tahoe Basin'
Cal Fire Director Thom Porter said during a news conference last 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.
"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.
| VIDEO BELOW | Cal Fire chief talks about Caldor Fire's potential threat to Tahoe Basin
Jumping Highway 50
The Caldor Fire jumped Highway 50 near Kyburz on Saturday, Aug. 21, a day after a 40-mile stretch of the highway between was closed.
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.
"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 Eldorado 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
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A community almost leveled
The 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 reports of looting.
| VIDEO BELOW | A look at the Grizzly Flats neighborhood damaged in El Dorado County
Caldor Fire structure damage map
El 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.
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 Fire
- Entire neighborhoods wiped, few homes stand in Grizzly Flats following Caldor Fire
- 'It was getting too close for comfort': Caldor Fire evacuees rush to escape flames
Evacuation orders for Caldor Fire
El Dorado County
- Grizzly Flat: The areas on Grizzly Flats Road east of Kendra Way into Grizzly Flats Proper
- Flats Proper: The areas of Diamond Railroad Grade, Old School House, Sweeney Road, Caldor Road and Steely Ridge
- Grizzly Flats Road east of Four Corners in Somerset into Grizzly Flats Proper
- The areas of Myers Lane, Varmet Ridge Road, Rodwell Canyon Road, Snowbird Lane and Mehwald Lane
- East of Sly Park Road between Highway 50 and Mormon Emigrant Trail to Ice House Road. This includes the communities of Pacific House and Fresh Pond.
- North of Highway 50, east of Forebay Road to Ice House Road
- The intersection of Perry Creek and Hawk Haven, the east side of Fairplay Road from Perry Creek South to Cedarville Road. This includes Slug Gulch, Omo Ranch and all roads off of Slug Gulch and Omo Ranch.
- All roads off of Omo Ranch from Cedarville Road to Highway 88
- The area between Highway 88 and Mormon Emigrant Trail south of Highway 50 from Snows Road to Ice House Road Between Highway 50 and Slab Creek from Snows Road to Ice House Road South of Highway 50 from Ice House Road to Silver Fork Road. This includes the 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 Lake Silver Fork Road in Kyburz east to Twin Bridges
- North and south in a line extending from Twin Bridges to the Placer County line and south to the Amador County line
- Areas south of Farnham Ridge Road and east of Bridgeport School Road to the Amador County line
- From Twin Bridges east to Echo Summit
- From Highway 50 South to Amador/Alpine County line
- From Highway 50 North to Flag Pole Peak
- Pleasant Valley Road and all intersecting roads extending south from Newton Road to the intersection of E-16
- All roads from E-16 between Pleasant Valley Road and Bucks Bar Road, including residences and roads accessed from Moon-Shadow and Gopher Hole Road off Bucks Bar Road
- Christmas Valley from Highway 89 West to Echo Summit
• Highway 89 due west to Watershed Ridge/Echo Summit and south to the
Amador/El Dorado County line.
• The area from Luther Pass Road, north along the El Dorado/Alpine County
line to Armstrong Pass. West from Armstrong Pass to Upper Apache at Meyers. West on Upper Apache to Highway 50. West on Highway 50 to Highway 89. South on Highway 89 to the El Dorado/Alpine County line. This includes all homes on both sides of Highway 89.
• The area from Upper Apache at Meyers, north along Highway 50, to Elks Club Drive. East on Elks Club Drive to Pioneer Trail, extending due south to Upper Apache at Meyers. (This includes all homes off of Oneidas, Mandan, Apache, Ottawa and Player).
• The area North on Highway 50 from Highway 89 to Saw Mill Road. West on Saw Mill Road to Angora Ridge, extending to the Echo Summit. - Desolation Wilderness from the watershed ridge to the CA ENF/CA TMU wilderness boundary. From the El Dorado/Placer county line to Echo Lakes.
- The area north of Elks Club along Highway 50 and the west side Pioneer Trail, but also including the street of Hekpa, but excluding the residences west of the airport.
This segment includes all residences accessed from Jicarilla, Washoan and Glen Eagles.
This also includes the Golden Bear neighborhood and the neighborhoods of Cold Creek Trail, High Meadows, Marshall Trail. - Tahoma: The section from Emerald Bay north to the Placer county line in Tahoma, extending west to the border of Desolation Wilderness.
- Fallen Leaf: The area from Sawmill Road at Lake Tahoe Blvd. extending north to Pope Beach. Along the water’s edge to Eagle Point. From Eagle Point west, to Desolation Wilderness, across Emerald Bay.
- Pioneer: This is the area North of Elks Club along Highway 50 and the West side of Pioneer Trail, also including the streets of Hekpa, excluding the residences west of the airport, this segment includes all residences accessed from Jicarilla, Washoan, and Glen Eagles. This also includes the Golden Bear neighborhood, and the neighborhoods of Cold Creek Trail, High Meadows, and Marshall Trail.
- Gardner Mountain: Northwest of the South Lake Tahoe Airport and west of the Highway 50/Lake Tahoe Blvd and Highway 89 intersection to include the South Lake Tahoe High School, Tahoe Verde and the streets accessed from 5th through 15th street south of Highway 89.
- Trimmer: The area East of Pioneer Trail to the Alpine County Line stopping south of Heavenly Ski Resort, excluding all residence off of Pioneer Trail.
- Tahoe Keys: All residences with the Tahoe Keys community and all residents accessed from the streets connected to Tahoe Keys Boulevard, staying east of Third Street.
- Tahoe Island: East of Highway 50/Highway 89 at the at the Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Highway 89 Highway 50 intersection. This includes the area of Barton Hospital and the area of Winnemucca to the "Y." Also north of Highway 50 west of Tahoe Keys Boulevard following along the north side of Highway 89 through the end of town prior to Pope Beach.
- Al Tahoe: All residences off of Lakeview which is west of Highway 50 North of Blue Lakes Road and east of Tahoe Keys Neighborhood.
- Sierra Tract: All residences on both sides of Highway 50 for the streets connected to O’Malley, Lodi, Silver Dollar and Rubicon Trail.
- Bijou: The residences between Al Tahoe on the east side of Johnson Blvd to include the streets of Treehaven and Fremont and extending to the east in to all residences west of Ski Run and east of Pioneer Trail.
Alpine County
- Highway 89 south, from Luther Pass Road to the Pickets Junction (Highway 88). West on Highway 88 to Kirkwood. South to include Kirkwood Ski Resort and Caples Lake.
Amador County
- Highway 89 south from Luther Pass Road to Pickets Junction (Highway 88)
- West on Highway 88 to Kirkwood
- South of Highway 88 along the Amador/El Dorado County line from Dufrene Road, due east to the Amador/Alpine County line and from the Amador/Alpine County line north to Highway 88. This includes the area of Kirkwood Lake.
App users, click here to see a map of active evacuation orders
Click here to sign up for El Dorado County's alert notification system
Evacuation warnings for Caldor Fire
Amador County
- Shenandoah Road at the Amador County line west through the River Pines community, continuing west on Shenandoah Road to Ostrom Road
- South on Ostrom Road to Jibboom Street, west on Jibboom Street to Fiddletown Road
- East on Fiddletown Road to Hale Road
- South on Hale Road to Shake Ridge Road
- East on Shake Ridge Road to Charleston Road
- South of Charleston Road to the intersection of Charleston Road and Rams Horn Grade
- Due east to Highway 88 at Tiger Creek Road
- Tiger Creek Road east to Salt Springs Reservoir Road
- East on Salt Springs Reservoir Road to the east end of the Salt Springs Reservoir
- Due north from the east end of Salt Springs Reservoir to Highway 88
- South of the El Dorado-Amador County line with a western border of Highway 88 due south to the east end of Salt Springs Reservoir
El Dorado County
- North of Slab Creek to Wentworth Springs Road between Sand Mountain and Loon Lake
- Mosquito Road from the bridge north to include the community of Swansboro
- North of Highway 50 to Slab Creek between Smith Flat and Snows Road
- South of Highway 50 to Pleasant Valley between Smith Flat and Snows Road, and north of Pleasant Valley between Holm and Newtown
- Southwest of Bucks Bar Road to Ladies Valley Road including the community of Outingdale, Ant Hill Road, Perry Creek Road and Sand Ridge between Ladies 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 and Fairplay Road.
- South of Omo Ranch to the El Dorado County Line between Mount Aukum Road (E16) and Fairplay Road to include Coyoteville Road, Cedar Creek and all tributary roads
- The remaining area of the Lake Tahoe Basin. From the Alpine/El Dorado county line, north along the California/Nevada state line to Lake Tahoe. North along the water's edge to the El Dorado/Placer county line. West along the El Dorado/Placer county line to McKinney Lake.
Alpine County
- Highway 88 at Forestdale Road. West of Forestdale Road and south to the Pacific Crest Trail Crossing. West of the Pacific Crest Trail to the Summit City Canyon Trail. West of Summit City Canyon Trail and south to the El Dorado / Stanislaus National Forest Line. El Dorado / Stanislaus National Forest Line west to the Alpine and Amador County line.
- South of Armstrong Summit to Woodfords to Forestdale Road, north of Highway 88 and Highway 89 to Armstrong Summit.
Road closures
- Highway 50 closed in both directions from the Sly Park Road exit to
Meyers (Highway 50 and Highway 89 junction).
• The Highway 50 closure has been extended East to Sawmill Road
• Highway 50 at Sawmill
• Pioneer Trail at Elks Club
• Elks Club at Highway 50
• Highway 89 at Highway 88 junction
• Fallen Leaf at Tahoe Mountain - Highway 88 is closed between Omo Ranch Road and the Highway 88/89 interchange
Shelter information
- Shelter: Truckee Veterans Hall is open and =AZWU_rE77FVZQvRg-CxhK_GuSoCMJ-jPu5eKf02ZaF0JI821VcD6XqDMVeJAjS1icFqNaaxOTK8G0xYkUq3O0eKzNFBT8nOZBUAAEcKFXAuhuE7t9wJn9JE7ksqiVgHNcgaPnRh_R-HajE6M8-Emj7zA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R" target="_blank">aimed at those from the South Lake Tahoe Area. 10214 High Street, Truckee, CA
- Nevada Shelter: A Red Cross Shelter is open for those evacuating from the area at the Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV
- 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, Nevada
- Temporary evacuation point: Italian Picnic Grounds in Sutter Creek
Animal evacuation information
- 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): 1140 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA. Call 530-621-5795 for more info. (This is full)
- Amador County Fairgrounds (large animals): 18621 Sherwood Street, Plymouth, CA
In Nevada:
- Douglas County Animal Services: 921 Dump Road, Gardnerville, 775-782-9061
- Douglas County Fairgrounds (livestock): 920 Dump Road, Gardnerville, 775-782-9061
School closures
The following schools were closed because of the fire:
- Gold Oak Union School District: Gold Oak Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Middle School
- Pioneer Union School District: Walt Tyler Elementary, Pioneer Elementary, Mountain Creek Middle School
— The Associated Press contributed reporting.
More Caldor Fire coverage
- Sly Park homes remain unscathed as Caldor Fire burns nearby
- Wildfire Smoke: Here’s what AQI really means
- El Dorado County assistance center opens for those impacted by Caldor Fire
- Galt officer dies after crash while en route to Caldor Fire
- Containment efforts continue on Caldor Fire; town of Meyers prepares to evacuate
- With Caldor Fire threatening, Lake Tahoe prepares for emergency
- Christmas Valley residents prepare for the 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 orders
- Thousands evacuate to shelters in El Dorado, Amador counties as Caldor Fire burns
- Here’s how wildfire evacuees can cast their ballot for the CA recall election
- How to help people impacted by Northern California wildfires
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Road closures due to Caldor Fire limit westbound routes out of Lake Tahoe area
More routes are open for travelers going north or south out of the basin
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