By Paula Peterson
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – It has been an overwhelming day of evacuating the largest city at Lake Tahoe along with all remaining El Dorado County portions at the lake. Some areas in Christmas Valley and Meyers were evacuated on Sunday and now all evacuations have been completed at this time. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and its mutual aid partners will be patrolling the streets looking for those who do not belong.
During a press conference Monday afternoon at South Lake Tahoe City Hall, several members of the teams working on the fire updated the public on the current situation in South Lake Tahoe, Meyers and Christmas Valley.
Fire is now burning in Christmas Valley with a burning ember ending up to the east side of SR89 behind the Caltrans station and El Dorado County Animal Services Department. According to South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool, the fire is currently burning uphill away from homes.
“These spot fires will be challenging,” said Savacool.
With the intensity of the fire and a Red Flag Warning Day, the situation can change quickly and resources are focusing on the next 24-48 hours.
At this hour that is the only fire inside the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The evacuating public was stuck on roads around South Lake Tahoe for over three hours, but the response by the public was fantastic, said South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Dave Stevenson.
The traffic that occurred took citizens awhile to get out, but Savacool added that it meant the public was listening and responding to evacuation orders.
With the public removed, firefighters can now focus on fighting the fire and not evacuating citizens.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Eric Palmberg extended gratitude to CalFire and the US Forest Service teams and resources at the Caldor Fire. He thanked all mutual aid law enforcement partners that responded to their request for help two weeks ago.
Stevenson added to the gratitude, extending thanks to Harrah’s and Harveys for letting the emergency evacuation group move into their hotels and away from the airport.
Another incident command has been ordered to work on the Lake Tahoe end of the Caldor Fire. They are on their way to aid in the fire fight.