Caldor Fire News: 104,309 acres, 5% contained
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/22/2021 - 6:39pm
The Caldor Fire is now mapped at 104,309 acres and is now 5 percent contained.
The operational boundary of the Caldor Fire will be moving out to SR89 on Monday morning but there will be no new evacuation warnings or orders moving with it.
The eastern operation objective line was at Strawberry Creek, but with the fire moving in Kyburz, Calfire moved it out.
"We don't want to be fighting fire from 89," said fire managers during their evening recap Sunday. "We're just giving people room to fight the fire. We have no intention of letting the fire get to 89."
In between SR89 and Strawberry, crews will be building secondary and contingency lines and making every effort to contain the fire. They will make a direct attack on the fire from the ground and air.
"Be diligent and pay attention to the news," said Calfire. They announced the line changes so nobody would be shocked when they showed upon the 7:00 a.m. report and maps Monday.
"They are not saying the fire will get near 89," said South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Clive Savacool. "They are not extending evacuations, not saying fire will reach that area. It's just for their operational planning."
Savacool wants the public to know the northern operational line is at Wentworth Springs Road which is far ahead of the fire. It will be the same idea on the eastern flank.
The Caldor Fire was active on the southwest side along with the growth on the northeast side along the US50 corridor. There were a few very small spot fires on the northeast end of the fire, but they were quickly extinguished. The spot fire yesterday is about 200 acres, has a dozer line around it and being actively fought by firefighters.
In all areas, hand and dozer lines continue to be established with fixed wing and helicopter support from the air. Aircraft couldn't go to the eastern side of the fire Sunday due to smoke so they were very active from Jenkinson Lake to Omo Ranch.
Calfire said to expect US50 being closed for awhile. Even after fire goes through the area they have to clear burned trees and remove other safety hazards.
Unified Incident Commander Chief Martin said favorable fire weather for the next few days will be about the same - highs in the 70s-80s, humidity in the low to mid 20s, with down-canyon winds from the east to the center of the fire area, switching back to being from the southwest during the day with gusts up to 13 mph. Tahoe should see clearer morning skies until those southwest winds start up.
For those concerned with rumors, Savacool said to go with reliable sources, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, the City of South Lake Tahoe,and Calfire and not third-party sources.
"It is one team, one fight. Stay informed, stay safe."
Sunday night figures:
Acreage - 104,309 acres
Containment - 5%
Structures threatened - 17,488
Single residents destroyed - 345, commercial properties destroyed - 6, other minor structures destroyed - 124
Structures damaged - 22