Caldor Fire officials credit good fuels management in protecting South Lake Tahoe

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Caldor Fire has been kept away from homes on the South Shore due to effective fuels treatment, said fire incident command during the nightly 5:00 p.m. meeting on Thursday. They highlighted the area above Apache Avenue, saying firefighters encountered 150 foot flames in the Caldor Fire when it came into the Lake Tahoe Basin, but once it hit the treated fuels, those flames dropped to 15 feet and they could get the fire out.

For the first time there are now two sections of fire management, one on the west side based in Placerville, the other on the east side based at Heavenly Mountain Resort and Harrahs Tahoe. They are working together but separate providing reports to keep all community members informed.

The new east fire management team said both North and South Upper Truckee do not have fire on them and they are working on wide contingency lines at Fallen Leaf Lake, just in case winds change or they see other extreme fire behavior.

Christmas Valley is "looking good." They received reports of spot fires in the area but could not find any upon inspection.

"The structures in there are a priority," the team said.

The fire was pushing into the Powerline grid where there is a dozer line established up to Star Lake. They are working on spot fires to prevent the fire from going into Nevada.

From the east management team came words of appreciation to the public for doing the difficult thing to evacuate homes. "We appreciate it so our people can get it to work," said the incident commander who was also impressed with the fuels management on the South Shore.

As the west side sees decreased fire activity and officials start repopulating the evacuated residents, there have still been a few areas of stubborn fire. Fire has not reached the cabins at Wright's Lake and they are using aggressive dozer lines and retardant to protect the buildings and they are trying to run the fire into Desolation Wilderness so it will run out of fuel over granite.

On the south end, firefighters continue to have challenges along SR88 as they try to keep fire to the north of the roadway though some broke through two days ago. Hand crews and dozer lines have been able to stop most progress and a couple of unburned pockets than remain inside the perimeter are being protected. They've also been working aggressively at Caples Lake to contain the fire.

Crews saw some smoke over the US50 corridor but no large bursts of fire.

On the east end of the fire, crews are still seeing fire activity at Lower Echo Lake and they continue to protect the homes.

There area much lighter winds over the fire area and conditions should remain through Saturday, at least. There is still low humidity and dry fuel, but the winds won't be a challenge.

Updated fire information will be released after 7:00 p.m.