Crews taking advantage of weather, Caldor Fire now 29% contained after 212,907 acres burn

Overall activity on the Caldor Fire decreased overnight due to moderate humidity recovery and a decrease in winds. Firefighters took advantage of these favorable conditions to build more control line and work direct along the northern edge of the fire. Spot fires from the wind event two days ago continue to be found and firefighters engaged when safe to do so. Minimal fire growth occurred in the Kirkwood area. Today crews will work to tie in more control line and mop up.

On the East Zone from Echo Summit to Lake Tahoe through Caples Lake, weather continued to moderate yesterday with cooler temperatures in the 70’s and lighter southwest winds and some gustier conditions on the ridge tops. Fire growth was minimal on the East Zone with some perimeter expansion near Cold Creek on the northeast edge, at Luther Spire east of Christmas Valley, and in timber stringers north of Caples Lake. Today the inversion will break around 10:00 a.m. when fire behavior may begin to increase. Relative humidity is expected to be in the teens, winds will switch to the east-southeast with gusts to 20 mph on ridges. Exceptionally dry fuel conditions exist in and round the fire area.

Yesterday the fire was active at Lower Echo Lake, hand crews were successful extinguishing interior hot spots and directly on the fire’s edge. Structure protection preparations and mop up around cabins continued at both Lower and Upper Echo Lake. The fire was active along the northeast flank, northeast of Pioneer Trail. Here hand crews and dozers constructed fireline adjacent to active fire to herd the fire toward Cold Creek and connect into completed dozer line along the powerline corridor. At the head of the fire near Trimmer Peak, hotshot crews were successful extinguishing fire around numerous hot spots. Dozers and hand crews worked along the fire’s edge from Trimmer Peak southwest to Saxon Creek. In Christmas Valley east of SR 89, the fire remained active and hand crews began constructing indirect fireline using trails in the area that will connect back to the main fire in Saxton Creek.

Today hand crews will continue to build and improve fireline along the fire perimeter near Lower and Upper Echo Lakes, northeast of Pioneer Trail toward Cold Creek, and east of SR89 at Luther Spire. Air resources will assist firefighters on the ground with retardant and water drops to slow fire movement and cool hot spots along the fire perimeter as conditions allow. In Hope Valley along California SR 88, a contingency group will use masticators to reduce dense vegetation along the highway corridor.

The Numbers

Size: 212,907 acres
Containment: 29%
Civilian Injuries: 2
First Responder Injuries: 4
Structures Threatened: 31,901
Single Residences Threatened: 26,476
Multiple residences Threatened: 4,402
Businesses Threatened: 1,023
Structures Damaged: 55
Single Residences Destroyed: 661
Commercial Properties Destroyed: 12
Other Minor Structures Destroyed: 184
Evacuated: 49,171
From Temporary Shelters: 633
Estimated incident costs to date: $87,792,277
Personnel on the fire: 4,415
Engines: 523
Water tenders: 84
Helicopters: 27
Handcrews: 62
Dozers: 95
Other: 34
Air Tankers: Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.