South Upper Truckee residents thank fire fighters heading out from Celio Ranch

MEYERS, Calif. - As has been the common theme all week on streets around South Lake Tahoe, Meyers, and Christmas Valley, messages of gratitude to firefighters are displayed to those who saved the community from the Caldor Fire.

While all firefighting efforts are impressive, perhaps none as much as those around the historic Celio Ranch, South Upper Truckee Road and Christmas Valley.

Homes and the ranch were defended as flaming embers came upon the valley, aided by big gusts of wind from the top of Echo Summit. The flames made their way down and jumped the highway, heading up the east side of Christmas Valley before fire came back down towards the homes again.

An epic firefight was underway on the evening of August 30, one that found flames surrounding three sides of the 102-acre Celio Ranch, a historic treasure that is over 160 years old.

As we know, homes were saved and efforts to the control the movement of the fire prevented it from taking a direct route into South Lake Tahoe. In the midst of flames, maps of homes show a couple of buildings sustained damage while one cabin in the Rainbow Tract suffered major damage.

Since that time fire crews have been working around the ranch and through the South Upper Truckee and SR89 neighborhoods, addressing hot spots, hazard trees and vegetation.

On the night of Wednesday, Sept. 15, as the crews left the ranch which has served as their staging area, the grateful neighborhood members cheered them on, gave words of appreciation, applause and displayed signs of thanks.