Caldor Fire explodes

[Cali-Glock]

[seal20]

Not looking good for Tahoe.

[ColdDeadHands1]

Originally Posted by Jason_2111

Dang it. I'm down sick with covid, so I haven't been watching the progress... too much stress. I made the mistake of looking. It's in the "hundreds of yards" from my house.

Something I've noticed from the other day though when I went and pulled out my buddy, and got a good dose of the smoke: The respirator worked great, but I did pull it off for a bit to have a conversation with an a-hole CHP guy (rather than trying to shout through it).
Now I've got this big red ring of inflammation where the mask was.

My theory: Being all hot and sweaty wearing the respirator, my pores were wide open. The smoke has a certain amount of poison oak in it... this whole area is thick with the stuff. Enough got in, and then the mask rubbed it in... now I've got poison oak on my face.

I keep thinking of that scene from Blue Velvet with Dennis Hopper.... "Mommy! Mommy!"

Keeping fingers crossed for all of us... bad winds coming tomorrow, and the only thing the news is talking about is Tahoe.

Damn Jason. When it rains it pours.... Bad pun. Don't we all wish it would rain.

I hope your house makes it and you recover quickly from the China virus. And, a pro tip: Don't scratch your balls after touching your poison oak face. Also, don't touch your face after scratching your balls. That's just gross. Good luck buddy.

[Sierra57]

This is depressing and infuriating. This did not have to happen.

Not only is the fire close to going over Echo Summit and down into the Tahoe Basin , it is making a run towards the 88 corridor and Silver Lake Kirkwood, and Caples Lake. While that area is sparsely populated, it is beautiful and relies heavily on tourism. Who is going to go on vacation in an are that is all burned up.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all Cal Gunners affected by this fire.

I would urge everyone in the fire area to email and call their federal and state reps and ask that they investigate the lack of response. This is BS.

[Cali-Glock]

Originally Posted by Jason_2111

Dang it. I'm down sick with covid, so I haven't been watching the progress... too much stress. I made the mistake of looking. It's in the "hundreds of yards" from my house.

Something I've noticed from the other day though when I went and pulled out my buddy, and got a good dose of the smoke: The respirator worked great, but I did pull it off for a bit to have a conversation with an a-hole CHP guy (rather than trying to shout through it).
Now I've got this big red ring of inflammation where the mask was.

My theory: Being all hot and sweaty wearing the respirator, my pores were wide open. The smoke has a certain amount of poison oak in it... this whole area is thick with the stuff. Enough got in, and then the mask rubbed it in... now I've got poison oak on my face.

I keep thinking of that scene from Blue Velvet with Dennis Hopper.... "Mommy! Mommy!"

Keeping fingers crossed for all of us... bad winds coming tomorrow, and the only thing the news is talking about is Tahoe.

Yikes!!

Take care of yourself!

I know it is difficult - but try not to stress. This is out of our hands.

[Huntsprig]

I'm just putting this here to give the folks up there a little bit of hope.

From a guy that runs a Hot Shot crew.

I’m elsewhere right now but I’ve spent a lot of time in the Tahoe Basin doing fuels reduction projects and they’ve done a tremendous amount of work around the communities.

Now with the wind that could all be a moot point but I was on the initial dispatch of the Angora fire back in 2007 and when the fire hit the areas with fuels work, it laid down and let us grab it and get to work on it.

Hopefully that’ll be the case again.

[twinfin]

Originally Posted by Jason_2111

Dang it. I'm down sick with covid, so I haven't been watching the progress... too much stress. I made the mistake of looking. It's in the "hundreds of yards" from my house.

Something I've noticed from the other day though when I went and pulled out my buddy, and got a good dose of the smoke: The respirator worked great, but I did pull it off for a bit to have a conversation with an a-hole CHP guy (rather than trying to shout through it).
Now I've got this big red ring of inflammation where the mask was.

My theory: Being all hot and sweaty wearing the respirator, my pores were wide open. The smoke has a certain amount of poison oak in it... this whole area is thick with the stuff. Enough got in, and then the mask rubbed it in... now I've got poison oak on my face.

I keep thinking of that scene from Blue Velvet with Dennis Hopper.... "Mommy! Mommy!"

Keeping fingers crossed for all of us... bad winds coming tomorrow, and the only thing the news is talking about is Tahoe.

I know this has been a roller-coaster time for you (and many other of our Calguns brothers and sisters). Keep your chin up and stay positive. Prayers to you and Mrs. 2111.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

This is depressing and infuriating. This did not have to happen.

Not only is the fire close to going over Echo Summit and down into the Tahoe Basin , it is making a run towards the 88 corridor and Silver Lake Kirkwood, and Caples Lake. While that area is sparsely populated, it is beautiful and relies heavily on tourism. Who is going to go on vacation in an are that is all burned up.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all Cal Gunners affected by this fire.

I would urge everyone in the fire area to email and call their federal and state reps and ask that they investigate the lack of response. This is BS.

Yes that is a very beautiful unique area. I go there several times a month through the summer/fall. I actually think it is more beautiful than the Tahoe basin which is a lot more crowded. They just finished a couple more beautiful camprounds at Caples Lake and Silver Lake. So it would be an absolute shame if all the campgrounds and beautiful country was lost not to mention peoples cabins and homes.

It is infuriating to see how small the fire was at the beginning and nothing was done about for days. Now this fire looks to destroy one of the most beautiful treasured tourist areas in Northern CA.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by Huntsprig

I'm just putting this here to give the folks up there a little bit of hope.

From a guy that runs a Hot Shot crew.

That area is a conflicting goat screw of regulation.

At the time of the Angora fire, the USFS said you have to clean up pine needles, dead branches and other flammable debris on private property, along with removing much of the undergrowth, or you could be fined. I think the local fire services went along with it too.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency said that flammable debris on the ground must be left to prevent erosion and silt from going into Tahoe, Fallen Leaf and creeks and streams in the area, and allowed very limited clearing of undergrowth. Otherwise, property owners could be fined.

I'm not sure if these conflicting edicts are still in place, but if so, it is BS.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Yes that is a very beautiful unique area. I go there several times a month through the summer/fall. I actually think it is more beautiful than the Tahoe basin which is a lot more crowded. They just finished a couple more beautiful camprounds at Caples Lake and Silver Lake. So it would be an absolute shame if all the campgrounds and beautiful country was lost not to mention peoples cabins and homes.

It is infuriating to see how small the fire was at the beginning and nothing was done about for days. Now this fire looks to destroy one of the most beautiful treasured tourist areas in Northern CA.

Looking at fire detection maps, the fire is about a mile from Silver Lake.

https://fire.airnow.gov/

[Cali-Glock]

Updated mandatory evacuations for Tahoe basin


CONTACT: Incident Information Line: 530-303-2455
Media Line 530-497-0315
RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2021 11:00 a.m.

WHAT: Update to Evacuation Orders
WHEN: Effective Immediately
WHERE: El Dorado County

Evacuation Order: El Dorado County


Heavenly

• East of Pioneer Trail between Larch and Al Tahoe, to include the area of Heavenly Ski Resort out to the Alpine County Line and the Nevada State line on the East.

Stateline

• East of Ski run on the lake side of Pioneer Trail and also both sides of Pioneer Trail between Larch and the Nevada State line.

Evacuation Routes:

• Evacuate Eastbound on Highway 50 towards Nevada.

Evacuation Shelters:

• Truckee Veterans Hall 10214 High Street, Truckee, CA 96161
• Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV

NOTES:
Please go to: www.tinyurl.com/EDSOEVAC for an online evacuation map.
All previous evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect.
A mandatory evacuation order is defined as an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
An evacuation warning is defined as a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

[Fear58]

My God. Sending prayers to all the CGers and their families who are affected by the Caldor fire.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

Looking at fire detection maps, the fire is about a mile from Silver Lake.

https://fire.airnow.gov/

Kcra just had the news chopper over silver lake. Fire spotting up from Mormon Immigrant Trail towards 88/silver lake. But there is a lot of granite in between. Feels like if they could get some tankers to drop retardant near the granite they maybe could stop it. From chopper footage, lots of smoke north west of Kirkwood lake, Caples creek drainage but looks like fire isnt there yet. Its probably smoke from fire on 50 and Strawberry. Hoping fire goes around Kirkwood lake and Caples Lake and can be stopped at 88 before silver lake. If it gets to thunder mountain then it will probably burn over to Kirkwood Ski resort

[Cali-Glock]

Originally Posted by Cali-Glock

I just got off the phone with my buddy who lives just off Caldor Road and who stayed up on the hill until yesterday.

I picked his brain about the start of the Fire.

Saturday 8/14: He personally called USFS Saturday about the fire and they told him not to worry.

Sunday 8/15: He called USFS on got a voice mail and left a message - they called him back Tuesday.

Monday 8/16: He and his wife walked down Caldor and there was one CalFire command vehicle. He spoke to the guy and asked what the deal was. He said the CalFire guy gave him a bit of a mini-rant about the CalFire/USFS politics and said something like "screw this political BS, in the morning I am going to bring in our crews and tractors and cut a huge line" -and went on to describe what he planned to do in the morning. Several hours later of course the fire blew up and through Grizzly.

My buddy also recounted the story about other locals talking to the USFS crews on Saturday or Sunday and asking why they were sitting in their trucks, and the crews told them they were told not to go down and fight the fire, but to wait until it got up to them.

I told him what was said at this evening's Caldor Fire Community meeting about CalFire/USFS cooperation and the claim they were working on scene on day one and my buddy lost it.

This morning's briefing claimed the fire started on Monday (8/16)... more whitewashing to cover up the fact that the fire was largely ignored for at least two days despite people on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Consumnes calling and requesting that USFS and CalFire address the fire on Saturday and Sunday.

[California_Deplorable]

Kcra chopper shows Its torching really close to silver lake right now.

Looks like it hasnt crossed 88 yet. But it will. Nothings stopping it.

[mjrj]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Kcra chopper shows Its torching really close to thunder mountain trailhead right now.

Not clear if it crossed 88 yet. But it will. Nothings stopping it.

I was looking at the Leek Springs camera and saw a water truck, bulldozer and several pickup trucks at the site within the last hour. I'm surprised it didn't burn to the ground last night.

http://www.alertwildfire.org/sierra/...Leek&v=81e002f

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by Cali-Glock

Updated mandatory evacuations for Tahoe basin


CONTACT: Incident Information Line: 530-303-2455
Media Line 530-497-0315
RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2021 11:00 a.m.

WHAT: Update to Evacuation Orders
WHEN: Effective Immediately
WHERE: El Dorado County

Evacuation Order: El Dorado County


Heavenly

• East of Pioneer Trail between Larch and Al Tahoe, to include the area of Heavenly Ski Resort out to the Alpine County Line and the Nevada State line on the East.

Stateline

• East of Ski run on the lake side of Pioneer Trail and also both sides of Pioneer Trail between Larch and the Nevada State line.

Evacuation Routes:

• Evacuate Eastbound on Highway 50 towards Nevada.

Evacuation Shelters:

• Truckee Veterans Hall 10214 High Street, Truckee, CA 96161
• Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV

NOTES:
Please go to: www.tinyurl.com/EDSOEVAC for an online evacuation map.
All previous evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect.
A mandatory evacuation order is defined as an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
An evacuation warning is defined as a potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

I just saw that on KCRA news a few minutes ago. Evacuation orders for all of South Shore to Stateline and most of Tahoe west shore. Unreal!

[California_Deplorable]

Ok news chopper shows a tanker flying in along 88, FINALLY!!! WTF!

I understand smoke grounding planes around 50/ Echo Summit. But they should be hitting it hard with retardant drops near Silver Lake.

[California_Deplorable]

Ok just saw a tanker drop retardant on a forested ridge on southeast side of 88 near Silver Lake.

Looks like they already dropped a lot of retardant all along 88. More planes in the air.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Ok just saw a tanker drop retardant on a forested ridge on east side of 88 near Silver Lake.

Showing Jet tanker on TV right now.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

Showing Jet tanker on TV right now.

They need to hit it with everything they got along 88, right now, if they want to try and keep it from destroying Kirkwood and Silver Lake.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by Cali-Glock

This morning's briefing claimed the fire started on Monday (8/16)... more whitewashing to cover up the fact that the fire was largely ignored for at least two days despite people on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Consumnes calling and requesting that USFS and CalFire address the fire on Saturday and Sunday.

Was it USFS or CalFire who made that claim?

It will be interesting to see if the date on here changes.

Attachment 1032747

[nitrofc]

Originally Posted by mjrj

I was looking at the Leek Springs camera and saw a water truck, bulldozer and several pickup trucks at the site within the last hour. I'm surprised it didn't burn to the ground last night.

http://www.alertwildfire.org/sierra/...Leek&v=81e002f

Its cookin fast, been watching for about 20 minutes. the camera re-freshes every 15 seconds. thanks.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Ok just saw a tanker drop retardant on a forested ridge on southeast side of 88 near Silver Lake.

Looks like they already dropped a lot of retardant all along 88. More planes in the air.

They have tankers 911 and 914 working the fire. I don't see any other tankers on Flightradar24.
EDIT: 912 heading up there too.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

They have tankers 911 and 914 working the fire. I don't see any other tankers on Flightradar24.
EDIT: 912 heading up there too.

Yeah, theyre dropping retardant along the edges of the granite. Hope it works.

The Caples burn scar seems to be stopping the fire from buring straight up Caples creek into Kirkwood Lake and Lake Margaret. Would be so lucky if those areas are spared.

[Cali-Glock]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

Was it USFS or CalFire who made that claim?

It will be interesting to see if the date on here changes.

Attachment 1032747

It was a CalFire representative that gave the update. Was unable to find this anywhere other than on the CalFire FB page.

The statement is at about 1:40-43


https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREAEU/...41433730402433

[ZirconJohn]

Yup - My little sister drives Limo and her son (my nephew) runs Hard Rock Hospitality at South Shore. They also live in South Shore ... they are out. They evacuated last night before the (now) mandatory evacuations.

This Caldor fire is a real SUMMABEACH ...!!! - Half of South Shore may be gone ... maybe all ...! The fire is coming, it's HUGE and it's NOT anywhere near contained.

I been watching this thing and reporting to my sister ... we (the family) recommended she get the gatdumn hale outta there already!

[Cali-Glock]

Zeke's use of 3D GoogleMaps is helpful.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Yeah, theyre dropping retardant along the edges of the granite. Hope it works.

The Caples burn scar seems to be stopping the fire from buring straight up Caples creek into Kirkwood Lake and Lake Margaret. Would be so lucky if those areas are spared.

They now have Tanker 102 and MAFFS08 dropping retardant up there too.

[Cali-Glock]

CalFire Amador-El Dorado Unit is allegedly holding their regular briefing at 5pm and then a press conference at 5:30pm from Tahoe.

They stream their events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREAEU

These events are supposed to also be available via Zoom, but they have reported they been having trouble streaming across Zoom. (I have been unsuccessful trying to watch their stuff on Zoom as well.)

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/20...4/caldor-fire/

Voluntary and mandatory evacuations have been lessened along the western end of Hwy 88 and in parts of Amador.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

They now have Tanker 102 and MAFFS08 dropping retardant up there too.

At least 4 tankers working it now. But all the drops are southwest of silver lake. I guess it is too dangerous to try dropping it directly west or northwest of silver lake or kirkwood lake.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

At least 4 tankers working it now. But all the drops are southwest of silver lake. I guess it is too dangerous to try dropping it directly west or northwest of silver lake or kirkwood lake.

I have seen big tankers drop right along the fire line in rugged terrain. They are laying down a line of retardant along the south side of 88, away from the fire. Maybe they figure they can't slow the fire down north of 88 and are hoping to make stand stand along the highway.

On TV, they show the fire is really ripping north of Caples Lake.

They showed a cabin, brush and a couple of trees burning about a mile NE of Echo Summit.

[Sierra57]

Just saw on TV - At least 3 more spot fires east of Echo Summit.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by Sierra57

I have seen big tankers drop right along the fire line in rugged terrain. They are laying down a line of retardant along the south side of 88, away from the fire. Maybe they figure they can't slow the fire down north of 88 and are hoping to make stand stand along the highway.

On TV, they show the fire is really ripping north of Caples Lake.

They showed a cabin, brush and a couple of trees burning about a mile NE of Echo Summit.

Its burning into Carson Spur at Thunder Mountain trailhead, crossed over 88 just North of Silver Lake and West of Kirkwood Ski resort. I dont see any fire North of Caples Lake yet. Unless you are referring to Echo Summit

[otteray]

A video briefing from Lookout Media

https://youtu.be/ZPTJ44w8tyo

[Cali-Glock]

Fire on the Eastern Slope downhill from Highway 50...

[M&P40FAN]

I've seen reports that it's crossed 89 now. Not good folks.

[Spyder]

The map from calfire showed it had crossed 89 at a bit before 5pm.

[Cali-Glock]

Originally Posted by Spyder

The map from calfire showed it had crossed 89 at a bit before 5pm.

Yep - sadly on both sides of Highway 89.

[Sierra57]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Its burning into Carson Spur at Thunder Mountain trailhead, crossed over 88 just North of Silver Lake and West of Kirkwood Ski resort. I dont see any fire North of Caples Lake yet. Unless you are referring to Echo Summit

I see what you mean. The fire closing in on Caples is still at least 6 miles away to the northwest. I was going by what they said on TV.