Caldor Fire explodes

[Chiefnra]

Well many dont know that CalFires ONLY hand crews are inmates and they have been cut way back. CalFire are engine crews only, and if they cant drive to it, they wont get near it.

USFS does have hand crews, such as Hot Shots, and regular crews, who will hike into the rough terrain and cut line but calfire will be sitting with their engines looking cool and banking portal to portal 24hr a day overtime.

[Sierra57]

That seems to be CalFire's MO as of late. Dixie should have been put out when it was a few acres.

I thought that the USFS made the decision to lay back and observe the fire, since it started in El Dorado National Forest.

[user120312]

Although the thread is on the Caldor fire, documents such as this historical IAP for the Dixie fire from 7/17 exist for it as well so can be reviewed and compared.... .pdf, 19Mb file.

https://ftp.wildfire.gov/public/incident_specific_data/calif_n/!CALFIRE/!2021_Incidents/CA-BTU-009205_Dixie/GIS/Products/20210717/iap_11x17_land_MP_20210716_1614_Dixie_CABTU009205_0717.pdf

Source:

https://ftp.wildfire.gov/public/incident_specific_data/calif_n/!CALFIRE/!2021_Incidents/CA-BTU-009205_Dixie/GIS/Products/20210717/

[JagerDog]

[Tarmy]

[Sierra57]

It is my understanding that on the fire maps they lay the fire icon on the spot the fire started. On this fire, the icon is right near a couple of secondary roads. Translation, there was no access problem.

[JagerDog]

[JagerDog]

https://www.kqed.org/news/11881837/why-it-took-pge-9-5-hours-to-get-to-the-scene-where-dixie-fire-started

[Jason_2111]

I haven't verified this as true or not, but I'm hearing that people need to be under an evacuation order for 7 days in order for federal money (to the state) to kick in. Which would mean "let it burn for a while" on purpose.

If true, y'all will see me on the news screaming and organizing people.

However... I'm very away that just because it's "something I heard" doesn't mean there is any basis in reality. I need to dig into this... Lots of really angry people up here right now.

The good news is that the El Dorado Hot Shots are on scene, and my buddy from the forest service says these guys are getting it done, no bs. Fingers crossed, and more prayers that start with "Hi God, it's me again..."

[user120312]

What may be occurring here is blending the two incidents..... I posted a few weeks ago what I understood to be the ignition point of the Dixie fire and linked to a SAR map of the Cresta Dam and transmission line location the information I perused appeared to point to.

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=26054919&postcount=147

That's the Dixie fire.. This is the Caldor fire that apparently began in the Caldor Road area near the Big Mountain Loop just north of the middle fork of the Consumnes River and AFAIK its cause is unknown.

One can pull up the SAR/USFS topo maps, Cal-fire incident operation maps and Google maps to combine data into an overall picture of the area of suspected ignition. If it is in the Caldor Road area, there are apparently forms of improved roads in that area, the maps detail road type. They could be fire roads, USFS roads, secondary roads, dirt roads, etc.

https://www.google.com/maps/search/big+mountain+loop+el+dorado+county/@38.605902,-120.5738508,1221m/data=!3m1!1e3

https://sartopo.com/map.html#ll=38.6026,-120.46056&z=15&b=mbt

https://ftp.wildfire.gov/public/incident_specific_data/calif_n/!CALFIRE/!2021_Incidents/CA-ENF-024030_Caldor/GIS/Products/20210818/OPS_ARCH_E_port_20210818_0051_%20Caldor_CAENF024030_0818_BRANCH%20I_opt.pdf

[Tere_Hanges]

Any word on containment on eastern side near Kirkwood Lake? Seems like it is just burning out of control that way.

[Cali-Glock]

That seems to be CalFire's MO as of late. Dixie should have been put out when it was a few acres.

In the case of the Caldor Fire, it originated in the National Forest and CalFire can't do anything until the Feds let them in. The alleged story is that there was a guy out there with his own tractor fighting it and trying to get help.

Mixed stories as to why the Feds left it alone - apparently the let it burn itself out policy - but at this point WE DO NOT KNOW.

CalFire ROCKS!! They are KICKING BUTT in the field - strategic back fires, actively protecting homes - they are parking fire trucks on homes, TONS of Fire crew and trucks from all over the state.

The latest damaged structures map is incredible. The fire went through an area to the west of me now and it looks like they saved 80-90% of them - perhaps the percentage is higher - it is truly incredible.

Not sure if I have posted this before - here is a nighttime helicopter water drop on and around homes.

https://twitter.com/CphilpottCraig/status/1429658124600807431

[user120312]

Any word on containment on eastern side near Kirkwood Lake? Seems like it is just burning out of control that way.

I see a couple MAFFS have been working out there near Hwy 88 about 7-8 miles west of Silver Lake. Looks like the winds are picking up....

https://sartopo.com/map.html#ll=38.76506,-120.24158&z=11&b=om&a=modis_mpg%2Cwxd_wgust-01

[otteray]

Any word on containment on eastern side near Kirkwood Lake? Seems like it is just burning out of control that way.

If you do Facebook, here's the CalFire daily update:
http://https://www.facebook.com/1099...79877190205437

[Cali-Glock]

Any word on containment on eastern side near Kirkwood Lake? Seems like it is just burning out of control that way.

It does not look like there is any containment out that way yet.

You can download all of Cal-Fire maps for today, here: https://app.box.com/embed/s/0bzlphu7...arentPath=true

Here are today's control objectives lifted from the current (today's) Incident Action Plan:

Control Objectives
- Keep the fire North of HWY 88 and Shake Ridge Rd
- Keep the fire South of Wentworth Springs Rd
- Keep the fire East of E16 and Fiddletown Rd
- Keep the fire West of HWY 89

No formal word on my house, but I am interpreting the most recent structure status map to mean that my house was not affected!