EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Update:
Plans for the repopulation of Grizzly Flats were released by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Thursday night.
The sheriff's office said there will be a staggered repopulation starting Sunday. The repopulation effort is expecting to be finished by the end of Monday.
- Residents will be notified via El Dorado Sheriff’s Office and El Dorado County social media and Code Red about 24 hours prior to a designated date and time based on their address that they will be allowed re-entry.
- There will be a check-in and resident verification process at Pioneer Park.
- Deputies are asking people to fill out the following contact form at https://arcg.is/0LHeCX.
- Different segments of the Grizzly Flats area will be repopulated at different times to prevent extreme traffic jams, safety issues and hazards.
- Evacuees will need a government ID and some form of verification of address.
- Evacuees will get a permit to access their property and will be allowed to enter the evacuated area.
Original Story:
California's interior is hot and dry and the forecast calls for a risk of fire-starting dry lightning as thousands of firefighters already have their hands full with wildland blazes.
The forecast calls for a fire weather watch Thursday evening through Friday evening in much of Northern California due to a chance of thunderstorms with lightning and erratic gusts.
According to Cal Fire's Thursday report, the west zone of the fire continued to be active throughout the night. Growth was minimal in the northeast and southern areas of the fire perimeter. Crews continue to contain the control line and keep the fire north of Highway 88.
In the east zone of the fire, crews were able to mop up and improve fire lines, ensuring the fire remained in its existing fire footprint. The area is part of a Fire Weather Watch and increased southwest winds, warmer temperatures, lower humidity, and possible thunderstorms are forecasted for Thursday and Friday.
Some closures along Highway 50 also continue, affecting travel, tourism, businesses and of course people who live in evacuated areas.
Ken Radtke and his dog Darlin’ are going on week four of being evacuated from their home in Grizzly Flats. It’s a similar situation for many who live in burn areas and along Highway 50. They want to know when they will get to go home and when the highway will reopen.
"I’m impatient, but there’s nothin’ you can do about it," he said.
Steven Nelson, spokesperson for Caltrans District 3, said crews are still mopping up and tending to hotspots along the Highway 50 corridor. Nelson could not provide a date for when the highway would open up, but noted that there were reasons the roadway was still closed.
"So, the trouble spots crews are actively working on are in between Meyers and Ice House in El Dorado County," he said. "We have tree and guardrail crews working today."
He said they are now working on getting contractors to clear areas with burned trees and rocks, which are the major hazards crews need to clear before the road can open up.
Here's what you might have missed from earlier in the day:
- Temperatures for today are forecasted to decrease a little, but there's a high chance of showers and thunderstorms that will increase after midnight and into tomorrow, according to a Caldor Operational Briefing.
- Evacuation orders for parts of Meyers were reduced to warnings. For more information, click HERE.
Key Figures
- Acres: 217,946
- Containment: 53%
- Homes destroyed: 778
- Structures threatened: 24,647
- Structures damaged: 80
- 4,532 personnel
Evacuations and Road Closures
Click HERE for in-depth evacuation orders and warnings in El Dorado County. For evacuation orders and warnings in Amador County, click HERE for the Amador County Sheriff's Facebook page and HERE for their website. Click HERE for Alpine County evacuation zones. Click HERE for Douglas County evacuations. For current state highway/route information visit roads.dot.ca.gov.
Local assistance center
Located at Folsom Lake Community College's El Dorado Campus, 6699 Campus Drive, Placerville. The center is open from
- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- 1 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday
Evacuation centers
El Dorado County Shelters
- Rolling Hills Church, El Dorado Hills
Nevada state shelters
- Reno Sparks Convention Center at 4590 S. Virginia Street, Reno
Animal Evacuation Centers:
- El Dorado County Animal Services (small animals), Diamond Springs. For animal evacuation questions or assistance call (530) 621-5795
- Saureel Vineyards (large animals), Placerville - FULL
- East to West Grooming 1368 Hwy 395, Unit B1, Gardnerville, NV
- (Small Animals Only) - Washoe County Animal Services 2825 Longley Ln, Ste A Reno, NV
- Douglas County Fairgrounds- (Livestock) 920 Dump Road, Gardnerville, NV
775-782-9061 - Douglas County Animal Services 921 Dump Rd. Gardnerville, NV
- (Small Animals Only)
Accounts to follow
Evacuation Maps
A map of evacuations from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office is available below.
An evacuation map from the Amador County Sheriff's Office can be viewed HERE.
A map of evacuations in Alpine County is available HERE.
Online Structure Damage Map
An online structure damage map is available by clicking HERE or viewing below. To locate your home, type in the address in the top left corner. If you don't see an icon, the structure has not yet been identified.
Wildfire map
Click here for a map of the Caldor Fire.
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Wildfire Preps
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Caldor Fire 5 P.M. update: September 8th, 2021 | California Wildfires