EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — June 22, 6:30 p.m. update:
Cal Fire said that the Blackstone Fire is now 100% contained.
Their firefighters will continue to patrol around the fire for another day or two to ensure no new smokes develop in the interior of the burn area.
6:45 p.m. update:
Cal Fire has contained the Blackstone Fire in El Dorado Hills to 90%. The fire is 35 acres.
"Firefighters did an amazing job stopping the forward progress of a fast-moving grass fire burning toward a residential area. Crews were able to mitigate the threat to structures and put a wet line around the fire within 2 hours of the dispatch," Cal Fire said in the incident report.
No structures were damaged or destroyed and no one was hurt while Cal Fire worked to contain the fire.
Fire crews are going to continue to work to control the fire and put out hot spots. They are still going to watch the fire and its progress likely through tomorrow.
4:55 p.m. update:
Evacuation warnings have been lifted in the area as fire crews were able to stop the forward progress of the fire, according to a tweet from Cal Fire.
The fire is about 30 acres and 15% contained.
According to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Weidner, no structures have been damaged and no injuries have been reported.
He also said that the fire has been driven by low humidity, high winds, the terrain and temperature, but they still do not know how it started or where it started in the area.
Original story:
Crews are working to extinguish a small fire that is threatening homes in an El Dorado Hills neighborhood Monday.
According to Cal Fire, the 5-acre Blackstone Fire glared up in an area near Blackstone Parkway and Valley View Parkway and is growing at a dangerous rate of speed.
Evacuations are underway for residents living west of Marble Mountain.
It is unclear what caused the fire.
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, 2020 was one of the most severe fire seasons on record as 9,917 wildfires burned 4.2 million acres. Over 9,000 structures were destroyed, and 31 people (civilians and firefighters) were killed.
California also experienced its first "Gigafire" because of the August Complex Fire, burning over 1 million acres by itself. Four of California's top five largest wildfires in state history happened in 2020.
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.
