Caldor Fire
  • Top: A stump continues to burn vigorously as the Aravipa hotshot crew works on the fireline
  • Bottom left: A firefighter monitors the control line during night-time burning operations
  • Bottom right: A ski lift near South Lake Tahoe among stands of burned trees after the fire
LocationNorthern California
Coordinates38°35′02″N 120°32′02″W / 38.584°N 120.534°W / 38.584; -120.534
Statistics
Cost$1.2 billion (2021 USD) [1]
Date(s)
  • August 14 –
  • October 21, 2021
Burned area221,835 acres
347 square miles; 898 square kilometres; 89,773 hectares
CauseUnder investigation
Buildings destroyed1,003
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries21
Evacuated>53,000
Map
A map of the Caldor Fire shows it burned southwest of Lake Tahoe, primarily in the Eldorado National Forest, south of Highway 50 and north of Highway 88
The Caldor Fire's footprint spanned the Sierra Nevada, largely between Highways 50 and 88
Caldor Fire is located in Northern California
Caldor Fire
The general location of the fire in Northern California

The Caldor Fire was a large wildfire that burned 221,835 acres (89,773 hectares) in the Eldorado National Forest and other areas of the Sierra Nevada in El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine County, California, in the United States during the 2021 California wildfire season.[2] The fire was first reported on Saturday, August 14, 2021, and was fully contained on Thursday, October 21, 2021. The Caldor Fire destroyed 1,003 structures and damaged 81 more, primarily in the US Highway 50 corridor and in the community of Grizzly Flats, 2/3 of which was destroyed by the fire.[3][2][4]

On August 30, it became the second fire known to cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range, following the Dixie Fire, which crossed a few days earlier on August 18.[5] It then threatened the communities of Meyers and South Lake Tahoe, causing evacuations to be ordered for more than 20,000 people before the fire's progress was halted.[6] The Caldor Fire was the third-largest and second-most-destructive of the 2021 season in California, and the 15th-largest and 16th-most destructive in recorded California history.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Background

The old logging town of Caldor is located near Omo Ranch,[7] close to the origin of the fire. The town was part of the Diamond and Caldor Railway lumber route, running from Diamond Springs to Caldor.[8] Originally called "Dogtown", the abandoned settlement was renamed after the new owners, the California Door Company.[9][8]

Progression

The Caldor Fire started on August 14, 2021, near Little Mountain, south of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County,[10] about two miles east of Omo Ranch and four miles south of Grizzly Flats.[11][12] It initially burned slowly, where little attention was given to it because of other larger fires, but exploded in size on August 16 due to high winds and high fuel loads in the area.[13] By the night of August 16 it was 6,500 acres (2,600 ha).[14] On August 17 the fire grew to 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) as it expanded rapidly north and east, crossing the North Fork Cosumnes River and approaching Sly Park Reservoir. By August 20, the fire had burned nearly to Highway 50, forcing a closure of the highway.[15]

The Caldor Fire burning south of Lake Tahoe as seen from space on the afternoon of August 30, 2021

Over the next few days, the fire crossed Highway 50 in the vicinity of Kyburz. Starting on August 27, winds drove the fire rapidly east towards the Lake Tahoe Basin, devastating the once picturesque backdrop to the historic Strawberry Lodge near the Twin Bridges area.[16] By August 30, it had reached Echo Summit, less than five miles (8.0 km) from South Lake Tahoe. While South Lake Tahoe remained at the evacuation warning stage during early morning briefings that day, the entire city of 22,000 people was ordered to evacuate at 10:59 a.m.[17] Due to the focused efforts of fire crews aggressively thinning nearby forests, reducing earlier crown fires (typically 100–150 feet (30–46 meters) flames) to surface fires (typically 15 feet (4.6 meters) flames) and developing a fire perimeter, evacuation orders were lifted about one week later.[18][19]

By October 2, the fire was at 221,775 acres and 91% containment. By that date, 782 structures were destroyed, 81 structures damaged, with 35 structures still threatened. Staffing was still at 1,589 personnel, with ten helicopters assigned to the incident.

A NASA image showing the progression of the Caldor Fire over the landscape between August 15 and October 6 in 12-hour increments

The Caldor Fire was fully contained on October 21, 2021. The area burned by the fire came to 221,835 acres (89,773 hectares).[2]

Effects

President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom, aboard Marine One, survey damage from the Caldor Fire on September 13, 2021.

Casualties

According to Cal Fire, there were 21 total confirmed injuries among fire personnel and civilians.[2] In September 2021 it was reported that 18 people had been injured due to the fire, the majority of them firefighters. Two people were injured in Grizzly Flats and were airlifted to hospitals.[20][21][22]

Damage

The Caldor Fire destroyed 1,003 structures, many of them in Grizzly Flats when the fire destroyed two-thirds of the community in the early morning of August 17.

Evacuations and closures

On August 17, evacuations were ordered for Grizzly Flats, Somerset, Sly Park Reservoir and Pollock Pines.[23] Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for El Dorado County over a day later after the explosive growth.[24] As of Sunday night (August 29), evacuation orders were sent out to some residents of the Tahoe Basin as well as locations in Amador County.[25] By August 30, the number of people covered by evacuation orders in El Dorado County was more than 53,000.[26]

Economic impacts

A private consulting firm estimated the total economic impact to the Tahoe region's economy, expressed as lost visitor spending due to evacuations and poor air quality, at $268 million.[27]

Environmental impacts

There were concerns that runoff from the Caldor Fire's burned footprint would have negative impacts on the water quality of the Lake Tahoe watershed. However, in testing conducted by the League to Save Lake Tahoe in October after the fire was fully contained, it was found that there had been relatively little impact on the turbidity of Lake Tahoe's water.[28]

Cause

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.[29] On December 8, 2021, two men (a father and son) were arrested and charged in relation to the Caldor Fire. Court filings stated that investigators believe "the Caldor Fire likely ignited when a projectile discharged from a firearm and struck an object, causing heated fragments of the projectile to land in a dry receptive fuel bed, igniting the fuels.”[30] This was based on bullet casings, earplugs, electronic device location data, and DNA evidence from the scene, leading the El Dorado County District Attorney's office to believe that the two men started the fire. Both men were accused of violating California state law by reckless arson and were held on a $1 million bail.[31] The attorney for the two men stated that the men are not guilty, were in Eldorado National Forest the day of the fire, and called 911 to report the fire once they regained cell service.[32] The preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled for August 2023.[33]

Growth and containment status

Fire containment status
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned
acres (km2)		Containment
Aug 162,261 (9.1)[34]
0%
Aug 1722,919 (93)[35]
0%
Aug 1862,586 (253)[36]
0%
Aug 1968,630 (278)[37]
0%
Aug 2075,845 (307)[38]
0%
Aug 2190,107 (365)[39]
0%
Aug 22104,309 (422)[40]
5%
Aug 23114,166 (462)[41]
9%
Aug 24122,980 (498)[42]
11%
Aug 25126,566 (512)[43]
12%
Aug 26139,510 (565)[44]
12%
Aug 27145,463 (589)[45]
19%
Aug 28152,545 (617)[46]
19%
Aug 29168,387 (681)[47]
13%
Aug 30186,568 (755)[48]
15%
Aug 31199,632 (808)[49]
18%
Sep 1207,931 (841)[50]
23%
Sep 5215,400 (872)[51]
44%
Sep 6216,358 (875)[21]
44%
Sep 8217,859 (882)[52]
50%
Sep 10218,459 (884)[53]
53%
Sep 12219,267 (887)[54]
65%
Sep 14219,267 (887)[55]
69%
Sep 16219,267 (887)[56]
71%
Sep 21219,578 (889)[57]
76%
Sep 24221,595 (897)[58]
76%
Sep 26221,774 (897)[59]
76%
Oct 2221,775 (897)[60]
91%
Oct 9221,775 (897)[61]
98%

Gallery of post-fire effects

References

  1. ↑ Global Catastrophe Recap: October 2021 (PDF) (Report). Aon Benfield Inc. October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Caldor Fire". www.fire.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Julie (2021-09-26). "The Caldor Fire destroyed nearly two-thirds of Grizzly Flats. Burned-out residents are determined to reclaim their town". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  4. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Information". InciWeb. September 5, 2021. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ Reinhard, Scott; Patel, Jugal K. (2021-09-06). "Caldor Fire's March to the Edge of South Lake Tahoe". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  6. ↑ McGough, Michael (October 21, 2021). "Caldor Fire 100% contained, nearly two months after South Lake Tahoe evacuations". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  7. ↑ Code of Federal Regulations: 1985-1999. Office of the Federal Register National Archived and Records Administration. p. 131.
  8. 1 2 Biennial Report of the State Forester of the State of California, Volume 5. Palala Press. 1914. p. 69. ISBN 978-1354960790. Archived from the original on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  9. ↑ Turner, George (1965). Narrow Gauge Nostalgia. Trans-Anglo Books. Archived from the original on 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  10. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update". Cal Fire. State of California. August 16, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021. Situation Summary: The Caldor Fire started August 14, 2021 near Little Mountain, south of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County.
  11. ↑ "CALDOR FIRE: 219,000+ acres, 68 percent contained". 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "How did the Caldor Fire in California start?". 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. ↑ "'This may burn through October': Why the Caldor fire grew so quickly". 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  14. ↑ Stanton, Sam; McGough, Michael; Kasler, Dale; Ahumada, Rosalio (2021-08-18). "Caldor Fire levels homes in Grizzly Flats, destroys school, church in El Dorado County". The Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  15. ↑ "Caldor Fire Containment Sits at 76%; More Evacuations Downgraded". 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  16. ↑ "Historic Strawberry Lodge". Archived from the original on 2021-10-02. Retrieved 2021-10-02.
  17. ↑ "Caldor Fire - Update for August 30, 2021 | Welcome to CAL FIRE". Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Wildland Fire Spread and Suppression (U.S. National Park Service)". Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  19. ↑ Carlton, Jim (28 September 2021). "Lake Tahoe, Sequoias Survived Wildfires Thanks to Forest Thinning, but Much More is Needed, Researchers Say". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "Growing Caldor Fire prompts evacuation orders in California". NBC News. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  21. 1 2 "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 6" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  22. ↑ Miles, Anisca (2021-09-22). "Caldor Fire 76% contained as crews continue to battle flames in 'steep and rugged terrain'". FOX40. Archived from the original on 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  23. ↑ "Caldor Fire: More evacuation orders downgraded to warnings". 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  24. ↑ "Fueled by winds, largest wildfire moves near California city". Associated Press. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Caldor Fire: More evacuation orders downgraded to warnings". 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  26. ↑ McCleary, Kelly (September 1, 2021). "Caldor Fire prompts states of emergency in Nevada and California, with more than 50,000 told to evacuate the Lake Tahoe region". CNN. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Estimation of the Caldor Fire Impact on the Lake Tahoe Basin Tourism Economy | Triple Point Consulting". 2023-06-14. Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  28. ↑ Madrigal-Yankowski, Nico (2021-11-18). "Tahoe's famously clear waters survived Caldor Fire, study shows". SFGATE. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  29. ↑ Alonzo, Amy; Oh, Kristin; Santucci, Jeanine (December 8, 2021). "Father and son arrested on suspicion of starting massive Caldor Fire, district attorney says". Reno Gazette Journal. USA Today. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  30. ↑ Alonzo, Amy (December 15, 2021). "Court documents point finger at Caldor Fire suspects; defense touts lack of eyewitnesses". Reno Gazette Journal. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Father and son arrested on suspicion of starting Caldor fire". BBC News. 2021-12-09. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  32. ↑ Helsel, Phil (December 9, 2021). "California father, son accused of reckless arson in massive Caldor Fire". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  33. ↑ Rasco, Odin (May 11, 2023). "Caldor Fire suspects have date set for pretrial". Mountain Democrat. Tahoe Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 16" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-17. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 17" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 18" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-19. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 19" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 20" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-21. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 21" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 22" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-23. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 23" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 24" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-25. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 25" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 26" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-27. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 27" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 28" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-29. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 29" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 30" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-31. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for August 31" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-01. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 1" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 5" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-06. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 8" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-09. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 10" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-11. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 12" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-17. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 14" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-15. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 16" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 21" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  58. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 24" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-25. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for September 25" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-27. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for October 2" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-02. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Caldor Fire Incident Update for October 9" (PDF). National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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