The still uncontained Caldor Fire in El Dorado continued to blaze and pushed more evacuation orders along Highway 50,
The current damage left by the wildfire is pegged at nearly 54, 000 acres, about double San Francisco’s size. Zero percent of it was placed under control.
The blaze devoured 6, 500 acres on Tuesday but the size spread due to low humidity, increased temperatures and gusts that fanned the fire.
The town of Grizzly Flats, a forest community where more than a thousand people reside, was not spared from the fire. The wildfire only left a few homes standing as toppled down power lines and poles have scattered in the streets. The once solid houses have transformed into ashes with only chimneys left visible among the remains. Also devoured by the fire were a post office as well as an elementary school.
On Tuesday night, CAL FIRE released additional evacuation orders intended for Highway 50’s south side, up to the west to Snows Rd. Also included in the evacuation order is the north side of Highway 50 from Larsen Dr. to the west as well as the Ice House to the east.
On late Tuesday, as the fire devoured almost 36 square miles, the evacuation orders were extended to Pollock Pines, home to about 7, 000 population.
According to the estimates by the fire officials, at least 50 homes have been devoured in the area since the fire started Sunday. This left a couple of people with serious injuries and needed hospital care.
A state of emergency was declared by Gov. Gavin Newsom in El Dorado. The whole El Dorado National Forest is being considered by the authorities to be closed down, ABC7 reported.
“We know this fire has done things that nobody could have predicted, but that’s how firefighting has been in the state this year,” Jeff Marolais, El Dorado National Forest Supervisor Chief, told a briefing.
