Caldor Fire Explodes in Size in Northern California, Destroying a Community in its Path

Posted: August 19, 2021 12:07 pm

Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho Also Battling Major Wildfires

A number of fires in Northern California have forced the evacuation of thousands of residents as the flames inch closer and closer. Over 100 major fires are now burning in the US as the peak of wildfire season approaches.

Caldor Fire Explodes Overnight

Feeding on dry conditions and gusty winds, the Caldor Fire almost doubled in size in the overnight hours on Tuesday. According to Cal Fire, the fire in El Dorado County in Northern California has already burned over 53,000 acres with none of it contained.

A red flag warning is in effect for the region until at least 8 pm Wednesday as winds change direction from the southwest to the northeast. The strong winds are pairing with the low humidity levels to fuel the exponential growth of the Caldor Fire.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom put El Dorado County under a state of emergency on Tuesday in response to the fire.

More on the Caldor Fire

The Caldor Fire has already destroyed much of the Grizzly Flats community, located approximately 65 miles east of the capital city of Sacramento. As of mid-day Wednesday, approximately 6,850 people have been evacuated because of the impending danger.

Local officials estimate that almost 6,000 structures are being threatened by the quickly growing fire. Dozens of buildings have already been destroyed in the last 24 hours. This includes an elementary school under the jurisdiction of Pioneer Union School District, one church, and a post office.

While no fatalities have been reported, at least two people had to be airlifted out of the area with serious injuries.

The fire ignited on Saturday. No cause has been revealed.

Update on Dixie Fire

The country’s largest blaze is still the Dixie Fire, also located in Northern California. This fire is now distinguished as being the second-largest in California history. The Dixie Fire began on July 13 in the Feather River Canyon. The fire has burned over 635,700 acres and is only 33% contained. Unfortunately, windy and red flag conditions are on tap for the next few days, potentially giving the fire the impetus that it needs to grow more.

This fire has expanded into California’s Plumas, Butte, Tehama, and Lassen counties. The flames have destroyed or damaged over 1,200 structures, half of these being single residences. There are still over 16,000 structures threatened by the fire as it continues to ravage the region.

School administrators across the state line in Nevada were forced to delay start times in the Reno-Sparks area because of the smoke generated by this fire. Air quality levels continue to be poor throughout much of the West because of the multiple fires.

Ford Corkscrew Fire

California is not the only state dealing with massive wildfires. The Ford Corkscrew Fire is burning northwest of Spokane, Washington. This blaze has burned over 13,000 acres as it exploded over the last few days. The inferno began Sunday afternoon and quickly spread due to the drought conditions in this part of Washington.

So far, at least eight homes have been destroyed at the hands of the Ford Corkscrew Fire.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), at least two dozen fires are currently burning in Montana. Almost 50 major fires are burning in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

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