UPDATED 8/25/2021, 5:30pm
Caldor continues to steadily gobble its way across the landscape. It has been spotting up to 3/4 of a mile today and this is helping spread the fire across areas of sparser fuels around Packsaddle Pass.
Just got some mapping from a 3pm flight. The fire moved about three miles east from where the Kyburz Spot Fire joined the main fire yesterday. This run shows up under the Lower Forni label on upper right-center of the map below. It has advanced the northern head of the fire about a mile and a half to the east, on the north side of Highway 50. Fire was still 3.5 miles from Strawberry at 3pm, running higher on the slope and not impacting structures along Highway 50. There was also a new spot fire downhill from the main run.
This view looks north. Bright yellow on this map is new growth since 10pm on August 24 and the white line shows 20 hours growth before that (about 2am on August 24).
The main part of the head south of Highway 50 ran about 3/4 of a mile, spotting out another 3/4 of a mile beyond that, nearly to Cody Lake. Today’s info shows that mile+ runs are possible in a matter of hours under current fuel conditions when terrain and weather align, even without extreme winds. This view looks west. Bright yellow on this map is new growth since 10pm on August 24 and the white line shows 20 hours growth before that (about 2am on August 24).
Closeup of today’s run east of Kyburz, looking north. Bright yellow on this map is new growth since 10pm on August 24 and the white line shows 20 hours growth before that (about 2am on August 24).
The interior of the area that has been fired over past three days at Sly Park Lake has burned out since 10pm last night. Looking east. Bright yellow on this map is new growth since 10pm on August 24 and the white line shows 20 hours growth before that (about 2am on August 24).
The fire has also filled in between the two flanks on the Middle Fork Consumnes River west of Slug Gulch. Looking East. Bright yellow on this map is new growth since 10pm on August 24 and the white line shows 20 hours growth before that (about 2am on August 24).
It has been difficult for aircraft to work at the head of the fire, due to heavy smoke. This is very common during large fires. Airtankers are very effective at cooling the head of an emerging fire, but once a fire escapes initial attack and builds up a big cloud of smoke, it’s dangerous to fly. In these situations, aircraft are most often used to attack the heel and flanks (sides), where there is better visibility and where they’ll be more effective. With three different heads, the fire has multiple pathways to spread east, and none of these are through areas where firefighting is easy or likely to be effective. This is not due to lack of airtankers, but lack of visibility. This camera looks into the most active part of the head of the fire.
EARLIER: 8/25/2021, 7am.
The Caldor Fire continues to march east and it’s not out of the question to think it will make it to Echo Lake or beyond. There are no great strategic places to stop the spread and long-range spotting continues to be an issue. Unless we get some rain, I don’t think the fire’s progress can be stopped within next few days. It’s hard for me to see where we’ll have access and terrain needed for the highly-choreographed, massive effort required to make a stop once it spreads beyond the area east of Packsaddle Pass.
Fire spread actively eastward yesterday, especially the southeast flank. This has broadened the head of the fire, increasing the difficulty of fighting further spread east.
These maps are made with heat data from about 10pm on August 24, 2021. White line shows 20 hours of fire spread.
The spot fire at Kyburz merged with the main fire and ran about two miles upcanyon.
Starting at the southwest corner of the fire and moving clockwise, spread continues downcanyon in the Middle Fork Consumnes River. Heat data is from about 10pm, 8/24/2021. White line shows 20 hours of fire spread.
The middle of the west flank, around Woodpecker Gulch, hasn’t spread for four or five days.
The area just south of Sly Park Lake has been the highest priority for firefighting, and firing operations continue here. Heat data from about 10pm, 8/24/2021. White line shows 20 hours of fire spread.
On the northwest flank of the fire, there hasn’t been a lot of spread in past several days in area directly east of Sly Park Lake.
Fire is slowly backing down into the South Fork American River Canyon in the area west of Kyburz.
The upcanyon run on the spot fire at Kyburz opens a new, problematic flank in the firefight. All of the historic fires in this area have been heavily influenced by up and downcanyon daily winds.
Looking NE toward South Lake Tahoe. As mentioned above, yesterday’s spread broadened the head of the fire. Long range spotting is still one of the main factors influencing the speed of the fire’s eastward spread. The fire spread between a mile and 1.5 miles in 20 hours leading up to 10pm last night.
Looking north toward Kyburz.
Steady flanking spread continues on SE side of the fire.
The southern edge of the fire has held in place for the past several days.
