Update: The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said Monday morning that “evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas, with the exception of some sections of Texas Hill Road and Pay Dirt Road. An evacuation order remains in effect for the Placerville Airport.” Authorities also closed evacuation shelters. The fire was 77.5 acres and 25% contained, fire officials said Monday morning.
Original story:
Firefighters are battling a wildfire that raged around Placerville Airport on Saturday, threatening homes.
Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado Unit said Sunday morning that crews had halted further advance on the Pay Fire, which broke out shortly after 2 p.m. near Paydirt Drive and Denim Court. The fire quickly spread northeast, prompting a series of evacuations that are still ongoing. Cal Fire officials said the fire was contained within fire extinguisher and dozer lines.
The fire, located less than a mile north of the Moccasin Fire burn area, had reached 77.5 acres as of Sunday morning, unchanged from Saturday evening as crews increased containment to 5%. In an update, Cal Fire AEU thanked the numerous agencies that responded to the fire, including the U.S. Forest Service and personnel from El Dorado County, Diamond Springs, El Dorado Hills, Rescue, Georgetown, Garden Valley and Pioneer.
A mandatory evacuation remains in effect in several areas, including around Placerville Airport. Residents of homes around Lions Park – including Country Club Drive, Duden Drive, Barrett Drive and Cedar Ravine Road – have been allowed to re-enter the area, but remain subject to a voluntary evacuation order.
“While firefighters are busy fighting the fire today, we ask that you please be patient with all responders,” the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said. “Evacuation orders are in place for everyone’s safety. If you do not need to enter the evacuation zone, please stay outside.”
Detailed evacuation information is available from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office on the Perimeter website.
The sheriff’s office said an evacuation shelter was set up at the Placerville branch of the El Dorado Library, 345 Fair Lane, and an overnight shelter was set up at Union Mine High School, 6530 Koki Lane, El Dorado. Officials also set up a shelter for animals at the West Slope Animal Shelter, 6435 Capitol Ave., Diamond Springs.
