“The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, and Placer,” a White House statement said. “Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment, and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.”

According to the statement, Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Dolph A. Diemont as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

The Caldor Fire started on August 14 near Little Mountain, south of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County, about two miles East of Omo Ranch and four miles south of Grizzly Flats. It initially burned slowly but exploded in size on August 16 due to high winds.

By the night of August 16, it was 6,500 acres (2,600 ha). 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. 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. By August 30, it had reached Echo Summit, less than 5 miles (8.0 km) from South Lake Tahoe.

On August 17 evacuations were ordered for Grizzly Flats, Somerset, Sly Park Reservoir, and Pollock Pines. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for El Dorado County on the same day. As of Sunday night, evacuation orders were sent out to residents of the Tahoe Basin as well as locations in Amador County.

About 472 buildings have been destroyed by the fire, mostly in the town of Grizzly Flats. Two people were injured in Grizzly Flats and were airlifted to hospital. (ILKHA)