Closure aides Forest Service in fire resources: blaze now 1960 acres, 4,000 structures threatened

EL DORADO COUNTY- An official Closure Order was issued today for the Crozier Fire area on the Eldorado National Forest to provide for public safety during wildland fire suppression efforts and forest rehabilitation work. 

The Order will prohibit the use of areas, roads, and trails within the closure area seven days per week, 24 hours per day, on the Eldorado National Forest.

“This closure has been put in place to protect public and firefighter safety,” said Jen House, Acting Forest Supervisor. “We have over 1500 firefighters here and many residents affected by the Crozier Fire. For their sake, we ask that the public respect the closure so we can concentrate on getting this fire contained as quickly as possible.”

In addition to the forest closure, officials closed public use of the Placerville Airport as of late Friday as well to enable it to be used solely for fire operations. Additional closures due to the fire include the El Dorado County Fairgrounds which is now home to a fire operations camp and closed to all access except for working fire personnel until further notice.

The Crozier Fire was first reported on August 6, 2024 and is being managed in unified command by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service- Eldorado National Forest, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. As of 7:00 a.m. on August 10, it was reported at 1,960 acres and is 14% contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 
An update Sunday morning reported that crews had gained 18% containment on the blaze.

Town Hall Meeting scheduled
A Crozier Fire Town Hall meeting will be held in the multi-purpose room at Sutter’s Mill School, 4801 Luneman Rd. Placerville on Sunday Aug. from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. For those who are unable to attend in person, CalFire and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office will soon be releasing a video link to view the informational meeting.

“The fire continues to burn in steep, rugged timber, burning out the dry and dead fuels. Fire operations held the perimeter of the fire throughout the night,” explained CalFire in their latest incident summary Saturday evening. “Crews continue to actively engage the fire, when possible, to build direct line, reinforce lines, and mop-up.  Weather will remain hot and dry throughout the weekend.”

4,000 structures threatened, evacuations remain in place

At last report Saturday, 4,017  structures continue to be threatened by the fire, though none have been reported as destroyed or even damaged thus far due to the efforts of firefighters working around the clock to protect these vulnerable homes and buildings. The severity of the situation has led to the assignment of a type 1 incident management team, which is expected to take over the command of operations today, bringing additional expertise and coordination to the firefighting efforts.

The fire’s impact on local communities has been significant, with mandatory evacuation orders issued for the Mosquito and Swansboro communities, as well as areas east of Highway 193, Georgetown, Volcanoville, and Quintette. These areas are at high risk, and residents have been urged to leave immediately to ensure their safety. The evacuation warnings extend to a broader area surrounding the fire, where residents have been advised to be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice. The Perimeter Map website provides the most current and detailed information on evacuation zones, and residents are encouraged to check it frequently as the situation evolves.

VIEW THE LIVE EVACUATION PERIMETER MAP HERE FOR THE LATEST ORDERS, WARNINGS

Due to the need for fire operations, the Placerville Airport has been closed to all activity outside of fire aircraft use.

In response to the evacuations, Cameron Park Community Services District, located at 2502 Country Club Drive, Cameron Park, CA, has been established as an evacuation center, providing shelter and support to those displaced by the fire. Road closures have been implemented to ensure the safety of the public and to facilitate firefighting operations. 

These closures include Mosquito Road at Rock Creek Road, Rock Creek Road at Trail Gulch Road, Highway 193 at Shoemaker Road, Eastbound Wentworth Springs Road at Citabria Lane, and Westbound Wentworth Springs Road at Stumpy Meadows Reservoir. Additionally, an animal shelter has been set up at Animal Control, 6435 Capitol Avenue, Diamond Springs, CA, for those evacuating with pets.

The Crozier Fire is one of several fires actively burning in California, where a total of 4,946 wildfires have taken place thus far this year -CalFire

The firefighting effort is extensive, involving 1,556 personnel who are working tirelessly to contain the blaze. They are supported by a substantial number of resources, including 138 engines, 32 water tenders, 12 helicopters, eight hand crews, and seven bulldozers, with air tankers being deployed as needed. The coordination between CAL FIRE’s Amador-El Dorado Unit, the Eldorado National Forest, California Highway Patrol, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is crucial in this large-scale operation.

Despite the best efforts of these agencies, the unpredictable nature of the fire means that full containment remains uncertain. The coming days will be critical as firefighters continue to battle the blaze under challenging conditions. Local residents are urged to stay informed and follow all evacuation orders and warnings to ensure their safety as the situation continues to develop.

Arson arrest said to be unrelated

The Placerville Police Department reported on Thursday that officers had made an arson arrest close to the time the Crozier Fire started.  

Several social media posts have reportedly shared misinformation regarding the arrest of the suspect that was made near Rock Creek Road. However, the department clarified that the arrest does not appear to be connected to the fire at this time. The specific cause remains under investigation. 

Information for the #CrozierFire can be found at https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREAEU or at https://www.fire.ca.gov/.  Find the ALERTCalifornia camera on the fire at https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/2320.

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for the Mosquito/Swansboro community and the adjacent areas. For evacuation updates, please visit https://app.perimeterplatform.com/incidents/polygon/39711

El Dorado County, CA – Government has launched a #CrozierFire dedicated webpage on the County website as a one-stop information center. Please visit and bookmark: https://bit.ly/3WyW0sE .

The last update to this a story was Sunday, Aug. 11 at 7:00 a.m.