Small El Dorado County wildfire that forced evacuations this weekend is fully contained

A small wildfire burning Saturday near homes in El Dorado County forced officials to temporarily order evacuations in the area of Logtown, according to Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado Unit.

Just after 2 p.m., Cal Fire officials said the 11-acre Steins Fire was burning near China Hill Road in the small foothills community of Logtown, less than 10 miles southwest of Placerville.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents on Lords Way, Goldorado Trail and Gold Country Road, and for those on Steins Way west of China Hill Road.

By 3:45 p.m., those evacuations were lifted crews halted the blaze’s forward progress. Roads in the area remained open to residents only.

Overnight, fire crews managed to improve containment lines due to developing weather conditions.

“Cooler temperatures overnight helped suppression efforts allowing firefighters to gain containment to 60%,” Cal Fire officials wrote in a Sunday morning update. “Fire crews continue to work tirelessly to strengthen containment lines and mop up hotspots in the heavy brush.”

By Sunday afternoon, the vegetation fire was fully contained, but fire crews are set to remain working the area to make sure it doesn’t flare up again.

“Great work from fire crews,” Cal Fire officials wrote in a Sunday update. “Due to the terrain and nearby fuels the fire will remain in patrol status for several days to ensure no new smokes develop within the interior of the burn.”

Although no injuries were reported, three outbuildings were destroyed and one home was damaged. One outbuilding was also damaged.

Cal Fire officials said that the wildfire posed a threat to structures in the immediate vicinity. A smoke plume was seen in the area rising from the fire.

This story was originally published June 26, 2021 at 2:37 PM.