Crozier Fire update: More evacuations in El Dorado County as blaze triples size overnight
Sheriff’s officials on Wednesday night expanded the mandatory evacuation zone in El Dorado County as the Crozier Fire nearly tripled its size overnight.
As of 5:16 a.m. Thursday, the Crozier Fire had burned at least 706 acres northeast of Placerville, according to Cal Fire. The fire’s containment remained at 5% throughout Thursday. The wildfire had grown to 1,582 acres as of an update just after 6 p.m.
The wildfire started about 1:20 a.m. Wednesday northwest of Slate Mountain. The Crozier Fire was measured at 244.5 acres with 5% containment in a 7 p.m. Wednesday Cal Fire update.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday night that the evacuation orders instructing residents in the area to leave immediately was expanded to the greater portion of the communities of Garden Valley, Georgetown, Volcanoville, Mosquito, Quintet and Swansboro.
Sheriff’s officials continued to ask residents to visit perimetermap.com to view the evacuation map, saying additional information will be updated as it becomes available. Residents can enter their address in the search bar to see the latest information.
Law enforcement officials were actively patrolling the areas under evacuation orders, and the Sheriff’s Office warned people to not enter the evacuated zone unless they’ve been authorized by authorities.
Cal Fire was in unified command with U.S. Forest Service officials from El Dorado National Forest as they continued to battle the wildfire. The state agency announced Cal Fire Incident Management Team 5 has been activated to oversee the fire.
The Crozier Fire was burning in a remote part of the forest within heavy timber and thick brush, the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit reported in a Thursday morning update.
Cal Fire officials said the area is difficult for firefighters to access, and crews were actively engaging in a full suppression strategy that includes air tankers, helicopters and ground crews. The hot weather, breezes and low humidity levels were creating elevated fire activity.
Authorities had closed Mosquito Road at Volz Lane and Rocky Creek Road at Highway 193, according to Cal Fire.
For those displaced by the Crozier Fire evacuation orders, a new temporary evacuation center has been opened at the Cameron Park Community Services District at 2502 Country Club Dr. in Cameron Park. That location is an overnight shelter, and pets on a leash or in a kennel are welcome, El Dorado County officials said.
The El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter, 6435 Capitol Ave. in Diamond Springs will be open to house animals displaced by the evacuation order. If no one answers the door, please call 530-621-5795, sheriff’s officials said.
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 8:23 AM.
