Update: Most mandatory evacuation orders lifted in El Dorado County vegetation fire
A vegetation fire that sparked Monday afternoon in El Dorado County prompted mandatory evacuations in a wooded area northeast of El Dorado Hills.
Dubbed the Valley Fire, the blaze was first reported around 1:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of Sweet Valley Road, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire.
The fire burned with a moderate rate of spread and quickly grew to about 20 acres before aerial firefighting crews arrived and helped slow its advance.
Firefighters requested door-to-door mandatory evacuations for homes on Sweet Valley, Sands, Martel Creek, Rough Ridge, Kanaka Valley, Deer Valley and Starbuck roads. Up to date evacuations are available on the Perimeter evacuation website.
Just before 5:00 p.m. Monday, a portion of the mandatory evacuation zone was redrawn; residents can now access the community of Rescue between Deer Valley and Starbuck roads. The residential area between Sands and Deer Valley roads was downgraded to an evacuation warning. Sweet Valley Road was still in the mandatory evacuation zone as of 5:00 p.m. Monday evening.
Just before 4:00 p.m. Monday afternoon, Cal Fire reported that 5% of the fire had been contained. State wildfire mapping planes showed the fire spread 17 acres. By 4:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, firefighters had successfully stopped the fire’s forward progress.
The total population affected by the mandatory evacuations was 261, per El Dorado County authorities. As of Monday afternoon, there were no reported electricity outages in the area.
California Highway Patrol officers at D’Oro Court and Deer Valley Road turned away a near-constant stream of cars when the evacuation order was still in effect. Some were residents of the area and others were concerned relatives of people who live nearby. CHP Officer Alex Whitley estimated that he had turned away hundreds of people Monday afternoon who were attempting to drive north along Deer Valley, which was at one point closed to Kanaka Valley Road.
“It’s been nonstop,” Whitley said.
Officials have not yet reported any damage to structures or injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM.
