Emerald, Lake Tahoe

Emerald, near Emerald Bay of South Lake Tahoe. Road closures in place.

October 17, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Effective at 12:00pm today, the following evacuation orders will be lifted:

• Cascade Properties
• Cascade Lake

Additionally, Highway 89 is estimated to re-open today at noon. Traffic will be metered through the fire area by Caltrans. The Highway will be subject to future closure as repair work and tree removal continues and debris is removed from the highway.

Fire crews, law enforcement, Caltrans and Liberty Utilities continue to work in the area. Residents and visitors are advised to take extra caution while driving in these areas.

Liberty Utilities is working to restore damaged infrastructure in the fire area in order to reestablish power to Spring Creek Tract.

Agency cooperators would like to thank the community for their continued patience and support throughout this emergency.

October 17, 2016 at 8:05 AM

The Emerald Fire is 100% contained. Debris continues to impact the roadway due to the high winds and torrential rains. Fire suppression repair is ongoing. Liberty Utilities continues to work to restore power to all customers.

Road Closures: Highway 89 from Fallen Leaf Lake to Emerald Bay North Gate will remain closed until Caltrans can make the roadway safe.

October 16, 2016 at 2:06 PM

Effective at 3:00pm today, the following evacuation orders have been lifted:

Cathedral Rd
Springs Creek Tract
Camp Shelly
Camp Concord
Mt Tallac Rd

The following areas will be open to residents only:
Cascade Properties
Cascade Lake

Fire crews, Law enforcement, Caltrans and Liberty Utilities continue to work in the area. Residents are advised to take extra caution while driving in these areas.

Highway 89 remains closed while Cal Trans removes debris from the roadway, and evaluates and removes any trees that may pose a hazard to the roadway.

October 16, 2016 at 1:37 PM

Highway 89 continues to be closed, as debris continues to impact the roadway due to high winds and torrential rains.  Liberty Utilities has restored power to Cascade Properties, Cascade Lake, Camp Shelly, Camp Concord, Cathedral side of Fallen Leaf Lake, and Taylor Creek Visitors Center.  Mandatory evacuations remain in place for Spring Creek, Cathedral, West shore of Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Properties, Cascade Lake. Evacuations have been released north of Bayview Trailhead, all others are still in place. South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center evacuation shelter is now closed.

October 16, 2016 at 9:45 AM

The removal of hazardous trees from Highway 89 and around residences is ongoing. Debris continues to impact the roadway due to the high winds and torrential rains. Fire suppression repair continues on the fire where safe. Liberty Utilities is working to restore power to the area.

October 15, 2016 at 5:42 PM

Crews were able to walk the perimeter today and determine that the fire is 176 acres.  Containment is still at 80%, Highway 89 remains closed between Fallen Leaf Road and Bayview Campground, and evacuation areas (Spring Creek, Cathedral, West shore of Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Properties, and Cascade Lake) remain the same, due to weakened and burning trees, power line issues, rolling debris, and highway hazards.

October 15, 2016 at 2:46 PM

200 structures remain threatened. Hazard trees, combined with current weather conditions continue to pose risks to firefighters. Minimal fire behavior. Crews continue mopping up and strengthening control lines. All evacuation orders have been lifted.

October 14, 2016 at 6:20 PM

Unified command has been established with the USFS, and CAL FIRE. Heavy precipitation is occurring over the fire area and wind is impacting firefighting operations. Forward progress of the fire has been stopped, however there are a large number of hazardous trees along Highway 89 and around homes. Crews will be working when safe to remove those hazards before Highway 89 is re-opened.

October 14, 2016 at 5:33 PM

Caltrans: Highway 89 will be closed from Fallen Leaf Lake Rd to Vikingsholm overnight due to the Emerald Fire. Will be reassessed Saturday.

October 14, 2016 at 1:55 PM

Heavy precipitation is occurring over the fire now and wind is impacting firefighting operations. Over 500 structures are threatened. Firefighters continue to perform structure defense in active fire areas.

October 14, 2016 at 12:23 PM

Mandatory Evacuations: Spring Creek, Cathedral, West shore of Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Properties, Cascade Lake.

Evacuations have been released North of Bayview Trailhead all others are still in place.

October 14, 2016 at 12:00 PM

CAL FIRE Information Officer Brice Bennett with the latest on the 200 acre #EmeraldFire in El Dorado County. pic.twitter.com/Rv6Feh43LP

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) October 14, 2016

October 14, 2016 at 11:12 AM

University of Reno, NV Angels Roost fire camera turns to Emerald Bay Fire at 2:37 AM. Flashing from the fire can be observed before camera turns to the exploding fire near Spring Creek track east of Emerald Bay.

October 14, 2016 at 10:25 AM

The fire is now 25% contained

October 14, 2016 at 9:47 AM

89 closure is from Camp Richardson to Vikingsholm, 8 mile closure due to wildfire.

October 14, 2016 at 9:20 AM

Mandatory evacuations have been issued for 500 residences. Voluntary evacuations have been issued for an additional 500 residences. We are requesting residents being evacuated travel north on Highway 89 towards Tahoe City.

An evacuation center has been established at the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center located at 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd.

Unified command has been established with the USFS, Lake Valley Fire, and CAL FIRE. Fire is burning in the Cascade Lake/ Emerald Bay region of South Lake Tahoe. Very strong winds ahead of the incoming storm system are fanning the fire in different directions resulting in dangerous rates of spread. Currently raining over the fire.

October 14, 2016 at 8:08 AM

All evacuations remain in place except for areas North of Bayview Trailhead.

List of mandatory evacuated roads:

Hwy 89 North closed from Fallen Leaf Road to Bayview Trailhead
Cathedral Road
Baldwin Beach Road
Mt Tallac Road
Spring Creek Road
Alliklik Road
Cahuilla Road
Hupa Road
Karok Road
Mattole Road
Maidu Road
Nicoleno Road
Nicolena Court
Pomo Road
Pomo Court
Wiyot Road
Yurok Road
Cascade Road
Sugar Pine Road
Cascade Lake Road
Upper Eagle Point Campground
Lower Eagle Point Campground

All voluntary evacuations lifted on Highway 89 North from Bayview Trailhead to Tahoma.

Road Closures: Highway 89 from Camp Richardson to Meeks Bay

Red Cross opening 2 evac centers for #EmeraldFire: Rideout Center, 740 Timberland, Tahoe City and S Lake Tahoe Rec Center 1180 Rufus Allen Blvd