Cars clog Kingsbury Grade at Foothill Road on Aug. 30, 2021, as people evacuate from South Lake Tahoe. The next day, the first mandatory evacuation in Douglas history was implemented ahead of the Caldor Fire
Under Nevada law, only the governor can order people from their homes in an emergency. That had never happened in Douglas County through many wildfires, including the Tamarack Fire, which claimed homes in the south county in July 2021.
But on Aug. 31, 2021, the first mandatory evacuation in Douglas County history was ordered for residents of Kingsbury on the Lake Tahoe side, and included Lower Oliver, Kahle Drive, Lake Village, Round Hill and south of Elks Point Road.
The prior afternoon, evacuations in South Lake Tahoe expanded and residents were fleeing the fire up Highway 50 and over Kingsbury Grade.
Concerns about the fire burning over the Carson Range and into Carson Valley prompted warnings to Foothill residents that they might be next to evacuate, and prompted the governor to delegate the authority to order evacuations to Douglas County commissioners.
At 5:30 p.m. Monday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will present evacuation information for Lake Tahoe residents in the Tallac Room of the Kahle Community Center. This presentation will also feature representatives from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and Nevada Highway Patrol.
“We understand that evacuation procedures can be overwhelming and confusing for residents,” said Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley. “That’s why we want to provide our community with as much information as possible so they can feel prepared and safe in case of an emergency.”
Officials will introduce the county’s new Perimeter App and the current Reverse 911, both systems that allows first responding agencies to send emergency notifications directly to residents via app notifications, phone calls, or text messages.
“These systems have proven to be an effective tool in emergency situations and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about these programs,” officials said.
The Caldor Fire started on Aug. 14, 2021, four miles south of Grizzly Flat south of Pollock Pines on the Sierra western slope. Two weeks later the fire burned 191,607 acres as it climbed Highway 50 toward South Lake Tahoe.
Charges filed against two Californians in connection with the fire were dismissed last winter, with the final charge against Shane Smith dismissed on Monday, according to attorney Mark J. Reichel.
