Firefighting Efforts Slow Pay Fire's Spread in El Dorado County

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EL DORADO COUNTY, CA — Forward progress on the Pay Fire burning in El Dorado County has been halted, Cal Fire reported on Sunday. The blaze, which triggered evacuations and caused damage to hangars at the Placerville Airport, started Saturday near the airport on Paydirt Drive.

As of Sunday, the fire has burned 77 acres, with no change in size since Saturday night. The fire remains 5% contained. Containment percentages indicate the extent to which a fire's spread has been halted by creating breaks or lines around it.

The El Dorado County Fire Protection District initially reported the fire's start on Paydirt Drive. Cal Fire has been updating the situation regularly, but the number of homes or structures damaged has not yet been confirmed.

Chris Vestal, a Cal Fire spokesperson, noted the challenges of battling fires in rural, mountainous areas, citing windy and narrow roads that complicate access for firefighting apparatus and evacuation routes for residents.

"We're trying to get in, and our big fire apparatus takes up a lot of space," Vestal explained. "And we have the community trying to get out. It can cause bottlenecks where the community can't get out and our apparatus can't get in and out."

An overnight shelter for displaced residents has been opened at Union Mine High School, located at 6530 Koki Lane.

Evacuation Orders and Road Closures

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders for the following areas:

- Paydirt Drive

- Cedar Ravine Road

- Texas Hill Road

- Airport Road

- Big Barn Road

Road closures are in effect at:

- Broadway and Airport Road

- Cedar Ravine Road and County Club Drive

- Cedar Ravine Road and Paydirt Drive

- Big Barn Road and Newtown Road

For more detailed evacuation zones and updates, residents can check local resources and authorities’ communications.