Mandatory evacuations expand near Placerville for Pay Fire in El Dorado County

Daniel Hunt
·1 min read
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Evacuations were expanded Saturday afternoon for homes threatened by a wildfire burning near Placerville.

The Pay Fire ignited just after 2 p.m. near Paydirt Drive and Denim Court, according to Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado unit. The fire is less than a mile north of the Moccasin Fire burn area, which started Tuesday and was 85% contained after scorching 51 acres Saturday, and is hemmed in by Highway 50 to the north.

At 7 p.m., fire officials said the Pay Fire had charred 77.5 acres and that multiple structures off Country Club and Duden drives were threatened. In an update, Cal Fire officials said the fire was holding within retardant and dozer lines as aerial support continued to bombard the flames and spot fires.

Areas under mandatory evacuation include the west side of the Placerville Airport and homes around Lions Park. Country Club Drive, Duden Drive, Barrett Drive and Cedar Ravine Road are among the areas under the order.

Homes around the area — south of Highway 50, west of Newtown Road, north of Camp Nauvoo Road and east of Marshall hospital — are under voluntary evacuations.

Initial evacuation zones for the Pay Fire, burning north of Placerville in El Dorado County, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. The red area indicates a mandatory evacuation; yellow areas are under voluntary evacuations as of 7:30 p.m.
Initial evacuation zones for the Pay Fire, burning north of Placerville in El Dorado County, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. The red area indicates a mandatory evacuation; yellow areas are under voluntary evacuations as of 7:30 p.m.

Detailed evacuation information is available from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office through the Perimeter website.

The Sheriff’s Office said an evacuation shelter was set up at the El Dorado Library’s Placerville branch, 345 Fair Lane and an overnight shelter was set up at Union Mine High School, 6530 Koki Lane, El Dorado. Officials also set up a shelter for animals at the West Slope Animal Shelter, 6435 Capitol Ave., Diamond Springs.