One firefighter has died from disease in one of California’s biggest wildfires that swept through parts of the state, officials said Sunday, making it the first death in a season when flames destroyed thousands of buildings and sent entire towns fleeing.
The fire has been tackled by 3,800 firefighters from different agencies.
Firefighters’ efforts now have to focus on clearing up incidents and further consolidating and maintaining containment lines, Cal Fire said, instead focusing on resolute extinguishing efforts in the early days of the fire.
Calmer winds and increased humidity over the past two days helped crews contain the blaze that, at its height in a single day, had raged through more than 100.000 acres of woods, the fire department said.
The incident, which burned through five counties and has become the second biggest wildfire in California history, accounted for 3.270 crews.
Authorities had earlier reported injuries to three first responders battling the blaze, but did not offer any civilian casualties or injuries.
The fire wounded five firefighters and civilians and burned more than 700 homes, the fire department said.
Almost 28.000 homes, shops and other buildings, from cabins to ski resorts, remained under threat.
#CaldorFire near Little Mountain, south of Pollock Pines in El Dorado County is 214,112 acres and 43% contained. Unified Command: @CALFIREAEU, @EldoradoNF, and @ElDoradoSheriff
https://t.co/3GMD2rhpza pic.twitter.com/9LOyMZBsO9— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) September 5, 2021
🚨WHAT: Evacuation Orders Downgraded and Evacuation Warnings Lifted WHEN: Effective Immediately
WHERE: El Dorado County
Evacuation Order Update:
(Details in attached release) #caldorfire pic.twitter.com/FkfEm8OxIb— CAL FIRE AEU (@CALFIREAEU) September 4, 2021
