Wildfire prompts closures in both directions on Highway 50 near Pollock Pines

According to Carson Now, a wildland fire was reported this afternoon near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Kyburz Drive on the West Slope of El Dorado County and 22 miles west of South Lake Tahoe. People’s Global Positioning System is rerouting them Sly Park to Park Creek road which will lead back into closure area.

The 100-acre fire is located on north of the American River, but on both sides of Highway 50. Fire is burning north towards the 2013 Kyburz fire area.

The vegetation fire near Kyburz, California, started as the result of a vehicle fire earlier in the day, Sheriff’s Sgt. Mormon Emigrant Trail is being used as a detour. The cause has yet to be determined, but Schroeder said that there is video footage of a auto fire.

Forest Service officials say there are mandatory evacuations from Whitehall to Sand Flat Campground and voluntary evacuations for Kyburz and Strawberry.

The fire, which was first reported just after 2 p.m., is about 60 acres in size, according to El Dorado National Forest officials. Firefighters are using the new super scooper, a plane that can pick up 1,600 gallons of water in 12 seconds to fight the fire.