Caldor Fire update: Highway 50 to finally reopen Tuesday

Caltrans officials have announced that the long closed section of Highway 50 will reopen Tuesday morning, more than a month after it was shuttered because of the destructive Caldor Fire in El Dorado County. The full reopening of the area between Kyburz and Meyers is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to Caltrans. Highway 50 was reopened to fire evacuees Monday morning, so residents could asses their properties and prepare for the future full reopening of the highway. "We will allow the general public starting at 8 a.m. on Tuesday," Caltrans spokeswoman Angela DaPrato said. The Caldor Fire ignited Aug. 14 and was 75% contained as of Monday morning with approximately 220,000 acres burned. Highway 50 has been closed since Aug. 20 as firefighters battled heavy fire activity in the area and have spent the last several days clearing hazard trees from the area to insure traveler safety. The highway closure was originally a 46-mile stretch, which has been progressively reduced in recent weeks, to just a few remaining miles of roadway allow for the changes in evacuation areas on the eastern and southern ends of the closure. After the opening of Highway 88 last week, Tahoe area tourism agencies and South Lake Tahoe officials declared in statements last week that most of the region is "open for business," but the highway closure has made that difficult for visitors from the Sacramento area. Officials urge motorists planning to use the highway upon its reopening to remain cautious and aware of equipment that continues to work in the area on fire damage clean up and assessment.