A prescribed burn in the El Dorado County National Forest is now out of control, forcing the U.S. Forest Service to double the number of crews on the fire lines. The Caples Fire is burning between Highway 50 and Highway 88 near Kyburz. Twenty-five mile-per-hour winds spread flames faster than fire crews had planned. As of Thursday evening, the fire had burned 2,143 acres.
Officials said the fire is not threatening any structures. The fire comes during a PG&E Public Safety Power Shutdown impacting customers who live in El Dorado County.
Ron Hacker, 67, is in the dark in his Pollock Pines apartment. His PG&E power was shut off for wildfire prevention only a few miles from the U.S. Forest Service controlled burn.
“It’s kinda like, going one against the other,” Hacker said. “You know it don’t make any sense.”