OPENING DAY
LOTS OF FUN
Vail announces plans for season without reservations needed to hit the slopes.
El Dorado Hills CSD’s end-of-summer party in the park was hoppin’.
Inside, page 6
Inside, page 7
170
C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
th
VOLUME 170 • ISSUE 113 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
– E S T. 18 51
Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service firefighters execute a strategic firing operation north of Kirkwood Thursday.
Crews fight fire with fire Tahoe Daily Tribune KIRKWOOD — Fighting fire with fire sometimes goes bad. But on Thursday Mother Nature fully cooperated and officials said they feel like they may have taken a big step on further controlling the Caldor Fire with a successful firing operation that “couldn’t have gone any better” near Caples Lake and Highway 88. While successful, the fire is still actively burning and officials warn, “We’re not out of the woods yet.” “Our defensive line is much better now, to use a football term,” said Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Fire Marshal and Caldor spokesman Eric Guevin. “The fire has a long way to go to get back at us. This will help us dramatically control this fire.” As soon as Guevin said we’re not out of the woods, a large tree in the burn area was heard crashing to the ground. He said on a windier day that could have thrown embers into the sky, sparking spot fires beyond fire lines, which is something he said has spurred this fire all along. Firefighters were ready for a fight with bulldozers having cleared a wide, two-lane path on the Schneider Camp four-wheel-drive trail to break up dense vegetation as well as dozing other fire lines up hillsides to add an extra layer of defense if the winds shifted and the blaze tried to expand on the ■
See BACK BURN, page 12
New district maps out for review El Dorado County CAO News release With the redistricting process under way in El Dorado County, maps under consideration for Board of Supervisors’ districts are now available for public viewing. The Surveyor’s Office created four maps, each of which meet
the requirements for equal population distribution, geographic contiguity, integrity of local communities and consideration of natural and man-made barriers and compactness. These maps can be viewed on the county’s redistricting website at edcgov.us/Government/ Elections/Pages/ County-of-El-DoradoRedistricting.aspx under “Draft Maps.” The public may also access and download data and the census files to create their own maps for consideration. All maps and map revisions must be submitted to the redistricting team before a public meeting Oct. 14 where the maps will be provided to the public.
Four options Alternative 1: City based alternative ■
See MAPS, page 2
Mountain Democrat photos by Eric Jaramishian
Ken and Becky Green embrace each other in Somerset Thursday, Sept. 24. The former homeless couple, now both working, bought a house in Grizzly Flat in 2019, only to have it destroyed by the Caldor Fire.
HOMELESS AGAIN Caldor steals life former homeless couple built
■ Family’s Fair Plan mistakenly dropped Eric Jaramishian Staff writer
F
ormer homeless couple Becky and Ken Green are among the many who lost their home when the Caldor Fire swept through Grizzly Flat. The Greens’ story started off a successful one at the now defunct homeless encampment Hangtown Haven. The Greens became more than residents at the encampment, eventually volunteering and taking on leadership roles in the camp. The pair then found work, got married and moved into a home in Placerville before purchasing a home in Grizzly Flat June 21, 2019. Fast forward to Aug. 14, 2021 — the birth of the Caldor Fire. The blaze spread fast and the Greens got the order to evacuate. “It was crazy,” Becky said. “We watched it all day long and then it came so fast.” The couple’s home burned Aug. 17. “It’s a gut punch because we worked really hard,” Becky said. That wasn’t the end of their troubles. The Greens made a call to the California Fair Plan offices to make a claim
Sequoya Nylander, Becky Green and Xavier Nylander, from left, enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Shingle Springs Tuesday, Sept. 21. Becky and her family have been staying at a friends property after their house burned in the Caldor Fire. on their home. The response spelled bad news. They were told their insurance policy had lapsed for nonpayment a year prior and they had no fire coverage. What happened? The Greens opted to have impound accounts held in escrow by mortgage company Mr. Cooper, meaning the company would be responsible for paying for their fire policy, according to the Greens’ attorney Shanie Bradley. Their premiums were ■
See HOMELESS, page 3
Paul Green climbs into his tent Tuesday, Sept. 22 outside the house his family is staying in.
RED CARPET CARE FOR YOUR PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR
10% MILITARY DISCOUNT
GILMOREAIR.COM
$50 OFF YOUR NEXT PLUMBING OR HVAC REPAIR Terms and conditions apply. Coupons may not be combined.