The Caldor Fire (2021) was a California wildfire in El Dorado, Amador & Alpine Counties, with 221,835 acres, 1,003 structures destroyed, 1 death on the public record. Its cause is recorded as under investigation. No known litigation. Status as of October 1, 2026.
The Caldor Fire burned from August 14 to October 21, 2021 across El Dorado, Amador and Alpine counties. It is remembered for two things: the near-total loss of Grizzly Flats in its first days, and the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe two weeks later.
Its cause has never been officially closed. CAL FIRE still lists it as under investigation. A criminal case against two men accused of starting it ended without a trial on the fire charges. Residents of Grizzly Flats then turned to the federal government, filing administrative claims that say the U.S. Forest Service left a planned fuel-reduction project around the town mostly undone. Those claims were denied, and as of the date on this page we have found no lawsuit over the Caldor Fire in the public record.
CAL FIRE publishes two sets of numbers for this fire and they do not match. Its incident page lists 221,835 acres, 1,005 structures destroyed, 81 damaged and no fatalities. Its Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires list, dated August 4, 2026, lists 221,774 acres, 1,003 structures and 1 death. We show both rather than choose between them.
The fire was federally declared a major disaster, DR-4619-CA, but only for public assistance. FEMA denied Individual Assistance on October 8, 2021 and rejected the state appeal. A further denial letter dated December 10, 2025 was reported in August 2026. That means households did not receive direct federal grants for this fire.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2021-08-14 |
| Containment date | 2021-10-21 |
| Region / counties | El Dorado, Amador, Alpine |
| Acreage | 221,835 |
| Structures destroyed | 1,003 |
| Structures damaged | 81 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Cause status | under investigation |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Cause
CAL FIRE lists the cause of the Caldor Fire as under investigation, both on its incident page and on its statewide list dated August 4, 2026. No agency has published a final origin and cause report. In court, El Dorado County prosecutors alleged the fire began when a projectile discharged from a firearm struck an object, and news coverage of the case reported that the U.S. Forest Service had determined a bullet strike was the probable cause. Two men were charged with reckless arson in December 2021. A judge found insufficient evidence to send those charges to trial, so no person has been found legally responsible for starting the fire.
What happened
The fire started on the evening of August 14, 2021, east of Omo Ranch and south of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County. It reached Grizzly Flats on August 16 and destroyed more than 400 of the roughly 600 homes there. It then burned east along the Highway 50 corridor and over the Sierra crest. On August 30 the entire city of South Lake Tahoe, about 22,000 residents, was ordered to evacuate. News reporting put the total number of people forced from their homes at 53,000. CAL FIRE recorded full containment on October 21, 2021, after 68 days.
Caldor Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Caldor Fire starts at 6:54 PM, east of Omo Ranch and south of Grizzly Flats.
Source: CAL FIRE
The fire reaches Grizzly Flats and destroys more than 400 of about 600 homes.
All of South Lake Tahoe, about 22,000 residents, is ordered to evacuate.
Major disaster DR-4619-CA is declared.
Source: FEMA
FEMA denies Individual Assistance for the fire.
CAL FIRE records the fire as 100 percent contained after 68 days.
Source: CAL FIRE
David Scott Smith and Travis Shane Smith are arrested, accused of reckless arson in connection with the Caldor Fire. Both later plead not guilty.
Source: KTVU Fox 2
An investigation reports that about 14 percent of the 15,000-acre Trestle Forest Health Project near Grizzly Flats was completed before the fire.
Survivors prepare damage claims against the U.S. Forest Service ahead of an August 2023 filing limit. The Eldorado National Forest says it is not aware of any potential lawsuit and has no comment.
Source: CBS Sacramento
It is reported that El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Vicki Ashworth found insufficient evidence to try the two men for reckless arson.
Source: CBS Sacramento
It is reported that nearly 300 survivor claims filed in August 2023 were all denied and that no federal lawsuit has been filed.
Source: CBS Sacramento
The remaining weapons charge against Travis Shane Smith is dismissed. A separate weapons charge against David Scott Smith remains pending.
Source: CapRadio
An El Dorado County supervisor asks the incoming president to reverse the denial of Individual Assistance.
Source: CBS Sacramento
Five years on, a further FEMA denial letter dated December 10, 2025 is reported, and a resident says the community has still not heard a final cause and origin finding.
Source: CapRadio
Litigation status
No known litigation. Status as of October 1, 2026.
We found no civil lawsuit over the Caldor Fire in the public sources we searched as of October 1, 2026. What the public record does show is an administrative claims process against the federal government. Survivors from Grizzly Flats filed damage claims with the U.S. Forest Service in August 2023, ahead of the two-year filing limit. The claims centered on the Trestle Forest Health Project, a 15,000-acre fuel-reduction plan bordering the town, of which an investigation by CapRadio and the California Newsroom found about 14 percent had been completed before the fire. CBS Sacramento reported in March 2024 that nearly 300 survivors had filed claims, that all were denied, and that no federal lawsuit had been filed at that point. We have not found reporting of a filed complaint since. Separately, a criminal case was brought in El Dorado County Superior Court: David Scott Smith and Travis Shane Smith were arrested on December 8, 2021, accused of reckless arson. Judge Vicki Ashworth ruled in late December 2023 that there was insufficient evidence to try them on those charges. In April 2024 the remaining weapons charge against Travis Shane Smith was dismissed. A separate weapons charge against David Scott Smith was still pending at that time, and we have not found a public report of how it ended.
An administrative claim to a federal agency is not a lawsuit, and a denied claim does not by itself mean a case was or was not filed. This entry reports only what the public record shows as of the status date; it does not characterize any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- CAL FIRE incident record, Caldor Fire , CAL FIRE
- FEMA disaster declaration DR-4619-CA, California Wildfires , Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Request to the President on Individual Assistance for Grizzly Flats, with the state emergency services director letter , Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person. If you have questions about yours, contact us and we will help.
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Caldor Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- Aug 18, 2026After 5 years, Caldor Fire turns town of Grizzly Flats into community of haves and have notsCapRadio
- Jan 16, 2025El Dorado County supervisor asks Trump for more help for Caldor Fire victimsCBS Sacramento
- Apr 23, 2024Judge drops all charges against man arrested in connection with Caldor FireCapRadio
- Mar 26, 2024Caldor Fire victims collect claims to sue Forest Service for Grizzly Flats destructionCBS Sacramento
- Jan 2, 2024Not enough evidence to take father and son accused of starting Caldor Fire to trial, judge rulesCapRadio
- Aug 2, 2023Caldor Fire survivors are taking legal action against U.S. Forest ServiceCapRadio
- Aug 16, 2022Stalled US Forest Service Project Could Have Protected California Town From Caldor Fire DestructionCapRadio and the California Newsroom, via LAist
Common questions about the Caldor Fire
What caused the Caldor Fire?
CAL FIRE lists the cause of the Caldor Fire as under investigation, both on its incident page and on its statewide list dated August 4, 2026. No agency has published a final origin and cause report. In court, El Dorado County prosecutors alleged the fire began when a projectile discharged from a firearm struck an object, and news coverage of the case reported that the U.S. Forest Service had determined a bullet strike was the probable cause. Two men were charged with reckless arson in December 2021. A judge found insufficient evidence to send those charges to trial, so no person has been found legally responsible for starting the fire.
Is there litigation over the Caldor Fire?
No known litigation. Status as of October 1, 2026.
What areas did the Caldor Fire affect?
The Caldor Fire (El Dorado, Amador & Alpine Counties) affected communities including Grizzly Flats, Omo Ranch, South Lake Tahoe.
How large was the Caldor Fire?
221,835 acres, 1,003 structures destroyed, 1 fatality, per public records as of 2026-10-01.
When did the Caldor Fire start and when was it contained?
The Caldor Fire started on August 14, 2021 at 6:54 PM, east of Omo Ranch and south of Grizzly Flats in El Dorado County, California. CAL FIRE recorded it as 100 percent contained on October 21, 2021, after 68 days.
Who started the Caldor Fire?
No person has been found legally responsible for starting the Caldor Fire. David Scott Smith and Travis Shane Smith were charged with reckless arson in December 2021, but in late December 2023 El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Vicki Ashworth found insufficient evidence to send those charges to trial. CAL FIRE still lists the cause as under investigation.
How many people died in the Caldor Fire?
CAL FIRE publishes two different figures for the Caldor Fire. Its incident page lists no fatalities, with 5 civilian and 16 firefighter injuries. Its Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires list, dated August 4, 2026, lists 1 death.
Did Caldor Fire survivors receive FEMA aid?
The Caldor Fire was declared a major disaster, DR-4619-CA, for public assistance only. FEMA denied Individual Assistance on October 8, 2021 and rejected the state appeal, so households did not receive direct federal grants for the Caldor Fire. A further denial letter dated December 10, 2025 was reported by CapRadio in August 2026.
Did Grizzly Flats residents sue the U.S. Forest Service over the Caldor Fire?
Grizzly Flats residents filed administrative damage claims against the U.S. Forest Service in August 2023 over the Caldor Fire. CBS Sacramento reported in March 2024 that nearly 300 claims had been filed, that all were denied, and that no federal lawsuit had been filed at that point. As of October 1, 2026 we have not found a filed lawsuit in the public record.
Sources
- Caldor Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
- Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires (list dated August 4, 2026), linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Disaster declaration DR-4619-CA, FEMA
- Not enough evidence to take father and son accused of starting Caldor Fire to trial, judge rules, CapRadio
- Insufficient evidence to take father, son to trial for recklessly starting Caldor Fire, judge rules, CBS Sacramento
- Judge drops all charges against man arrested in connection with Caldor Fire, CapRadio
- Caldor Fire victims collect claims to sue Forest Service for Grizzly Flats destruction, CBS Sacramento
- Stalled US Forest Service Project Could Have Protected California Town From Caldor Fire Destruction, CapRadio and the California Newsroom, via LAist
- All of South Lake Tahoe Ordered to Leave as Wildfire Grows, Associated Press, via NBC Washington
- Request to the President on disaster relief for Grizzly Flats, Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley
- Father and son arrested, accused of starting Caldor Fire, district attorney says, KTVU Fox 2
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.