[5] It then threatened the communities of Meyers and South Lake Tahoe, causing evacuations to be ordered for more than 20,000 people before the fire's progress was halted.

Starting on August 27, winds drove the fire rapidly east towards the Lake Tahoe Basin, devastating the once picturesque backdrop to the historic Strawberry Lodge near the Twin Bridges area.

On August 17, evacuations were ordered for Grizzly Flats, Somerset, Sly Park Reservoir and Pollock Pines.

[23] Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for El Dorado County over a day later after the explosive growth.

[26] A private consulting firm estimated the total economic impact to the Tahoe region's economy, expressed as lost visitor spending due to evacuations and poor air quality, at $268 million.

[27] There were concerns that runoff from the Caldor Fire's burned footprint would have negative impacts on the water quality of the Lake Tahoe watershed.

[29] Based on bullet casings, earplugs, electronic device location data, and DNA evidence from the scene, on December 8, 2021, a father and son were arrested and charged with reckless arson.

[32] The two men's attorney stated that they had been in Eldorado National Forest in the Omo Ranch area on the day the fire began, were not guilty of starting it, and had called 911 to report it as soon as they had cell service.

[34] After a hearing in December 2023, an El Dorado County judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to try them in relation to the fire, but enough to charge them with weapons violations.