Highway 50 Through Area Of Kyburz Fire Partially Reopens To Vehicles
KYBURZ (CBS13) – Traffic on Highway 50 is moving slowly again through the area of the Kyburz fire.
RELATED: Fastest Ways Around Kyburz Fire To Lake Tahoe
The stretch of highway, which is about a mile long, was reopened shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday. Caltrans vehicles are now escorting drivers eastbound through the area starting at Elder Bridge and westbound starting at Sand Flat.
100 cars at a time are being escorted through #KyburzFire zone as one lane of Hwy 50 reopens. Details @CBSSacramento pic.twitter.com/QFnjTWVnTg
— Adrienne Moore (@AdrienneMooreTV) July 25, 2015
The road closed early Thursday afternoon after the fire broke out.
Early today, authorities confirmed suspicions the wildfire was sparked by a vehicle.
A passenger in a car on Highway 50 captured the moments after the flames broke out just after 2 p.m. Thursday about two miles west of Kyburz. In the video, a man can be seen walking along the freeway toward what looks like a tire -- and then you see a classic truck on fire, with the flames quickly moving up the hillside.
The fire continues to burn on both sides of Highway 50, near White Hall Canyon Drive.
A mandatory evacuation order, affecting 75 homes along the Sand Flat Campground, was downgraded to voluntary on Friday evening.
Extremely steep terrain and shifting winds have been challenging firefighters.