Trailhead Fire Mandatory Evacuations Come To An End

EL DORADO COUNTY (CBS13) — All mandatory evacuations for the Trailhead Fire will be lifted at 8 p.m. on Monday, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department announced.

The fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is 25 percent contained.

Cooler conditions are helping the fire fight after a heat wave last week when the fire was at its worst.

Despite the acreage burned and the poor conditions, firefighters report no buildings were damaged and no residents were injured in the fire that broke out on Tuesday.

More than 2,100 Firefighters have battled the Trailhead fire for the last seven days. As their families celebrate the Fourth of July at home, the firefighters know they have a job to do that doesn't include fireworks.

"The last week has been pretty crazy," said CalFire firefighter Brennan Murphy. "[I've] been on since this started, six days."

He and his fellow firefighters have been working around the clock in shifts to get the fire contained.  And even though it's Independence Day, he doesn't expect anything to be different because the flames are still going.

"I kind of knew coming into it that working holidays, especially during the summer is inevitable," he said. "But, I like what I do. We all just want to achieve one goal and that's to keep the citizens of California safe."

But even that doesn't stop his family back home from worrying about his safety, especially when they're gathered together for the holiday.

"I always stay in contact with them as much as I can," he said. "Let them know that I'm doing all right."

For Cal Fire Captain Mike Stewart, this year marks his 34th fire season.  He told CBS13 that working on the Fourth comes with the job.

"My wife is pretty accustomed to me not being around for holiday and family events," he said. "It's a pretty common thing for firefighters of either sex to have to have their family used to the fact that they are going to be gone a lot during the summertime. You either commit to what you're going to do or find another line of work."

On the Placer County side, the Trailhead Fire is largely contained – which means Murphy may get to enjoy a delayed July 4 celebration later this week.

"Hopefully in the next couple of days, I'll get some time off," he said.

For firefighter Randy Hinkle, he knows he has to be ready, even on July 4, just in case anything changes out in the canyon.

"It's been tiring," he said. "Just have to keep your mind right and keep it set and stay focused. And it all gets better in the end."