A heavy toll

So far, there is no monetary estimate on the destroyed structures, but the figure may be quite high. "I know most of the houses in that area are in excess of $600,000, so it could certainly get way up there," said Sgt. Don Atkinson of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department. "There are a lot of million-dollar homes in that area. In the area there is a large proprtion of people who are there full time, and there are a large number of vacation houses that are seasonally occupied."

The Gardner Mountain area to the north of the fire is on standby for evacuation because of the many homes in the area. "We haven't evacuated that," Atkinson said. "There's no immediate plans, but we're watching the fire, and if it becomes necessary to evacuate people we will do what's necessary."

-- Tami Abdollah