A small grass fire that ignited near Coyoteville Lane and Cedar Creek Road in Somerset at 2:16 p.m. PST quickly escalated into a fast-moving wildfire, Cal Fire reported. By 5 p.m., the Coyote Fire had burned 284 acres, nearly tripling in size in just over an hour.
LiveCopter 3 footage showed heavy smoke rolling off hills southeast of Placerville, while air crews reported torching trees and spot fires flaring on the northern edge, according to Folsom Times. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation warnings for Omo and Somerset zones, urging residents to use Mt. Aukum Road.
Sitting outside and starting noticing a smell of smoke and thought how weird it was. (We are in a no burn time)
Then saw a small plume
Then saw a bigger plume
Grab phone and Google fires near me
Coyote fire is 300+ acres now and a few miles from my house/property
I have a… pic.twitter.com/uCan2TYIUK
— GrApeful Nate (@PhantomStreich) August 21, 2025
Firefighting Efforts on the Ground and in the Air
Cal Fire deployed a full arsenal of engines, bulldozers, and hand crews to contain the blaze. By evening, resources included:
- 20 engines
- 8 hand crews
- 6 dozers
- 8 water tenders
- 8 air tankers
- 5 helicopters dropping water and retardant
Despite these efforts, the fire jumped Farnham Creek, forcing crews to reset containment lines. CBS Sacramento reported that as of late Wednesday, the fire remained uncontained, spreading at a moderate pace due to dry brush and rough terrain. Officials urged residents to stay prepared for evacuation orders.
Coyote fire air support is here thank you! pic.twitter.com/Tlg8VZmlJ3
— CyndiRenn (@cyndi_renn) August 21, 2025
Cause Unknown, Risks Remain High
Cal Fire has not yet determined the cause. Investigators have found no evidence of arson, lightning, or equipment sparks. The area near the Amador County line, filled with grass and oak woodland, is a high-risk zone flagged in Cal Fire’s 2025 fire season outlook.
Community Response and Preparedness
Residents in evacuation zones are urged to relocate pets and livestock early, Cal Fire advised. The El Dorado County Fire Protection District encouraged locals to sign up for emergency alerts at ready.edso.org.
On X, wildfire anxiety is rising:
- @OCScanner flagged growing concerns about fire activity.
- @ChadBianco criticized the state’s fire-prevention budget, calling it the lowest in a decade.
Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado Unit continues leading suppression efforts, with no reported injuries or property losses. Residents can monitor real-time evacuation maps at www.perimetermap.com.
