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.
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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.
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.
