A midday house fire near Canal Street and Hickory Drive in Placerville sent firefighters rushing in on Wednesday, closing a stretch of Canal Street and forcing drivers to detour around nearby schools. Crews quickly knocked down the visible flames, then shifted to overhaul and search operations while investigators worked to pinpoint how the blaze started. Officials reported no injuries.
In a Facebook update, the El Dorado County Fire Protection District said crews were dispatched at about 12:40 p.m., with Cal Fire units backing them up at the scene. Canal Street was shut down from Moulton Drive to Cougar Lane during the response, the district said. Drivers headed to Markham Middle School were told to use the Middletown Road side, while El Dorado High School could still be reached from Highway 50.
Road closures and school access
According to FOX40, firefighters were dispatched around 12:40 p.m., and no injuries had been reported. With Canal Street blocked, traffic around the El Dorado Union High School campus was funneled into one-way access while crews focused on keeping the flames from spreading to neighboring homes and property.
Investigators on scene
Investigators stayed on scene into the evening to work on determining what sparked the fire as crews continued overhaul and checked nearby structures for lingering heat and embers, the fire district said. Authorities urged drivers to steer clear of the area while emergency operations wrapped up and said they would share further updates on the department’s social media channels, according to the El Dorado County Fire Protection District.
