The Caldor Fire erupted in a largely rural area that spanned the distance between high country Tahoe and the foothills of El Dorado County. In August and September 2021, the fire burned 221,775 acres over 347 square miles. Almost 800 structures were lost. The fire consumed nearly 2/3 of the Grizzly Flats community. Scores of firefighting teams on land and in the air fought the fire for more than two months. Law enforcement, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers stepped up to help as 53,000 people were evacuated from their homes. The effort to sustain evacuated families and protect their homes was unprecedented. Thousands of people volunteered to shelter and feed families. Others patrolled evacuated communities to ensure safety and security. Fire crews showed up from throughout the West - on the ground and in the air. Businesses in evacuated communities opened their doors to serve professionals and volunteers with access to food and facilities. Fire officials developed information systems to keep people advised with daily reports from the field until conditions finally allowed families to return home. And, still, people remained committed to community well-being - helping each other with clean-up and repair from damage done over weeks of vacancy, gathering up charred embers that spoke to how close they'd been to losing it all. 

​Heartfelt handmade signs appeared to thank the heroes who finally tamed the fire - some painted, others in crayon and chalk. Telephone poles and fences shouted out colorful gratitude to thousands who tamed the fire and those who offered shelter and sustenance. With time those bright messages have faded, but the appreciation of those who served the common good has not. The bronze Tribute to the Heroes of the Caldor Fire is a permanent acknowledgment of the skills, bravery, and commitment it took to manage and defeat the powerful wildfire. A place for people to gather, remember and honor the strength of community.