C ALI FORN IA’S OLDE ST NE W SPAPER
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– Midweek Edition – VOLUME 175 • ISSUE 12 | $1.00
mtdemocrat.com
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026
Fake traffic stop prompts warning Shelly Thorene Staff writer
El Dorado sheriff ’s officials issued a warning after a driver reported being assaulted by a man posing as a law enforcement officer. An El Dorado County Sheriff ’s Office social media post released on Feb. 9 noted that late evening on Tuesday, Feb. 3, near China Hill Road and Highway 49 in Diamond Springs, a female driver alone in her vehicle pulled over after seeing flashing red and blue lights coming from the white SUV behind her. The driver reported that a man walked up, demanded she exit the vehicle and then, when she hesitated, reached into the vehicle through the open window and attempted to pull her out. The woman used bear spray to deter the man and drove to a safe location. Officials say the person of interest is about 6 feet tall, in his 30s and unshaven. ■ See WARNING, page A8
Courtesy photos
Fuel break project focuses on safety
Firefighter crews from AEU’s Ponderosa Fire Center in Cameron Park clean up hazard trees and brush along the El Dorado Western Railway line in El Dorado, which is also the route of the El Dorado Trail.
Partnership spruces up El Dorado Trail Wendy Oaks Cal Fire
T
he Cal Fire Amador–El Dorado Unit, in partnership with El Dorado County and Friends of the El Dorado Trail, is working to improve safety, accessibility and wildfire resilience along the unpaved section of the El Dorado Trail. This month, firefighter crews from AEU’s Ponderosa Fire Center began vegetation management along the unpaved portion of the El Dorado Trail, extending from the El Dorado Train Station west to the county line. This approximately 25-mile stretch follows a historical railroad corridor through a mix of terrain within
the wildland-urban interface. Project work includes cutting and thinning brush and trees approximately 20 feet on each side of the trail, removing downed trees and clearing weeds to improve overall trail safety. A specialized chipper mounted to a rail car is being used to efficiently process vegetation while minimizing impacts to the trail corridor. Work is scheduled to continue weekly through February. “The El Dorado Trail ■ See PARTNERSHIP, page A9
Andrew Vonderschmitt Features editor
State and local fire officials in January detailed a long-planned south Placerville fuel break project they say is critical to reducing wildfire risk around the city, describing a multi-phase, communitydriven effort that could ultimately treat thousands of acres across more than 200 parcels of private and public land. The project, led by Cal Fire in partnership with the El Dorado Resource Conservation District, El Dorado Irrigation District and El Dorado County, is designed to create a continuous fuel break south of Placerville. Officials said the goal is to slow or stop fast-moving wildfires, provide safer operating areas for firefighters and protect homes, infrastructure and evacuation routes. “It’s not a matter of if, but when,” Cal Fire AEU Assistant Chief, Community Risk Reduction, Jeff Hoag told residents during the public presentation. “Our goal is to get to a continuous fuel break. That’s Clearing work along the El Dorado Trail will continue through February.
■ See FUEL BREAK, page A7
County embraces collaborative wildfire resilience strategy
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Noel Stack Editor
Commending the collaboration and cooperation amongst numerous agencies, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors last week unanimously approved the county Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience’s 2025 report and 2026 workplan as well as the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. “This plan encompasses the entire west slope of El Dorado County. It assesses the local wildfire hazards, risks and vulnerabilities, and provides actionable items for mitigations,” explained Tanya Harlow, acting program manager for OWPR. “It’s essentially a roadmap for the community partners and stakeholders
Stakeholders toured many areas of El Dorado County during the kickoff of the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan development.
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Mountain Democrat
2010 2025
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