A group of 13 hikers were located Monday morning after they went missing inside the Royal Fire zone in the Tahoe National Forest, according to authorities.
The hikers, who range in age from 16 to 20, were identified Monday morning by authorities with the Placer County Sheriff's Office, the agency said in a social media post. The sheriff's office helicopter located the group and search and rescue teams were deployed to bring them to safety.
“Right now, we are in the pre-planning phase, working with our unified command agencies,” Lt. Ty Conners said in a video update posted on Facebook. “The fire is still relatively far away. Again, we are trying to determine fire behavior.”
The Royal Fire, which started Sunday around 4:09 p.m. near Soda Springs Road, reached 170 acres by 8:30 a.m., according to an update from the sheriff's office. An evacuation warning has been issued for five homes on Soda Springs Road.
“This fire is taking place in very remote terrain, with rugged, unforgiving cliffs and a tonne of granite. This area is known for its world-class kayaking and hiking trails,” Royal Fire Deputy Chief Operating Officer Nolan Hale said in the video update.
More than 300 personnel are assigned to fight the blaze, which remains far from populated areas, according to the sheriff's office.
The actual fire was reportedly caused by a campfire, Fox40 reported.
