Single Publication

Size: 3,000
Start Date & Time: Sept. 2, 2024, 1400
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under investigation
Resources:  427+
Location: South of Sierra Brooks off Bear Valley Rd. 

CURRENT SITUATION

Incident Management Team 2 will be taking command of the incident today at 6 p.m. The combination of warming temperatures, dry fuel conditions and strong winds intensified the fire's behavior yesterday. Shortly after the inversion lifted yesterday, west winds picked up, resulting in active fire behavior starting at 1 p.m. Active fire remains along much of the fire perimeter, with short range spotting challenging suppression efforts. Significant fire impacted and crossed Smithneck Road with spread to the east.

Fire crews actively engaged to establish containment lines, while significant aviation resources delivered retardant and water drops. Due to steep and rocky terrain, crews have experienced difficulty in gaining access to some areas of the fire, slowing progress. Significant dead and down fuels have served as a catalyst for rapid fire spread in brush and timber. 

Today, crews will continue to provide defensive actions as needed to protect communities and infrastructure. Firefighters will work to construct direct containment line using dozers and hand crews. 

Active fire behavior with high difficulty of suppression is within 1 mile of the community of Sierra Brooks, and 3 miles of Loyalton. High Voltage electric power transmission lines are within the fire perimeter and 760 residences are without power. There are multiple communication towers within a mile of active fire.

CONTROL OBJECTIVES

Keep the fire north of Lewis Mill, south of the community of Sierra Brooks, east of Antelope Valley and west of Bald Mountain Range.

WEATHER

Above normal temperature and light winds are forecasted through Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 85 degrees with 60-65% relative humidity. Light winds are expected to become southeast with gusts up to 10 mph. Winds are expected to shift east in the evening.

EVACUATIONS

The community of Sierra Books remains under a Mandatory Evacuation, and the following zones are under an Evacuation Warning: SIE-E022, SIE-E023, SIE-E027, SIE-E028, SIE-E029, SIE-E058 and SIE-E059. If additional evacuations become necessary, the Sheriff's Office will issue notifications through Everbridge and Zonehaven – Genesis. Find your zone at https://protect.genasys.com/search.

CLOSURES

Tahoe National Forest has issued a closure for the fire area. The following closures are effective beginning at 5:00 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, on September 3, 2024, through December 31st, 2024. 

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Bear Fire Closure Area, as described below and shown in Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e). The Bear Fire Closure Area includes Tahoe National Forest National Forest System Lands east of State Highway 89 and north of Sierra County Road 450 (Henness Pass Road) at their intersection. The closure area boundary travels north along State Highway 89 until it reaches end of National Forest System Lands south of Sierraville. The closure continues generally east and then north along the forest boundary to the Antelope Valley State Wildlife Area. At the eastern most boundary with the Antelope Valley State Wildlife Area the closure boundary then travels generally east along the forest boundary to its junction to the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest. At that junction the closure boundary travels generally south along the Tahoe National Forest boundary to the junction of the Truckee Ranger District where the closure boundary travels west along County Road 860 (Smithneck Creek Road) west until it becomes County Road 450 (Henness Pass Road) and back to Little Truckee Summit. 

2. Being on any National Forest System Road within the Bear Fire Closure Area, as shown on Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). 

3. Being on any National Forest System trail within the Bear Fire Closure Area, as shown on Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

View the full closure at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1203109.pdf. View the closure area map at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1203110.pdf.