Single Publication

Size: 3,327
Start Date & Time: Sept. 2, 2024, 1400
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under investigation
Resources:  465
Location: South of Sierra Brooks off Bear Valley Rd., Tahoe National Forest 

CURRENT SITUATION

Our main goal on the Bear Fire is to protect the public with care and dedication. We're committed to ensuring the safety of both you and our firefighters while managing the fire to safeguard your forests, communities, and natural areas. 

Yesterday, improved weather conditions allowed our fire crews to set up anchor points in areas where the terrain and fuel conditions were favorable. This enabled them to go direct when safe, with continuous support from aviation throughout the day.

Crews successfully contained the fire at Bear Valley Road and used this position to build a direct line to Turner Canyon Road. Crews worked diligently around the Smithneck Creek State Wildlife Area, establishing a direct line south to the Calvin Powers Memorial Grove. South of the Memorial Grove, crews utilized a dozer line to continue going direct and establish line.

Overnight, crews focused on improving the direct lines and hose setups made during the day. Aircraft continued to assist with water drops throughout the evening.

Today, our efforts will be on strengthening the existing lines and creating new ones to reduce the fire’s impact on local communities. We are also beginning the mopping-up process, which involves extinguishing any remaining hot spots near control lines, removing dangerous burned trees, and handling logs to prevent them from rolling and causing additional fires or smoke.

WEATHER

High pressure will prevail through Today with a general light east-southeast flow and very dry conditions. Poor recoveries on midslopes and ridges. Temperatures will continue to warm with afternoon readings 5-8 degrees above average by today and tomorrow. A pattern change will bring a 15-20% chance of thunderstorms Friday, followed by increasing southwest winds this weekend into next week. 

EVACUATIONS

Sierra County: Evacuation order and warnings remain in effect. For an interactive map of evacuations, visit: https://protect.genasys.com/search. For updated information with evacuations, visit: http://sierracounty.ca.gov/853/Bear-Fire-2024.

FOREST CLOSURE

A forest closure has been issued. For more information visit the Tahoe National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tahoe/alerts-notices.