Incident Publication

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Under Investigation

• Personnel: 1 Air Attack, 2 Single Engine Air Tankers, 2 Helicopters and 4 Hand crews (approximately 120 personnel)

Current Activity: At approximately 3:00 p.m. today firefighters responded to a call for a fire in Cottonwood Canyon. The East Fork Fire, which was detected by both the Hawkins and Bald Fire Cameras quickly grew from 15 acres to 50 acres (size as of 8:00 p.m. tonight). The fire was active for most of the day, it did cross the Carson River to the west. Most of the fire’s growth was to the east. Forward spread towards the county line was slowed when moisture was received in the area, improving conditions this evening. Firefighters are expected to be on scene overnight and through the weekend. Please stay out of the area where firefighters are working.

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 10% contained

• Personnel: 1 Air Attack, 3 Helicopters and 3 Hand crews (approximately 170 personnel)

Current Activity: Firefighters responded to the East Fork Fire, located in Cottonwood Canyon on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest yesterday afternoon and worked through the night. The fire was active for most of the day on July 1st, moving east towards the county line and crossing the Carson River to the west.

“Today firefighters are focusing on working in tandem with aircraft to secure the line”, said incident commander Stacey Saucedo. Cottonwood Canyon is a steep and rugged canyon with difficult access for ground crews. Flames and heat are being funneled uphill through the canyon from the river bottom, so firefighters are focusing their efforts there.

Firefighters are expected to be on scene through the weekend. Please stay out of the area of Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River, where firefighters are working.

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 10% contained

• Personnel: 5 LAT/VLAT, 1 Air Attack, 5 Helicopters and 5 Hand crews (approximately 250 personnel)

Current Activity: The East Fork Fire is burning approximately 15 miles due east of Woodfords, CA and 15 miles due south of Gardnerville, NV on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt -Toiyabe National Forest. The fire, ignited by lightning on Thursday July 1, is burning in the steep rugged terrain of Cottonwood Canyon near Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River.

Today firefighters, with the support of helicopters secured the eastern edge of the fire from the river moving up slope. On the western edge of the fire Large Airtankers (LATS) and Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS) put in a substantial retardant line, keeping the fire from cresting the slope. The current strategy is for firefighters, supported by aircraft to keep the fire contained within the river drainage, where it is moving upslope from the Carson River.

Firefighters are expected to be on scene through the weekend. Please stay out of the area of Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River, where firefighters are working.

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 10% contained

• Personnel: 5 LAT/VLAT, 1 Air Attack, 10 Helicopters, 3 Engines and 7 Hand crews (approximately 250 personnel)

Current Activity: This afternoon a storm cell passed over the area of the East Fork Fire. Strong winds caused the fire to become active on all sides. Although retardant and handlines on the northern and western edges of the fire held the fire through the wind event today, the fire moved further east up the Carson River corridor. Additional crews and overhead support are expected to arrive to tomorrow.

The East Fork Fire is burning approximately 15 miles due east of Woodfords, CA and 15 miles due south of Gardnerville, NV on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt -Toiyabe National Forest. The fire, ignited by lightning on Thursday July, 1 is burning in the steep rugged terrain of Cottonwood Canyon near Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River.

Firefighters are expected to be on scene through the weekend. Please stay out of the area of Horseshoe Bend on the East Fork of the Carson River, where firefighters are working.

Closures: Airport Road off of Highway 89 in Alpine County is closed between the junction of Highway 89 and Diamond Valley Road. Access to Indian Creek Reservoir is closed until further notice. Do not launch any rafts or watercraft in the East Fork of the Carson River from Markleeville. There is fire on both sides of the river.

 Fire Information:

• Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7596

• Facebook: @HumboldtToiyabeNF #EastForkFire

• Twitter: @HumboldtToiyabe #EastForkFire

• Fire Information Number: (775) 430-5103

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 15% contained

• Personnel: 5 LAT/VLAT, 1 Air Attack, 10 Helicopters, 3 Engines and 7 Hand crews (approximately 260 personnel)

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 30% contained

• Personnel: 5 LAT/VLAT, 1 Air Attack, 7 Helicopters, 4 Engines and 10 Hand crews (approximately 315 personnel)

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 45% contained

• Personnel: 9 Helicopters, 4 Engines and 10 Hand crews (approximately 315 personnel)

• Start Date: July 1, 2021

• Cause: Lightning

• Containment: 65% contained

• Personnel: With the increase in amount of containment on the fire, staffing has been reduced and will continue to decrease over the next few days.