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    • Beer, Sierra Brooks TNF
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    Beer, Sierra Brooks TNF

    Vaseline Posted on

    Fire at a glance (numbers)

    • Name of the incident: Beer, Sierra Brooks TNF
    • Stands: CA
    • Main agency: TNF
    • Size (acres): 3,000
    • Percentage contains: 0%
    • Estimation of containment: October 2, 2024
    • Staff: 378
    • Destroyed structures: 0

    Bear, Tahoe NF, USFS. CIMT (CA Team 2). Six miles south of Loyalton, CA. Brush and timber. Active fire behavior with wind-driven runs, spotting, and grouping of flares. Numerous structures, several communities, communications, and energy infrastructure threatened. Evacuations, area, road, and trail closures in effect.

    September 4, 2024 at 8:50 am

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

    Incident Management Team 2 will assume command of the incident at 6:00 p.m. today. The combination of rising temperatures, dry fuel conditions, and strong winds exacerbated the fire behavior yesterday. Shortly after the inversion lifted yesterday, westerly winds picked up, resulting in active fire behavior as of 1:00 p.m. Active fire remains along much of the fire perimeter, with short-range observations presenting challenges for firefighting efforts. A significant fire has moved across Smithneck Road and is spreading east.

    Firefighters were actively establishing containment lines, while significant aviation resources provided retardant and water drops. Due to the steep and rocky terrain, crews experienced difficulty gaining access to some areas of the fire, slowing progress. Significant dead and settled fuels served as catalysts for rapid fire spread into brush and timber.

    Today, crews will continue to conduct defensive actions as needed to protect communities and infrastructure. Firefighters will work to build a direct containment line using bulldozers and hand plows.

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

    September 4, 2024 at 6:52 am

    A closure order has been issued for the Bear Fire area. Sierra Brooks and Loyalton are near an active fire and remain at high risk, as are power lines and communication towers. Bassetts Lookout could be affected.

    Map of Bear Fire Closure

    September 4, 2024 at 6:35 am

    3,000 acres of grass and brush, 0% contained. Active fire behavior was reported.

    September 3, 2024 at 7:53 PM

    Air Raid 230 has left the fire, all fixed wing aircraft are out of the fire. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for 286 buildings and 536 homes. 760 homes are without power due to power lines running through the fire perimeter. Loyalton is 3 miles to the west with a population of just under 1,000 and remains threatened, although there is currently no evacuation warning. There are multiple communication towers in the communities.

    September 3, 2024 at 5:09 pm

    The combination of warming temperatures, dry fuel conditions, and strong winds has intensified the fire’s behavior. Firefighters are working hard to establish containment lines, while aviation resources are actively delivering retardant and water drops. Winds are expected to remain steady out of the west at around 10 mph tonight.

    Due to increased fire activity, the The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office has expanded evacuation warnings to include zones SIE-E058 and SIE-E059. For detailed information on evacuation zones, visit https://protect.genasys.com/search.

    Bear Fire on 090324 at 5:10pm. AlertWildfire.org camera on Babbitt PeakBear Fire on 090324 at 5:10pm. AlertWildfire.org camera on Babbitt Peak
    Bear Fire on 090324 at 5:10pm. AlertWildfire.org camera on Babbitt Peak

    WEATHER:

    Widespread haze with smoke spots. About 45 degrees with relative humidity of 35 to 40%.

    September 3, 2024 at 1:39 PM

    Aircraft working on the fire, including Tanker 912, a DC 10. Fire is very active again. Mandatory water restriction for the Sierra Brooks area, all outside watering has been suspended.

    September 3, 2024 at 10:13 am

    Planes fly over the fire, the nighttime inversion begins to lift.

    September 3, 2024 at 9:11 am

    Fire activity decreased overnight due to cooler temperatures and less wind. Yesterday and overnight, crews were able to set up anchor points where fuel and terrain permitted and began laying a combination of hand and dozer lines. Today, firefighters will continue to lay both direct and indirect lines and hoses to suppress and contain the fire as quickly as possible. Due to the steep and rocky terrain and limited road access, crews are still working to gain access to some areas of the fire. In addition to full firefighting efforts, significant structure defense resources are working to sort and defend structures in and around Sierra Brooks. Primary and emergency lines will be installed as needed to protect the community.

    The plan is to fight the fire north of Lewis Mill, south of the community of Sierra Brooks, east of Antelope Valley and west of Bald Mountain Range.

    Currently, 286 buildings and 536 homes are under mandatory evacuation orders. 760 homes are without power.

    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, and SIE-E029. If additional evacuations are needed, the Sheriff’s Office will send notifications through Everbridge and Zonehaven – Genesis. Find your zone at https://protect.genasys.com/search.

    Incident history

    The Bear Fire was reported on September 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. on Bear Valley Rd. in the Tahoe National Forest, south of the Sierra Brooks community in Sierra County. Tahoe National Forest, Cal Fire, and Sierra County Sheriff’s Office are jointly commanding the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation.

    September 3, 2024 at 7:02 am

    Active fire activity reported overnight. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. Road closures in the area. Power lines are threatened. The fire is in Unified Command with the Tahoe National Forest and CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit.

    View of Bear Fire from Incident Command Post, September 2, 2024View of Bear Fire from Incident Command Post, September 2, 2024

    September 3, 2024 at 6:31 am

    An Incident Management Team has been requested and will be briefing tomorrow. Incident objectives are focused on protecting Sierra Brooks, the safety of the community and fire personnel, and containing the fire as quickly as possible.

    September 3, 2024 at 6:24 am

    The fire was mapped overnight at 1,391 acres. The fire is threatening Sierra Brooks with 286 structures and 536 residents under mandatory evacuation orders issued by the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office. 760 homes and businesses are without power.

    September 2, 2024 at 8:49 pm

    Helicopter 47D, a Chinook, has arrived over the fire. They will support night operations.

    September 2, 2024 at 7:31 pm

    Latest mapping is 1,183 acres, still very active fire behavior including spotting at close range. Here are the latest evacuation orders and warnings as of 7:30 p.m.

    Evacuations due to bear fire 090224Evacuations due to bear fire 090224

    September 2, 2024 at 6:39 pm

    Fire is in Unified Command with Tahoe National Forest and CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit. Active fire behavior reported with short-range observation.

    September 2, 2024 at 5:53 pm

    The latest update from the IC on the area is 800 acres.

    September 2, 2024 at 5:41 pm

    A red flag warning for gusty winds and low relative humidity remains in effect until 8pm tonight.

    Bear Fire 090224Bear Fire 090224

    September 2, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    According to the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office wireless alert: Evacuation on Hwy 49 S at Smithneck Rd all the way through Sierra Brooks. This is Zone SIE-E032. This does not yet appear on the Genasys map.

    Sources on the ground report 200-250 hectares.

    September 2, 2024 at 5:04 pm

    Bear IC has placed a large order for crews, bulldozers and engines.

    September 2, 2024 at 4:52 pm

    The updated perimeter is 196.55 acres. The fire is burning on both sides of Bear Valley Road, still being driven by the wind.

    Bear fire 196 ares 090224Bear fire 196 ares 090224

    September 2, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    The fire is burning along Bear Valley Rd and moving north toward Sierra Brooks.

    September 2, 2024 at 4:26 pm

    Nevada County Emergency Services prepares for Bear fire.

    September 2, 2024 at 4:23 pm

    A fire of 63.9 hectares has been mapped.

    September 2, 2024 at 4:10 pm

    Intel 12 is on top of that, mapping the current perimeter.

    Bear Fire 090224Bear Fire 090224

    September 2, 2024 at 3:54 pm

    Additional resources are being sent from the Plumas National Forest.

    September 2, 2024 at 3:42 pm

    The energy company is switching off all power lines in the area.

    September 2, 2024 at 3:22 pm

    The fire is still burning at a high to rapid rate of spread in brush and grass. Current weather is 73 degrees, 21% RH, winds south/southwest at 17 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH.

    September 2, 2024 at 3:15 PM

    The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory and lawful evacuation order for the west side of Sierra Brooks due to a wildfire. There is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access and residents are ordered to leave immediately. Zones SIE-E031 are under a mandatory evacuation.

    September 2, 2024 at 2:57 pm

    The west side of Sierra Brooks will be evacuated soon.

    September 2, 2024 at 2:56 pm

    Bear IC requests five additional engines and two bulldozer attack teams.

    September 2, 2024 at 2:45 pm

    Air Attack 230 and Tanker 89 are on scene of the Bear incident in the Tahoe National Forest.

    September 2, 2024 at 2:19 pm

    Reported vegetation fire in the Tahoe National Forest. The Bear incident is south of Loyalton and Sierra Brooks. Units have been dispatched.

    Beer incident 090224Beer incident 090224

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