Posted by: thepinetree on 07/21/2021 11:14 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/21/2021 11:14 PM
Expires: 01/01/2026 12:00 AM
:
Tamarack Fire July 21 Evening Update. 43,900 Acres, 1,213 Souls Fighting the Fire
Markleeville, CA...Fire activity has increased on the Tamarack Fire this afternoon. In Division F, firefighters are reporting winds out of the northwest. The fire is still south of the CA-88 road and west of the CA-89 road. Crews will continue to work in this area to keep the fire from crossing the road. In Division O, the fire has advanced further to the east and has reached the dozer line behind the Spring Valley Subdivision. Firefighters are currently holding the fire on the dozer line. Flames are visible from the highway. Due to an increase in fire traffic and fire firefighters working in the area, Hwy 395 has been closed. Crews have been establishing indirect fireline as a means to protect structures along the highway.
The Tamarack Fire on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest was discovered on July 4. At the time, 23 other lightning fires were burning. It was a single tree burning in the Mokelumne Wilderness on a rocky ridgetop with sparse fuels and natural barriers to contain it. The steep, rugged, and remote terrain presented challenges to safely suppress this wilderness fire. With several higher priority fires in the area and due to the remote location, the sparse fuels and natural barriers, and the concern for firefighter safety, the decision was made to monitor the Tamarack Fire.
The Tamarack Fire was monitored daily via air and fire cameras and exhibited very little fire behavior until Friday, July 16 when fueled by extreme winds and low humidity, it progressed rapidly downslope and spread throughout the evening. With this rapid change in the fire, fire resources were dispatched on Friday, July 16. Additional firefighting resources were also ordered, including very Large Air Tankers (VLAT), Single Engine Airtankers (SEATS) and helicopters.
The Type 2 Great Basin Incident Management Team #3 assumed command of the fire on Sunday, July 18 at 6 a.m. The Rocky Mountain Type 1 Incident Management Team transitioned with the Great Basin Team and took command of the fire at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20. Many Federal, State, and Local government agencies as well as organizations and businesses are cooperating to make progress on the fire.
Though this is a full suppression fire, because of the steep terrain, fuel types, and expected weather, The Tamarack Fire could be a long duration incident. Public and Firefighter safety is the number one priority. In addition, minimizing impacts to local communities, private property and structures, timber resources, highway corridors, and recreation improvements are included in the prioritization of these fires. Our intent is to keep you fully informed on the fire’s activities and our suppression efforts as the incident progresses.
For the latest information on road closures, visit: QuickMap (ca.gov) and https://roads.dot.ca.gov/
Evacuations: Alpine County Sheriff’s Office ordered mandatory evacuations for the Blue Lakes Road area and the Mesa Vista area. Markleeville, Grover Hot Springs and campground area, Shay Creek, Marklee Village, Alpine Village, Woodfords and East Fork Resort are under still under evacuation orders.
Closures: Highway 89 is closed at the intersection of Highway 4 and 89. Highway 88 is closed from the west junction of SR 89 (Alpine Co) to the Nevada State Line. US-395 is closed in both directions near China Springs Road and Holbrook Junction in Douglas County Nevada. Highway 4 is open west of the Highway 89 and Highway 4 junction. Please slow down and drive with caution in the area as fire crews continue to work.
The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between Carson Pass (Highway 88) and Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4). Please find locations away from the fire area for your recreation opportunities
A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area. Details can be found at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_1_1436.html
Additional information can be found from these sources:
Tamarack Fire Information Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamarackfireinfo
Twitter: @Tamarack_Fire
Videos of the Daily Operational Briefings for the public and future community meetings will be posted on the Tamarack Wildfire Official Information YouTubewebsite at: https://bit.ly/TamarackVideo
Incident Information
Basic Information
Current as of
7/21/2021, 6:33:05 PM
Incident Type
Wildfire
Cause
Lightning
Date of Origin
Sunday July 04th, 2021 approx. 04:00 PM
Location
16 Miles south of Gardnerville, NV
Incident Commander
Dan Dallas, IC Bill Hahnenberg, Deputy IC
Coordinates
38.628 latitude, -119.857 longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel
1,213
Size
43,900 Acres
Estimated Containment Date
Tuesday August 31st, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved
Timber (Grass and Understory)
Chaparral (6 feet)
Timber (Litter and Understory)
Significant Events
Active
Crowning
Short Crown Runs
Uphill Runs
Fire is burning in mixed conifer and brush fuel types. Fuels with high rates of spread. Short and mid-range spotting.
Outlook
Planned Actions
Continue structure protection efforts at all areas currently being impacted by fire and continue securing established line around Markleeville by mopping up and improving line. Continue line construction along northwest flank in DIV F to limit fire spread to the north towards Highway 88. Staff DIV T as resources become available and begin line construction at Highway 89 progressing to the southwest. Continue structure prep along Highway 395 from Leviathan Road to Topaz Lake. Prep structures in China Spring area. Look for direct and indirect opportunities to protect values at risk. Particularly threatened are values along Highway 395. Evaluate and establish additional Management Action Points.
Projected Incident Activity
12 hours: Very active to extreme fire behavior. High rates of spread with torching and spotting associated with both running and backing fire.
24 hours: Continued extreme to active fire behavior. Fire spread primarily to the North and East.
Remarks
Acreage estimated from FireWatch flight: 0928 7/21/2021
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Today weather was sunny. High Temps 78-88. Min RH 10-20%. SW 9-14
mph with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon and evening. HAINES 5
Tonight¿Clear with smoke. Min Temp 50-60. Max humidity around 35-45%.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High Temps 79-89. Min RH 10-20%. SW 9-14 mph with
gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon and evening. HAINES 5
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No Subject Posted on: 2021-07-22 07:14:23By: Anonymous
Few air buckets of water July 4th 100% containment, 43,900 acres later O% containment I like there thinking.
That makes too much sense. Better to have a couple hundred thousand acres torched and heros made. Plenty of time for that it seems with the estimated containment date set at August 31st.
The reality is we haven't funded federal firefighting adequately for years. When a fire breaks out on federal lands - and one as remote as this started out - it is often watched as opposed to acted upon. There are simply too many others to divert resources.
We need to pay our federal firefighters more!! However, letting .25 acre that you flew over and said your lack of suppression was not lack of action is comically arrogant.
You flew over it in a helicopter right? You even documented in your lack of action is really action post that there was a lake nearby.
In the time you took to document your lack of action you could have just dropped a couple of buckets of water on it and we wouldn't be here now.
USFS has great firefighters!!
In this case though you knew about the fire, you were on scene with the resources and tools to mitigate the problem and you actively chose to do nothing.
There are absolutely no excuses for this fire!!!
You knew about it, were on scene with the resources to mitigate the problem and you made an active choice to do nothing.
But because you are the Government you feel you are never liable and will never pay the price for your inaction.
No Subject Posted on: 2021-07-22 07:18:37By: Anonymous
We can thank the Biden administration all they did was " keep an eye on the fire" Or maybe Biden asked his nominee for BLM, Tracy Stone-Manning and asked what would you do about this fire? Her EXACT words about homes in the country "Perhaps the solution to houses in the interface is to let them burn."
Thank you dictator Biden
Good luck with that. Elder is a black man. You can't get more than 50% of Republicans to vote for a black person. Not really an issue though, because voters will not recall Newsom.
Many have benefited under Gov Newsom, yourself aside apparently. The reality is we won't get past question one, which is should he be recalled? Really no need for the other 40+ candidates to be listed. Such a colossal waste of money and time at - what? - $219M of our tax dollars?
We really need to keep trying to impeach Trump. Any amount of money to get orange man is totally worth it and not a waste at all. He was bad, my Twitter friends said so.
This cannot be blamed on any one administration. The USFS has directors in place and a department that hasn't been adequately funded in quite some time. Whole swaths of western federal lands haven't burned in decades and people living much too close. We also have to acknowledge the reality of climate change which is making firefighting nearly year round instead of just a season.
Why not just admit you screwed up on this one and burned thousands of acres. It would be a better excuse.
The USFS's own words
From the USFS on July 10th…”The #TamarackFire burning in the Mokelumne wilderness was ignited July 4 from lightning. The tactical management decision is not to insert fire crews due to safety concerns, however, this is not an unresponsive approach. Smoke might be visible to Pacific Crest Trail hikers but the .25 acre fire is surrounded by granite rocks, a small lake and sparse fuels. Fire poses no threat to the public, infrastructure or resource values.” July 10th .25 acre. July 19th 23,078 Acres & Markleeville area burned.
Adequate funding and manpower. Besides a budget that has not kept up with the times, many federal firefighters are choosing to leave and join state or local departments. And that includes the hot shots and pilots. The work has simply gotten too dangerous.
No Subject Posted on: 2021-07-22 09:00:15By: Anonymous
There are many local firefighters deployed to the Tamarack fire. Sons, daughters, spouses and other loved ones of local families. Prayers for the safe return of all, and for those residents of the area.
Re: They aren’t “souls” Posted on: 2021-07-22 18:51:36By: Anonymous
Let’s all have a meeting. Who is willing to work overtime, who is willing to put this fire out, next week, let us know your thoughts. Thanks much, we have dinner ready and enjoy your evening! USFS.
