Sunday Tamarack Fire update: Firefighting efforts lead to 'incredible' containment progress

Firefighting efforts on the Tamarack Fire over the weekend have shown significant improvements with the U.S. Forest Service reporting 27 percent containment as of Sunday morning.

In a social media post the Forest Service advised "Tamarack Fire crews made incredible progress the last few days, and it is now at 27% containment." The fire is currently mapped 66,744 acres.

In a 9 a.m. update the Forest Service notes the following:

Containment of the Tamarack Fire has jumped to 27% today. This follows a second consecutive day in which conditions allowed firefighters to directly engage the edge of the fire on several fronts. Crews will work to continue that progress today, with the Highway 395 corridor and the southern edge of the fire among the top priorities.

Challenges include smoke coming from the Tamarack Fire and the Dixie Fire, which is burning to the northwest. Reduced visibility could limit the use of firefighting aircraft. There is also the potential for severe winds and lightning caused by thunderstorms moving into the area this afternoon.

Yesterday, Alpine County removed the mandatory evacuation order for the Mesa Vista community. The estimated number of people of evacuated is now 2289. Incident personnel and local authorities continue to meet daily to assess the fire, its impact on communities and infrastructure, and the status of evacuations.

Closures: Hwys 88, 89 and 4 remain closed in the fire area to all traffic except incident personnel. A portion of Hwy 395 also remains closed for firefighter and public safety.

Branch I: Division K Firefighters working from west to east along the northern edge of the fire completed a new stretch of containment line from the Carson River east to Bryant Creek yesterday. Another crew that started from the east at Hwy 395 continued their work westward. Today, both crews will continue to work towards each other, with the goal of fully containing the entire northern edge of the fire. In the Spring Valley area, firefighters will work to put out hot spots and secure fireline around the community.

In Division L, crews continue efforts to contain the slopover fire that spilled across Hwy 395 last week. Firefighters are “going direct”, meaning they are working right on edge of the fire. They are being supported by helicopters, which drop buckets of water to cool the edge and slow down fire activity.

Firefighters with Division O are also helping with the effort to secure the southern portion of the slopover, east of 395. They made good progress up to the northeast corner yesterday, and will monitor the line today, making sure it holds. Crews also are working in and around Holbrook, where there is still active fire. Fuels remain critically dry, and firefighters are being diligent in efforts to extinguish hot spots and ensure that fireline is secure. Further south, containment has been added to the eastern edge of the fire along Hwy 395, north of Topaz Lake. Structure protection crews continue to work day and night along the 395 corridor to keep fire from impacting neighborhoods in the area.

Division Q The southern edge of the fire is one of the top priorities for firefighters. Yesterday, crews directly engaged the fire, starting at Hwy 395, working to the west. They are using a combination of burnout operations, hand crews directly engaging the edge and aerial resources. Aerial support today may be limited because of smoke that has pushed over the fire area from the Dixie Fire, which reduces visibility. Fire managers continue to assess their options, and they also have a plan in place to develop contingency line further south along the Hwy 89 corridor, if needed.

Branch II: To the south, the fire continues to burn in steep, hard-to reach terrain with slow, limited movement. Staff is being added to Division T today. Firefighters there are scouting locations to insert crews to help secure the southwest corner of the fire. Division Z remains unstaffed. As resources become available, work to establish fireline will be implemented. Monitoring of the divisions from the air continues.

Branch III: Division A has been unstaffed, but, as firefighters finish work securing fireline in Division O, they will shift down to Division A. Where safe to do so, hand crews will directly engage the fire to establish containment.

In Division F, firefighters secured the northwest corner of the fire. Containment was added from Crystal Springs south to an area below Hawkins peak, building on containment line previously established on the northern edge. Crews also completed containment on a stretch leading further south to Burnside Lake. Today, firefighters are working to address a few small, but hard to access stretches of uncontained fire along the western side of the fire. When this work is completed, they’ll move south into Division A to help with containment efforts. Structure protection crews are out again today and tonight, patrolling communities including Sierra Pines, Crystal Springs, Woodfords Markleeville and Grover Hot Springs.

Weather and Fuel Conditions:
Smoke will shade the area today, while expected thunderstorms may bring severe winds and lightning. Much of the smoke comes from the Dixie Fire, burning to the northwest. The smoke could limit the use of firefighting aircraft due to limited visibility. High temperatures will reach 82-92 degrees, with humidity levels at 15-20%. Mild, terrain-driven winds will last until mid-afternoon, when an expected storm system moves in south of the fire area. The chance for significant rainfall is 10%, but there is the potential for outflow winds from the storm pushing strong gusts up to 45 mph over the fire area and increasing fire activity.

There have been incursions into the fire’s Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area by aircraft not associated with the Tamarack Fire. TFR violations can disrupt aerial firefighting operations, and may force fire managers to ground essential aircraft. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Meanwhile, Alpine County Sheriff’s Office and El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office are providing escorts Sunday for residents located in the evacuation area to secure pets, papers and emergency items. Escorts will take place from 9:30 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 PM to 5 PM on July 25, 2021.

Locations in the evacuation area are dependent on fire activity. Additional escorts on future dates will be determined by fire activity. If you are interested in receiving an escort to your residence please proceed to the Nevada/California Stateline located on Foothill Road.

Air quality around the the Carson City area and western Nevada continues to remain poor due to the Tamarack, Dixie, Fly, and Bootleg wildfires burning in the region. Smoke and hazy skies are expected over the next few days in areas downwind of the fires, the National Weather Service advises.

Among the areas most affected:
— Reno, Minden, Carson City, Carson Valley, and Washoe Valley
— Fallon, Fernley, Yerington, and Hawthorne
— Far northern California and Nevada near the Oregon Border
— Lake Almanor into Susanville, Doyle, and the Honey Lake Basin

Visibility reductions below 3 miles have occurred in multiple locations across western Nevada and the Sierra with many air quality sensors reporting unhealthy to hazardous conditions.

Light winds today will result in persistent smoke and haze with substantially degraded air quality. Daytime mixing will help clear things a bit, with light westerly winds late afternoon and early evening further reducing smoke for a few hours in portions of western Nevada and the Sierra. Unfortunately, conditions are once again expected to worsen this evening and overnight, according to the weather service.

For the latest air quality information, please visit AirNow.gov or check with your county air quality division. If you happen to be in an area with poor air quality, the weather service advises to try to limit outdoor activity as much as possible.

For regular updates on fire statistics, road closures, and evacuation information, go to the Tamarack Fire information Facebook page here or on Twitter here.