North Fire: Blaze near Emigrant Gap at 1,120 acres, 85 percent contained
UPDATE: Tuesday morning
#NorthFire Morning Update 9/11/18 pic.twitter.com/4JUhkd12TC
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 11, 2018
UPDATE: Monday morning
#Northfire 9_10 Update and Public Information Map @Tahoe_nf pic.twitter.com/KPg1Y4SRpn
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 10, 2018
#NorthFire Evening Update 9/9/18 pic.twitter.com/kFtfnqHyGp
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 10, 2018
UPDATE: Sunday morning
#HirzFire Morning Update 9/9/18 pic.twitter.com/isaoaEO8Mr
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 9, 2018
UPDATE: Saturday morning
#NorthFire morning update 9/8/18 pic.twitter.com/2YO0Oh0SsH
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 8, 2018
UPDATE: Friday, 7:25 a.m.
#NorthFire 9/7/18 morning update pic.twitter.com/NohosvSoAf
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 7, 2018
Good work done by firefighters working the #NorthFire in Placer County CA. The fire is now 1,274 acres at 43% containment.
For more fire information call: 925-588-6724
Brought to you by Nor Cal 1 Interagency Management Team. pic.twitter.com/aL00mhPSoB
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 7, 2018
UPDATE: Thursday 11:40 a.m.
#NorthFire 17 pct contained- 1,274 acres burned.
— TheUnion (@TheUnion) September 6, 2018
UPDATE: Thursday 10 a.m.
#NorthFire Morning update and Public Information Map pic.twitter.com/flcjIWqqM4
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 6, 2018
UPDATE: Thursday, 8:10 a.m.
Per @Tahoe_NF, the #NorthFire is 1,274 acres at ten percent contained.
— Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) September 6, 2018
North Fire 9_5_18 9:00 pm update#NorthFire pic.twitter.com/KhgKNE8X9M
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 6, 2018
Original Story
The North Fire continues to rage on both sides of the North Fork of the American River canyon about 26 miles northeast of Alta.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 999 acres had burned and the fire was reported at 10 percent contained. 491 fire personnel are attending to the blaze while 8 helicopters, 56 engines, and 12 dozers were employed to help extinguish the flames.
Tahoe National Forest Public Information Officer Tim Evans said Wednesday afternoon that the fire is growing to the northeast.
Wednesday morning saw the arrival of NorCal Team 1, a Type II team who will oversee command on the North Fire.
Barbara Rebinskie, information officer for NorCal Team 1 said that no containment date has been determined though morale among crews remains strong.
UPDATE: Wednesday, 7 a.m.
Today’s 6:00 am morning briefing on the North Fire. After transfer of command, the North Fire is now being managed by Nor Cal Interagency Incident Management Team 1. Update: 999 acres, 10% contained. pic.twitter.com/zKpBN79pWD
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 5, 2018
UPDATE: Tuesday, 7 pm.
The North Fire acreage has grown to approximately 700 acres. Burning in the North Fork of North Fork American River Canyon characterized by steep, rugged terrain. The Helibase has been been moved to Truckee, CA pic.twitter.com/hNfSQsJyWX
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 5, 2018
UPDATE: Tuesday, 5 p.m.
A fire which started around 3 p.m. Monday continues to burn on both sides of the North Fork of the American River canyon near the North Fork Campground.
The fire was 10 percent contained at press time, according to Tim Evans, Public Information Officer for the Tahoe National Forest.
The fire had burned about 500 acres, though earlier reports claimed it was at least 650 acres. Evans said the discrepancy can be attributed to the implementation of better mapping overnight.
During initial response, the North Fork, Onion Valley and Tunnel Mills campgrounds were all evacuated Monday afternoon.
Evans said Tuesday that information on the fire is trickling in, though he could confirm that it was burning in mixed brush and timber at a rapid rate of spread. He noted that early reports of a person being left behind at one of the evacuated campgrounds were unsubstantiated.
Josh Sunde, battalion chief on duty for Nevada County Consolidated Fire, said Tuesday that five area strike teams have been enlisted to battle the fire. Engines and crews from Rough and Ready Fire, Nevada County Consolidated, Ophir Hill Fire, Peardale-Chicago Park Fire and Nevada City Fire Department — a total of 20 individuals — had joined the efforts as of Tuesday afternoon.
Evans said the Tahoe National Forest has set up an informational email address where the public can both share and obtain information: 2018_catnf_northfire@firenet.gov.
The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
Jennifer Nobles is a staff writer for The Union. She can be reached at jnobles@theunion.com or 530-477-4231.
UPDATE, Tuesday 10:55 a.m.
Fire Infomation telephone number for the North Fire:(530)478-6880.
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 4, 2018
UPDATE, Tuesday 8:30 a.m.
Remember, if you fly we can’t. The area surrounding the North Fire is a NO DRONE ZONE. Air resources responding to the North Fire include five Type I and two Type II helicopters and nine fixed-wing aircraft including four large Airtankers. pic.twitter.com/X4S8CakxUh
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 4, 2018
North Fire update: Updated mapping has shown the North fire has burned 500 acres. Hand crews, dozers, and engines worked through the night establishing an anchor point and starting to flank the fire with handline, hose lays, and dozer line. 10% contained.
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 4, 2018
Update
Update: The North Fire is now at 650 acres. Resources currently responding and/or ordered include 14 Hand Crews, 20 Engines, 5 Bulldozers, 5 Water Tenders. Daylight tomorrow brings 5 helicopters and 7 fixed-wing aircraft including a VLAT.
— USFS Tahoe NF (@Tahoe_NF) September 4, 2018
Original Story
A wildland fire in the Tahoe National Forest near Emigrant Gap grew quickly Monday afternoon, forcing evacuations of nearby campgrounds.
The fire was first reported at about 3 p.m. near the North Fork campground, on the North Fork American River off Interstate 80, with a rapid rate of spread.
By 4 p.m., the fire was reported at 15 acres and air tankers were on order from Redding and McClellan. By 4:15 p.m., Placer County Sheriff’s Office was evacuating North Fork Campground, Onion Valley Campground and Tunnel Mills Campground on Texas Hill Road in Emigrant Gap.
Just after 5 p.m., the fire was being reported at 200 acres and aggressive with spotting occurring. By 6 p.m., Placer County Sheriff’s Office had a dozen units conducting evacuations, including in the Lake Valley Reservoir area.
The North Fire had grown to 500 acres by 7 p.m. and the I-80 on ramps and offramps were closed at Yuba Gap and Emigrant Gap, as well as Forest Service Road 19. Caltrans was reporting major delays due to the closures and the holiday traffic.
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