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North Fire: Blaze near Emigrant Gap at 1,120 acres, 85 percent contained

Sierra Sun Staff

UPDATE: Tuesday morning

UPDATE: Monday morning



UPDATE: Sunday morning

UPDATE: Saturday morning

UPDATE: Friday, 7:25 a.m.

UPDATE: Thursday 11:40 a.m.

UPDATE: Thursday 10 a.m.

UPDATE: Thursday, 8:10 a.m.

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.

UPDATE: Tuesday, 7 pm.

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.

UPDATE, Tuesday 8:30 a.m.

Update

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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