UPDATE 8:43 a.m. August 19:

Fire Summary:

• Acres burned: 46,386
• Total Containment: 35%
• Cause: Lightning
• Total Personnel: 788
• Structures destroyed: 5 homes, 6 outbuildings

Resources:

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Hand crews: 13
Engines: 79
Aircraft: 9
Water tenders: 15
Bulldozers & Masticators: 23

As of 6:30 a.m., no additional structures have been damaged or destroyed by the fire. 

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The fire was considerably quieter overnight than it has been for the last few days.

Activity was visible behind Bug Station on the east side of Highway 395, but the flare up was within the burn perimeter, and firefighters quickly extinguished it.

While line along the top of the fire continues to hold well, unburned islands of vegetation continue to ignite and burn.  

Crews worked overnight to attack the fire directly on its southeastern edge, working into Balls Canyon as possible with dozers and hand crews. They continued to build and strengthen indirect line (built away from the fire) on the southern edge.

The priority today is to complete this line in advance of today’s predicted winds. The fire remained active in this area overnight.  

At 8 p.m. yesterday evening, the nationwide Planning Level was increased to Planning Level 5, indicating that Potential for emerging significant wildland fires is high and expected to remain high in multiple geographic areas. 

With multiple fires in California and nationwide, this means that firefighting resources are in high demand across the country.  

A downloadable version of this update and maps are available at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6975.

UPDATE: 7:42 a.m. Monday Acres Burned: 36,925 Total Containment: 5% Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 580 Hand Crews: 12 Engines: 42 Aircraft: 10 Water Tenders: 8 Bulldozers & Masticators: 18

Current Situation:  The fire burned actively overnight, showing considerable spread on the west and south sides. Crews made good progress, however, especially around the long finger that moved southeast yesterday west of Highway 395 and threatened the areas around Bordertown and Cold Springs. There is now fire line around that area, and forward progress has been stopped as of now. All evacuation orders remain in effect today.Day shift crews will continue the work from overnight, tying the line constructed around the finger back into the main body of the fire. They will use indirect (away from the fire’s main edge) and direct (against the fire’s edge) tactics to continue suppression.  Ten helicopters are currently assigned to the fire, with most flying out of the Truckee Airport. Fixed-wing aircraft is available to the fire on an as-needed basis. Fire activity has picked up considerably in California (and the country) over the last few days, and with many new starts around the state, resources are being shared and use to their best effectiveness. Weather: Temperatures today are expected to be similar to yesterday. Winds today are predicted to be lighter, with only a small chance of thunderstorms in the forecast. A fire weather watch does remain in effect over the area.

Updated: 9:36 p.m. Sunday

Acres Burned: 29,828 Hand Crews: 12 Total Containment: 0% Engines: 42 Cause: Under Investigation Aircraft: 6 Total personnel 580 Water Tenders: 8 Bulldozers & Masticators 18 Current Situation: On Sunday, the Loyalton Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior with wind driven runs and long rang spotting contributing to the rapid rate of spread. Thunderstorms over the fire area caused gusty and erratic wind gusts in all directions. The fire continues to burn in timber, sagebrush and tall grasses. With the support of multiple helicopters and air tankers, firefighters worked tirelessly to slow the progression of the fire and protect structures, when and where safe to do so. Numerous evacuations happened throughout the day due to the extreme fire behavior and erratic winds pushing the fire towards communities. Firefighters will continue to battle the fire throughout the night. At this time, the nation is experiencing a high level of fire activity and fire resources are being stretched thin to cover all the active fires. Many resources have been ordered and are expected to arrive over the next couple days. Weather: The area remains under an extreme heat warning along with a Fire Weather Watch. Tonight, isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected until 9pm. Winds are predicted out of the southwest at 8-14mph, gusting to 27mph. Dense haze and smoke is expected through Monday evening. More isolated showers and thunderstorms are predicted tomorrow afternoon. Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuation has been changed to an Advisory Evacuation Order for the residents of Cold Springs. Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for residents on Scott Road. Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for residents from the intersection of Hwy 49 and 70 east to Hwy 70 and Hwy 395. Hwy 395 south to the state line. This encompasses everything south of Hwy 70 and west of 395.

Go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Join the conversation by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/Tahoe_NF and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TahoeNF.

From a release:

LOYALTON FIRE Evening Update: 8/15/2020   

Loyalton Fire Summary	Resources
Acres Burned:	15,000 -20,000	Hand Crews:	16
Total Containment:	5%	Engines:	30
Expected Containment:	9/1/2020	Aircraft:	9
Cause:	Under Investigation	Water Tenders:	3
Total personnel	500+	Bulldozers & Masticators	6
		Air Tankers	6

Current Situation: The Loyalton Fire originated east of the town of Loyalton and southwest of Mount Ina Coolbrith. The Loyalton fire is burning in grass, sagebrush, and juniper and has spread north toward the community of Chilcoot and east into Long Valley. Active fire behavior is expected throughout the evening. A smoke column is visible throughout the Sierra Valley and North Reno.

Evacuations: There are mandatory evacuations in portions of Plumas, Lassen, and Sierra counties:

• Mandatory evacuation Chilcoot, south of Highway 70
• Mandatory evacuation Long Valley Road and Scott’s Flat Road south of Highway 70
• Mandatory evacuation west of Highway 395 from Hallelujah Junction to Cold Springs
• Advisory evacuation in Vinton
• Advisory evacuation in Chilcoot, north of Highway 70
• Advisory evacuation east of 395 from Hallelujah Junction to Cold Springs

Closures: Highway 70 closed from Highway 49 to Highway 395. Hwy 395 is closed from hallelujah junction to Border Town. 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6975/

Go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Join the conversation by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/Tahoe_NF and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TahoeNF.

LOYALTON FIRE Evening Update: 8/15/2020   

Loyalton Fire Summary	Resources
Acres Burned:	15,000 -20,000	Hand Crews:	16
Total Containment:	5%	Engines:	30
Expected Containment:	9/1/2020	Aircraft:	9
Cause:	Under Investigation	Water Tenders:	3
Total personnel	500+	Bulldozers & Masticators	6
		Air Tankers	6

Current Situation: The Loyalton Fire originated east of the town of Loyalton and southwest of Mount Ina Coolbrith. The Loyalton fire is burning in grass, sagebrush, and juniper and has spread north toward the community of Chilcoot and east into Long Valley. Active fire behavior is expected throughout the evening. A smoke column is visible throughout the Sierra Valley and North Reno.

Evacuations: There are mandatory evacuations in portions of Plumas, Lassen, and Sierra County:

• Mandatory evacuation Chilcoot, south of Highway 70
• Mandatory evacuation Long Valley Road and Scott’s Flat Road south of Highway 70
• Mandatory evacuation west of Highway 395 from Hallelujah Junction to Cold Springs
• Advisory evacuation in Vinton
• Advisory evacuation in Chilcoot, north of Highway 70
• Advisory evacuation east of 395 from Hallelujah Junction to Cold Springs

Closures: Highway 70 closed from Highway 49 to Highway 395. Hwy 395 is closed from hallelujah junction to Border Town. 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6975/

Go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Join the conversation by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/Tahoe_NF and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TahoeNF.