Markleeville, CA…Firefighters have made made significant gains in efforts to slow down the growth of the Tamarack Fire, and are working to build on that progress today. Special Notes: Smoke from the Dixie Fire has moved into the area and will affect visibility and air quality throughout the weekend. Air Operations may be impacted. Air quality may be unhealthy for those who are sensitive to smoke. A public fire information briefing was held last night, the recording can be viewed on Facebook under videos at www.facebook.com/tamarackfireinfo or on Youtube, https://bit.ly/TamarackVideo.

Click on Above Incident Map for a Full Sized Version

Current Situation:
After several days of extreme, windy weather and erratic fire behavior, firefighters took full advantage of calmer winds, allowing for significant containment progress in several locations of the Tamarack Fire. New containment line on the northeast and northwest edges of the fire was completed. Hand crews were able to directly engage the fire on several fronts. On the eastern edge of the fire, heavy air support combined with crews working on the ground led to success in stopping rapid fire growth.

Infrared mapping shows the fire now at 65,152 acres. While more containment was added, containment remains 4% due to the increase in fire size. There are 1,425 personnel, with operations continuing around the clock. The number of people evacuated remains at 2,439.

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: In Division K, From Hwy 395 near Spring Valley east and north up to Leviathan Mine Road, firefighters established and secured new containment line on the northeast edge of the fire. Moving west these crews put out hot spots, digging line where needed using a method called cold-trailing. Cold-trailing is when a firefighter inspects an area using a hand to feel for any remaining heat. In conjunction with crews moving west, a hotshot crew (Type 1 hand crew) began near the Carson River moving east. The two crews worked towards each other throughout the day. A hot spot down the Bryant Creek drainage separates the crews and it will require 2-3 more days’ work to complete the connection. Today, firefighters continue the effort to secure line along the north edge of the fire. Structure protection work continues for the Washoe Indian Colony and the Diamond Valley Road areas with patrol and mop up along the edge of the fire.

Division L is a newly added in the northeast. Yesterday, crews started east on the fire’s edge from Hwy 395, working to establish fireline. Hand crews were aided by helicopters dropping water to cool the fire’s edge. Air tankers dropped retardant along the eastern edge of the fire slowing fire spread into nearby heavy timber. Firefighters continue working on fireline from both air and ground to stop the fire along the eastern edge.

Division O Favorable weather conditions provided opportunity for firefighters to use a series of small burnouts removing fuel from the fire’s path between Holbrook and the east side of Hwy 395. Night Operations continued the firing operation off the west side of 395, creating a check line intended to slow and stop the southern advance of the fire near the highway. Hand crews engaged the fire north of Holbrook, outside Topaz Ranch Estates. Structure protection crews are protecting structures in neighborhoods along 395 corridor. Firefighters are building on yesterday’s progress and are working to hold and extend direct fireline construction. Night operations continue to patrol and monitor monitor the fire’s edge and provide point protection.

In Division Q Yesterday two engine crews completed structure protection preparations at the Leviathan Mine. They also performed mitigation work to protect nearby communications infrastructure. Firefighters scouted opportunities to develop a contingency line south of the fire and west of Hwy 395, incorporating some of the old Washington Fire scar in the line.

Branch II: To the south, the fire continues to burn in steep, hard-to reach terrain with slow, limited movement. Divisions T and Z were staffed with fire personnel scouting the area and identifying options for direct and indirect fireline construction. Monitoring of the divisions from the air continues.

Branch III: Division A, the southwest portion of the fire, will continue to be monitored from the air. The fire is creeping but has had very little movement. As need dictates and additional resources arrive, crews will begin to construct fireline.

In Division F, New containment has been added in the northwest corner of the fire in the Crystal Springs/Woodfords area. Following a multi-day effort to slowly back fire down off of high peaks. Firefighters were able to establish the containment line along Hwy 88 and begin work moving south. Hand crews working from Hawkins Peak south and east brought fireline to the western edge of the fire. Firefighters made good progress developing line along the western edge near Burnside Lake and identifying a potential site for a new contingency line further west. Today, crews will strengthen fireline while monitoring yesterday’s progress. The structure protection group will continue providing protection for homes and infrastructure in Sierra Pines, Woodfords, Mesa Vista, Markleeville and Grover Hot Springs, along with other structures in the division.

Weather & Fuel Conditions:

Hot, dry and unstable weather continues today, with high temperatures reaching 82-92 degrees over the fire area and humidity levels of 15-20%. Visibility may be limited due to smoke from the Tamarack Fire as well as from the Dixie Fire burning to the northwest. Slope/Valley winds will be light and terrain driven until the afternoon, when Northwesterly winds move in at 8-13 mph, gusting to 25. Ridgetop winds will also be light until the afternoon, increasing to 10-20, with gusts to 30 mph after 4 pm. There is a slight chance for thunderstorms today, with increased storm potential on Sunday. Fuels are at near-record low moisture levels and are extremely receptive to fire.

Yesterday there were two incursions into the fire’s Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area by aircraft not associated with the Tamarack Fire. This violation of air space could have forced fire managers to ground planes and helicopters essential to supporting fire crews on the ground. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Evacuations, Closures, and Fire Restrictions:

For evacuation notice specifics in Alpine and Douglas Counties visit: https://www.alpinecountyca.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=EVACUATION-INFORMATION-53 and

https://www.douglascountynv.gov/government/departments/emergency_management/current_emergencies/tamarack_fire__markleeville__c_a

For road closure specifics visit https://roads.dot.ca.gov/ and https://nvroads.com/.

For closures and fire restrictions on National Forest lands, visit

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/alerts-1069notices/?cid=fseprd573309

Tamarack Fire Statistics:

Size: 65,152 acres
Containment: 4%
Total Personnel: 1,425
Location: Markleeville, CA
Reported: July 4, 2021
Cause: Lightning

For More Information:

Public Information Phone: 775-434-8629
Public email: 2021.tamarack@firenet.gov
Media Phone: 775-434-8110
Media email: mediatamarack@gmail.com
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7674/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamarackfireinfo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamarack_fire
Youtube: https://bit.ly/TamarackVideo