Tamarack Fire Information

03/25/2022

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Seeks Input on the Tamarack Restoration Project

On Wednesday, over 30 people attended a public meeting hosted by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Carson Ranger District’s Carson Ranger District at the Turtle Rock Park Community Center near Markleeville, California, to discuss the Tamarack Restoration Project. The project is in the initial planning stage and will address the restoration needs of the area burned by the Tamarack Fire in 2021.

“The project team held the public meeting to engage with the community and capture valuable input on what the community feels is most important to address in the restoration project,” said Carson District Ranger Matthew Zumstein. “We received some great feedback and look forward to continuing those conversations to build a comprehensive restoration project that meets both community and ecological priorities.”

The proposed Tamarack Restoration Project will remove dead, dying, and damaged trees in strategic areas to promote reforestation efforts as well as reduce hazardous fuels to protect the community from future wildfires. This may be accomplished through the implementation of a variety of treatments including mechanical or hand thinning, mastication, chipping, and prescribed fire.

Additionally, reforestation and revegetation treatments are also proposed to areas that may have been affected by higher severity fire and do not have a natural seed source available to begin to reestablish. Treatments could include hand planting and seeding as well as aerial seeding. Research opportunities are also being explored to use innovative drone technology to deliver tree seeds to areas that are difficult to access.

The District received close to $1.2 million in disaster relief funding that will allow implementation of the proposed activities within the Tamarack Restoration Project once approved. Additional funding opportunities will be pursued as they become available to continue implementation and monitoring within the project area for the foreseeable future.

“The project team will be developing the plan this year with the hopes to implement it in 2023,” explained Zumstein.

The presentation and map that was shown at the public meeting can be reviewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1006875. For additional questions on the project or to provide input, please contact Carson Ranger District Forester Annabelle Monti at [email protected].

The District has been focused on mitigating safety hazards that occurred as a direct result of the Tamarack Fire. As part of fire suppression repair, the District was able to mitigate immediate hazard trees in the Pleasant Valley and Thornburg Canyon areas. Those hazard trees were donated to the local community and the Washoe Tribe to be used as firewood. Initial road repairs were completed in December of 2021, and additional road work is slated for summer of 2022.

Because of the completed mitigation work, the District was able to rescind the area closure, and all Forest Service trailheads, trails, and roads in the Tamarack burned area are now accessible. Crystal Springs Campground will remain closed due to concerns about the stability of the hillside that was burnt above the campground. Also, due to the greater risk of flash floods the lower part of Markleeville Campground by the river will stay closed. For more details on how to recreate safely in Tamarack Post-Fire area, visit: https://bit.ly/TamarackPostFireRecreating.

03/17/2022

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Reminds the Public to Use Caution While Recreating in the Tamarack Post-Fire Area

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Carson Ranger District wants to remind visitors to be aware of their surroundings, stay out of closed campgrounds, and follow warning signs when recreating in the area burned by the 2021 near Markleeville, California. Burned landscapes present numerous safety hazards for recreationists that either did not exist prior to the fire or have been exacerbated by the effects of the fire.

“While full recovery of the landscape burnt in the Tamarack Fire will take time," Brian Hansen, Carson Ranger District Recreation Officer. “Visitors to this area may already see meadows bouncing back, shrubs resprouting, and tree seedlings reestablishing.”

Currently, there is no area closure in place, so all trailheads and trails in the Tamarack burned area are now accessible, including Charity Valley East, Burnside Lake, and Thornburg Canyon. Hikers should be prepared to navigate without trails or trail signs, so make sure to bring along a map and GPS app or device. Also, it is important to stay on the trail as much as possible, because without live plant roots to anchor the soil, burned soil is easily erodible.

Crystal Springs Campground will remain closed due to concerns about the stability of the hillside that was burnt above the campground. Also, due to the greater risk of flash floods the lower part of Markleeville Campground by the river will stay closed. Hope Valley, Kit Carson, Silver Creek, and the upper campsites of Markleeville Campgrounds, as well as Centerville Flat and Wolf Creek Dispersed Campgrounds, will be open as weather and conditions allow.

For more information visit: https://bit.ly/CarsonRDRecreationInfo or call the Carson Ranger District at 775-882-2766.

For people recreating in areas that were affect by a fire, please keep the follow in mind:

• Flash Floods/Debris Flows: Fast-moving, highly destructive flash floods and debris flows triggered by intense rainfall are one of the most dangerous post-fire hazards. The risk of floods and debris flows after fires increases due to vegetation loss and soil exposure. Always avoid recreating in a post-fire area during a rain event. If caught unaware, get to high ground. Never attempt to drive or hike through an area that has been flooded or if a debris flow has occurred. These types of events hide dips in roads or trails and other obstacles. Worse still, there may not be a road or trail at all. Flooding and debris flows can wash away the entire road or trail surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.

• Damaged or Dead Trees: After a fire many trees are weakened from burning around the base of the trunk. These trees can fall over or blow down without warning. Shallow-rooted trees can also fall. Therefore, be extremely alert when around burned trees, especially after rain events or during high winds. Never picnic, camp, or park a vehicle close to dead trees. Look up while on trails and if the wind really kicks up, head to a clearing out of reach of any potential falling trees.

• Burned Stump Holes/Root Chambers: Burned stumps may create rather obvious large holes, but these holes may actually be bigger. In many cases, the fire may have traveled through the root chambers and consumed the woody root material leaving vacant chambers where solid wood used to be. Overtime, these root chambers will collapse. A person’s body or vehicle weight on the root chambers may cause them to collapse, potentially opening a hole. Large trees have particularly large root chambers that can also be very deep. Be especially wary after rain as the moisture may travel through the root chambers and make collapse easier.

10/26/2021

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Declares Tamarack Fire Controlled

The on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Carson Ranger District near Markleeville, California, has been declared 100 percent contained and controlled. The fire reached this milestone after steady precipitation over the weekend provided much needed moisture to the fire area.

The fire was reported on July 4, 2021 and burned 68,637 acres. Approximately 82 percent of the Tamarack Fire had been contained since late August. The remaining 18 percent was in extremely rugged terrain and being actively managed for confinement using natural barriers until a season ending weather event occurred. Repair and rehabilitation work related to the Tamarack Fire will continue for quite a while.

The Tamarack Fire Area Closure expires on Oct. 31, and though this will increase recreational opportunities, caution in the burned area is still advised. Posing no threat to containment, the public might still see smoke occasionally from large diameter trees and stump holes smoldering in the fire area. Other dangers include fire weakened hazard trees and loose rocks and debris on steep slopes. Sedimentation flows and increased runoff will pose a threat as well. It is important to note and heed signage warning of potential hazards.

10/25/2021

Know Before You Go:
- Weather Forecast: Check the National Weather Service (https://www.weather.gov/forecastmaps) or a favorite phone app to assess weather conditions.

- Ranger District: Contact the local Ranger District Office for the most current information for the area that you plan on visiting. A list of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest offices can be found at the following link: https://bit.ly/HTNFForestOffices.

- Road and Trail Conditions: For road and trail conditions on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, visit: https://bit.ly/Road_TrailConditions. Also, check out the following links for up-to-date road reports for Nevada and eastern California: https://www.dot.nv.gov/travel-info or https://dot.ca.gov/travel.

NOAA and the National Weather Service have issued a flood watch for portions of east-central California and western Nevada, including Douglas County. The risk of flood is especially high in areas in or around burn scars from wildfires such as the Tamarack and Caldor Fires. For more information about the flood watch in Douglas County go to https://www.douglascountynv.gov/news/what_s_new/flood_watch and keep reading to learn how to prepare for flood after fire.
Wildfires can leave the ground charred and unable to absorb water creating the perfect conditions for flash flooding and debris flows. Therefore it's imperative for individuals living in areas that have been affected by wildfire to prepare for flood after a fire. Learn how in a draft of the new "Nevada Flood After Fire Guide" linked below.
NOTE: This publication is currently in peer review. Some content will change in the final copy.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This Nevada Post-Wildfire Guide was a collaborative effort by the Nevada Silver Jackets Team. Silver Jackets is an interagency partnership program encouraging Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to work together to find solutions for complex flood risk management issues.
http://www.livingwithfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FAF-Guide_Draft.pdf
US National Weather Service Reno Nevada |U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters| Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources | Nevada Division of Emergency Management Homeland Security | Nevada Division of Forestry | University of Nevada, Reno Extension | Nevada Floods | |

10/25/2021

Forest Service officials want to remind the public that heavy precipitation creates a risk of flooding and debris flows especially in steep canyons and burn scars without warning.

Never attempt to drive or hike through an area that has been flooded or a debris flow has occurred. These types of events hide dips in roads or trails and other obstacles.

Worse still, there may not be a road or trail at all. Flooding and debris flows can wash away the entire road or trail surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.

Simulations show a significant, early season atmospheric river event Sun-Tues. Potential impacts: heavy rain & flood/debris flows on burn scars, heavy wet snow for passes, and strong wind with travel impacts & tree falls. Clear gutters and tie down your inflatables!

09/03/2021

Here are FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS regarding limited recreation opportunities on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts over Labor Day weekend....https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd950469.pdf

09/01/2021

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Limits Recreation Opportunities in California -- Caldor Fire Closes Area on the Carson Ranger District

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, located within the Intermountain Region, is putting in place two forest orders that will take effect on Wednesday, Sept. 1 and affect recreation opportunities and limit access on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts.

Due to the Caldor Fire, Forest Order 04-17-21-12 will close all areas, campgrounds, trails, and roads on the Carson Ranger District from south of U.S. Route 50 to the southern district boundary and from the western district boundary to the Nevada State line. With this area closure in place, Hope Valley, Kit Carson, Lookout, Silver Creek, and Wylder Hope Valley Campgrounds are now closed.

Much of that area is already closed due to the Tamarack Fire, which includes Crystal Springs and Markleeville Campgrounds; Snowshoe Springs Day Use Area; Armstrong Pass, Charity Valley East, Ebbetts Pass, High Trail/Carson River, Horsethief, Noble Lake, Tamarack, Thornburg Canyon, Wet Meadows, and Wolf Creek Trailheads; and Mokelumne Wilderness.

“With how fast the Caldor Fire is moving, we feel it is necessary to close this area to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on National Forest System lands,” said Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger.

In Forest Order 04-17-21-13, all California lands managed by the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts are only open to day use unless camping in concession-operated campground or staying in a resort or recreation residences that are located on National Forest System lands, except in the closure area mentioned above . The Pacific Crest and Tahoe Rim Trails are also temporarily closed.

“This was a hard decision to make especially right before Labor Day weekend, but public safety is our number one concern,” explained Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger. He added that it was important for the Forest to decrease the potential for new fire starts at a time of extremely limited firefighting resources and enhance firefighter and community safety by limiting exposure that occurs in public evacuation situations.

With this new forest order, Centerville Flat and Wolf Creek Dispersed Campgrounds on the Carson Ranger District and Virginia Creek /Upper/Lower Dispersed Campground on the Bridgeport Ranger District are closed. Go to the following link to see what concession-operated campgrounds are open.... https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/htnf/news-events/....

Forest officials also want to remind visitors that there is no overnight camping only day hiking allowed in the section of the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness area that is on the Carson Ranger District and the section of the Hoover and Wovoka Wilderness areas that are on the Bridgeport Ranger District. The Buckeye Hot Springs on the Bridgeport Ranger District is open, but anyone planning to camp by the hot springs must camp at Buckeye
Campground or another nearby concession-operated campground.

The Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts are currently under Stage II Fire Restrictions. No campfires are allowed on these District lands in both California and Nevada. For more information regarding fire restrictions, please visit https://bit.ly/HTNFFireRestrictions or https://bit.ly/FireRestrictionsFAQs for answers to frequently asked questions.

These forest orders will remain in effect until Sept. 17, 2021 or until rescinded. For additional forest alerts or closure information, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/htnf/alerts-notices. As a reminder, all other forests in the Pacific Southwest Region of California are completely closed to the public from Aug. 31, 2021 through Sept. 17, 2021 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/news-events/...).

08/25/2021

WHY IS THE TAMARACK FIRE ONY 82% CONTAINED?

To answer the question as to why the Tamarack Fire is still only 82% contained, we’d like to explain the difference between containment and confinement. Containment is wildfire a suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire's spread. Confinement is a strategy employed in appropriate management responses where a fire perimeter is managed by a combination of direct and indirect actions and use of natural topographic features, fuel, and weather factors.

Both containment and confinement are part of a full suppression strategy. Approximately 82% of the Tamarack Fire is being managed for containment. Due to extremely rugged terrain and minimal fire activity, approximately 18% of the fire is being managed for confinement to maximize firefighter safety and utilize natural barriers to fire spread.

For the Tamarack Fire, fire officials have conducted extensive fire computer modeling under different conditions to determine under which conditions the fire would spread. The probability of the fire spreading toward values at risk (natural or cultural resources, structures) is low according to the forecasting models. The most probable wind direction and speed predict that the fire would most likely burn back on itself and away from the values at risk. In addition, the confined area is in very steep and dangerous terrain and it is unsafe to deploy firefighters physically in the area.

The entire fire perimeter will be staffed and patrolled as long as there is active fire behavior. The confinement area is staffed with specialized wildland firefighters who constantly watch the fire on the ground and with drones and cameras and take appropriate suppression actions when warranted. They are supported by aircraft and additional ground crews.

There will be continual assessment of the incident by ongoing personnel in the Tamarack footprint to determine the necessity of future suppression treatments as rehabilitation/repair work proceeds.

08/22/2021

finishing up repair and Hazardous Tree Mitigation. Sierra Front IMT transferring command to Type 4 Incident Commander 8/23/2021 at 6am.

08/21/2021

will complete Hazardous Tree Mitigation and suppression repair this weekend.

08/20/2021

completes Hazardous Tree Mitigation in Pleasant Valley. Daily temps returning to seasonal average. SFIMT transitioning to Type 4 team Monday Aug. 23rd.

08/19/2021

continues to see cooler temps and clearer skies today. Personnel numbers drop as work is completed.