Type 3 fire team takes control of 1,667 acre Fork Fire

Control of the Fork Fire transferred to a local Type 3 team today. The fire was remapped and is 1,667 acres and is 70 percent contained and is located north of Pollock Pines and west of Lake Tahoe, burning in the Crystal Basin/Gerle Creek area. Strategy on the fire will remain the same with emphasis on clearing contingency lines distant from the main edge of the fire in case the fire begins to move.

Forest and fire managers would like people to be aware that while the fire closures are being reduced, there is still fire activity in the area.

The plan for managing the fire will remain mostly the same with crews continuing “mop-up.” Down in the southwestern edge of the fire, water drops will help to extinguish remaining hot spots in the Rubicon River canyon. On the north side of the fire, crews are still brushing and removing hazard trees on the 13N27 and 14N77 roads to the north of the fire. Sprinkler systems were placed around residences and they will remain in place and will be tested daily.

Weather will be trending warmer and drier toward the weekend with poor overnight humidity recovery. Winds will be moderate, possibly increasing to 15-25 mph by Saturday. An interactive map displaying fire and smoke conditions across the United States can be found at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

The Eldorado National Forest has issued a closure order specific to the Fork Fire. The closure area is expected to shrink by the weekend. Please refer to the closure order prohibiting camping forest-wide except for some designated developed campgrounds. The regional fire closure, which prohibits the use of any ignition source (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) on all National Forest System lands throughout California, also remains in place. Details of these closures can be found at the Eldorado National Forest webpage https://www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado/. A TFR (temporary flight restriction) is in place over the fire area.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.