Bennett, Grass Valley

Fire at a glance (numbers)

Incident Name: Bennett, Grass Valley
State: CA
Lead Agency: NEU
Size (acres): 59.3
Percent Contained: 100%
Estimate of Containment: August 28, 2021
Personnel: 30
Structures Destroyed: 0

Bennett, East Bennett and Lava Rock Drive in Grass Valley. Minimal activity and smoldering. All closures lifted.

August 28, 2021 at 8:05 PM

The fire is now fully contained.

August 28, 2021 at 8:40 AM

95% containment, still mopping up.

August 27, 2021 at 10:02 AM

Morning update from CAL FIRE has 80% containment.

August 26, 2021 at 8:10 PM

Containment is up to 75%, there has been no new growth and none is expected. Firefighters continue to extinguish hotspots, rehab dozer lines and overhaul equipment. All evacuations and road closures have been lifted.

August 26, 2021 at 7:01 AM

All road closures and evacuations have been lifted. Zonehaven reflects them as an advisory simply to keep people aware of the first responders still working in the area. All of Whispering Pines, including Crown Point Circle, are open for people to return to work.

August 26, 2021 at 6:33 AM

Firefighters worked throughout the night to reinforce containment lines and continue to extinguish hot spots. The smoke in the area is from the Caldor Fire in El Dorado County that remained extremely active overnight.

Sierra College Campus is open this morning and classes are on.

August 25, 2021 at 9:31 PM

Night shift continues mop-up operations and strengthening containment lines. Next update on containment will be tomorrow morning.

August 25, 2021 at 8:09 PM

Nevada County OES: With the exception of the eastern side of zone GRS-E222, all other zones are now open for repopulation.

August 25, 2021 at 8:01 PM

Road closures:

Bennett Street remains closed at Union Jack Street, resident access only with identification
Centennial Dr. closed at Idaho Maryland Rd., resident access only with identification
Whispering Pines closed at Brunswick Rd., resident access only with identification
East Bennett St. closed at Greenhorn Rd., resident access only with identification

August 25, 2021 at 7:54 PM

Shelter in place lifted, only zone GRS-E222B is still under a mandatory order.

August 25, 2021 at 7:36 PM

Road closures are being handled by Grass Valley Police and Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, resources from out of the area are returning to their home bases.

August 25, 2021 at 7:29 PM

CAL FIRE update: 50.6 acres and 70% contained. Fire has been mapped with GPS now.

August 25, 2021 at 7:02 PM

All Hwy 49 on and off ramps to reopen shortly.

August 25, 2021 at 6:59 PM

IC and Operations are planning for the night shift. Still a lot of smoke and some active flame within the fire perimeter – and no report of structures destroyed.

August 25, 2021 at 6:49 PM

Bennett Air Attack has released all aircraft from the incident.

August 25, 2021 at 6:15 PM

As of 6:10 PM, 7,327 residents are affected by either an evacuation ORDER, WARNING, or SHELTER IN PLACE.

August 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM

59.3 acres and 60% contained. No reported structure loss.

August 25, 2021 at 5:56 PM

Firefighters are starting to mop up further in from the fire perimeter. They are checking for hot spots, smoldering stumps. There will be a night shift on the fire.

August 25, 2021 at 5:53 PM

Road closures due to the fire remain in effect. Canceling some resources that haven’t arrived at the incident.

August 25, 2021 at 5:48 PM

Fire is estimated at 40 acres, this is not new growth – just a better estimate.

August 25, 2021 at 5:40 PM

Left flank of the fire has a complete dozer line and hose line. Right flank almost complete. The fire is holding – no additional growth reported.

August 25, 2021 at 5:35 PM

Hwy 49 eastbound on ramp Idaho Maryland, Dorsey and Brunswick remain closed. Westbound Brunswick on ramp closed.

August 25, 2021 at 5:27 PM

Reader Paul Menesini came across the fire just as it started to take off and tried to extinguish it with another passerby. He reported 3 small spot fires that blew up very fast.

August 25, 2021 at 5:25 PM

Air Attack is releasing two tankers (95 and 93) who are on load and hold at the Grass Valley Air Attack Base.

August 25, 2021 at 5:19 PM

Making good progress with the hoselines. To reiterate, temporary evacuation point is at Nevada Union High School on Ridge Road and animals can be taken to the Nevada County Fairgrounds Gate 8.

August 25, 2021 at 5:12 PM

Dozer and retardant lines are holding. Aircraft is looking for new spot fires.

August 25, 2021 at 5:09 PM

Fire behavior has moderated. Air Attack is canceling the resource order for te VLATs and the lead plane.

August 25, 2021 at 5:06 PM

Air Attack states they have the fire almost surrounded with retardant lines.

August 25, 2021 at 5:04 PM

This is the Grass Valley Police Department issuing an Evacuation WARNING for a Wildfire affecting zone GRS-E271 and NCO-E279. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should consider leaving now.

August 25, 2021 at 5:02 PM

Animals evacuated from the fire can go to Nevada County Fairgrounds through Gate 8.

Dozer lines at Whispering Pines are holding.

August 25, 2021 at 5:01 PM

Olympia Glade Mobile Home Park now under a mandatory order.

August 25, 2021 at 4:58 PM

Firefighters are making progress. Dozer line on the west flank is almost complete.

August 25, 2021 at 4:55 PM

Waste Management hauling station at Grass Valley Ave has been closed and evacuated.

August 25, 2021 at 4:50 PM

ICP is being relocated to Race Street and Colfax Ave.

August 25, 2021 at 4:45 PM

Incoming law enforcement resources to stage at Memorial Park. Tanker 15 inbound from McClellan.

August 25, 2021 at 4:40 PM

Hard closure of southbound Hwy 49 at Brunswick. Column (smoke plume) just collapsed, will send embers in all directions, high risk of spot fires.

August 25, 2021 at 4:35 PM

While the column is standing up, tankers and helicopters will get under the column to drop as close to the active lines as possible.

From DeMartini RV earlier Photo courtesy Suzanne Freschi

August 25, 2021 at 4:28 PM

Heavy spotting is still occurring, helicopters are working the hotspots. Zones GRS-E381 (Atria & Crystal Ridge Assisted Living) & GRS-E250 (Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital) have been updated to Shelter-in-Place

August 25, 2021 at 4:22 PM

Shelter in place order at Atria and Crystal Ridge Assisted Living Facilities.

August 25, 2021 at 4:18 PM

Air Attack 17 aka Bennett Air Attack reports there is a line of retardant across the head. This will slow the progression of the fire. Placer County LE is arriving to help with evacuations and road closures. Please respect all road closures!

August 25, 2021 at 4:15 PM

The Sierra College Nevada County Campus (NCC) is currently closed due to the fire.

August 25, 2021 at 4:13 PM

All the business complexes on Whispering Pines are being evacuated.

August 25, 2021 at 4:11 PM

Nevada Union High School will be a Temporary Evacuation Point.

August 25, 2021 at 4:09 PM

The Grass Valley Police Department has issued an Evacuation ORDER for a Wildfire affecting zones GRS-E280 and GRS-E222. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.

August 25, 2021 at 4:06 PM

Another resource order for an additional 20 engines, 2 dozers and water tenders.

August 25, 2021 at 4:04 PM

Well-established spot fire across Idaho-Maryland Road, resources attempting to make access.

August 25, 2021 at 3:59 PM

Traffic control on Idaho-Maryland Road is in place. Please avoid the area. The fire has spotted across Idaho-Maryland Road. Numerous structures immediately threatened.

August 25, 2021 at 3:57 PM

Air Attack is requesting two VLATs and multiple smaller tankers and helicopters.

As seen from Grass Valley. Photo Jackie Lee.

August 25, 2021 at 3:55 PM

Additional road closures and evacuations coming. Firefighters are attempting to contain some of the spot fires who pose an immediate structure threat.