Elephant, Loyalton area

Elephant, Tahoe NF, USFS. Two miles northeast of Loyalton, CA. Grass, brush and timber. Minimal fire behavior with torching, backing and creeping.

July 24, 2026 at 8:14 PM This will be the final update on the Elephant Fire unless conditions change.

The Elephant Fire is 98% contained. Fire activity within the unburned island located well inside the established containment lines will continue to slowly consume vegetation as expected. Smoke may remain visible for several months, particularly during warm, dry weather, but this activity is well within the fire perimeter and does not threaten containment lines.

Suppression repair has been completed across the incident. These efforts restored areas impacted by firefighting activities by repairing firelines, stabilizing disturbed soils, reducing erosion potential, and protecting natural and cultural resources.

Command of the incident will transition back to the Tahoe National Forest on July 26. The U.S. Forest Service will continue to monitor the fire and respond to any significant changes in fire activity.

July 24, 2026 at 6:49 AM Monitor and patrol fire to the extent necessary to keep the fire within its current footprint. Conduct suppression repair following the approved suppression repair guidelines. Anticipate Friday being completed with assigned suppression repair requirements.

July 22, 2026 at 9:29 PM Smoke remains visible on the Elephant Fire from the unburned island located more than one mile inside the fire perimeter. Fire activity within the unburned island continues to creep and smolder as expected and remains within established containment lines. Smoke is expected to continue as these isolated hot spots burn out naturally.

Suppression repair has been completed in the northwest corner of the fire, and crews have been reassigned to support remaining suppression repair activities across the incident.

The next update will be provided on Friday, July 24th.

July 20, 2026 at 7:43 PM As crews prepare for the potential for incoming storms, they are developing contingency plans for flooding and potential access issues while continuing suppression repair, mop-up, and securing remaining uncontained fire edge. Interior fire activity remains limited to creeping and smoldering within the unburned islands. It is being monitored to ensure it remains within the containment lines. The next update will be provided Wednesday, July 22nd.

Moisture will peak on Tuesday with relative humidity near 30 percent. Thunderstorm chances will also peak Tuesday with a near 30 percent chance of wet thunderstorms impacting the fire in some capacity, though the potential for true flash flooding remains low (less than 5 percent). More moist conditions will remain on Wednesday, but thunderstorm potential will decrease.

July 19, 2026 at 8:46 PM

Heavy equipment, such as excavators and graders, is being moved on site to repair containment lines and assist in other aspects of suppression repair. A specialist in hydrology has been brought in to assess the riparian areas impacted by the fire. Crews and engines continue to secure and mop up the uncontained portions of the fire. Smoke is visible from the interior of the fire and it continues to smolder in the unburned interior island.

WEATHER

High pressure peaking today allowed for highs to finally crest over 90. Meanwhile, monsoon moisture continued to build, keeping relative humidity generally over 25 percent and providing fuel for some isolated thunderstorms in the area. Southwest winds have remained subdued. Moisture and increasing instability may allow for scattered thunderstorms overnight and into early Monday morning, though uncertainty remains high.

July 18, 2026 at 7:44 PM

large portion of the fire is moving into suppression repair work. This work is based on a planned and developed by local agency specialists with the focus of mitigating long lasting impacts from the incident. Large equipment will begin moving into the area to conduct this work.

Crews remain on tactical patrol and continue to mop up on the uncontained portions of the fire. Smoke continues to be visible from the interior of the fire.

July 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM

Yesterday, Elephant fire sent two hand crews, two engines, and several staff to assist local fire response units with controlling and suppressing the Railroad Track fire. The fire was quickly contained and resources returned to their previous fire responsibilities. The Elephant fire remains ready to support local initial attack efforts.

Firefighters continue to mop up uncontained portions of the fire. Crews have started removing equipment that is no longer needed to make way for upcoming suppression repair efforts.

While smoke remains consistently over the fire, aerial support reports the nearest fire activity to the fire perimeter is a mile from the exterior containment lines.

WEATHER
Warm and dry weather has continued again today. Highs reached the upper 80s with very dry relative humidity as low as 10 percent. Moderate southwest winds built in again in the afternoon with some gusts up to 25 mph.

July 16, 2026 at 8:36 PM

Firefighters continue to make steady progress strengthening and securing the fire perimeter, increasing overall containment to 77%. Crews have also begun removing fire-weakened and hazardous trees along access roads to improve firefighter and public safety. Within the unburned island inside the fire perimeter, crews are monitoring slow-moving fire activity. Aircraft are being utilized as needed to reduce interior heat. Smoke will remain visible from the incident for the foreseeable future, particularly during periods of hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and increased wind.

Much drier air moving across the area Thursday promoted clear skies alongside minimum relative humidity barely above 10 percent and high temperatures in the upper 80s. Clear skies in turn helped enhance diurnal, southwesterly winds in the afternoon with gusts in excess of 25 mph. Dry air persisting overnight will also make for poor relative humidity recoveries as low as 40 percent at higher elevations.

Very similar hot and dry conditions will continue Friday. More moist marine air will begin to cross the area this weekend. Though conditions will remain hot Saturday, minimum relative humidity will begin to increase over 20 percent. Clouds will then help cool conditions Sunday an early next week with continually increasing humidity.
 

Moisture will also bring potential for showers and wet thunderstorms with chances peaking early next week.

July 15, 2026 at 9:39 PM

Firefighters in the northeast portion of the fire focused on securing the dozer line where defensive firing operations took place. With the successful completion of this operation, firefighters will now begin to secure the fireline with mop-up and direct suppression tactics, increasing containment. Aircraft remains available to cool remaining pockets of heat, if needed.
Both acres burned and containment decreased due to improved mapping, which more accurately represents the burned and unburned portions of the interior of the fire. With unburned islands excluded from the overall acreage, the amount of perimeter to be contained has grown. For more information on how acres burned and containment are assessed, refer to NMAC Correspondence L2026-06 at https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/nmac

WEATHER

A warming and drying trend is expected through Friday with breezes from west to southwest. Wind gusts and dry fuels will continue to create visual smoke production, with a small potential for showers and thunderstorms to return over the weekend.

July 14, 2026 at 6:49 PM 15,526 acres grass and brush, 42% contained. Active fire behavior reported today. Evacuation Orders and Warnings remain in place. Structures, power infrastructure, Hwy 70 and Hwy 395 are threatened.

The fire received wetting rain over the last 24 hours, providing a window for operations to focus on containment, securing handline and addressing remaining pockets of heat. The fire continued to grow in some areas. The northwest portion of the fire experienced a flare-up that spread rapidly. After the spread outpaced direct suppression efforts, crews conducted a defensive burn operation to secure the firelines in this area.

WEATHER

      Shower and thunderstorm chances diminish the evening of 7/14. A warming and drying trend is expected through Friday with breezes from west to southwest. Wind gusts and dry fuels will continue to create challenges for firefighting efforts, especially at exposed ridges. There is potential for downslope escarpment winds tonight.

July 13, 2026 at 6:57 PM TNF update

As operations continue on the Elephant Fire, fire growth to the north has potential to impact structures and power infrastructure along Scott Road, the community of Chilcoot, and Highway 395 near Hallelujah Junction.  There is potential for smoke impacts to nearby communities, including Hallelujah Junction, Bordertown, Cold Springs and the greater Reno area. Increased fire behavior from downslope escarpment winds are possible on the eastern edge of the fire. Gusty and erratic winds near thunderstorms may push fire spread in any direction.

           Firefighters are using direct suppression tactics, including bulldozers, to construct firelines where terrain and environmental conditions allow, while aircraft are strategically applying fire retardant and dropping buckets of water to slow fire spread in areas where it can be most effective. 

EVACUATIONS

           There are no evacuation orders at this time.  Zone LAS-451-A in Lassen County and Zone PLU-114 in Plumas County are under evacuation warnings.  Please avoid these areas to allow emergency crews access.  View details on the Genasys Evacuation Map: https://protect.genasys.com/search

WEATHER

           Wind gusts and dry fuels will continue to create challenges for firefighting efforts. There is potential for downslope escarpment winds at night, and possible showers in areas of the fire may leave uneven fire edges to cold trail and suppress. There is the potential for thunderstorms and outflow winds.

INCIDENT HISTORY

           The Elephant Fire ignited near Highway 49, northeast of Loyalton, Calif. near the Sierra and Plumas County line. It is burning primarily in grass with some snags, brush and timber. The fire is moving through the 2020 Loyalton Fire scar.  Nevada IMT3 Team 1 is now in command of the incident; more accurate fire mapping puts the current acreage at 12,303.

July 13, 2026 at 6:17 PM

The fire is now 12,303 acres and still 5% contained.

Firefighting efforts have continued to be challenged by ridgetop winds, dry fuels, and difficult terrain and fuel loading. Potential remains for northerly fire spread toward Chilcoot. Increased fire behavior from downslope escarpment winds are possible on the eastern edge of the fire. Gusty and erratic winds near thunderstorms may push fire spread in any direction.

July 12, 2026 at 7:38 PM The fire is moving through the 2020 Loyalton Fire scar. Nevada IMT3 Team 1 will be taking command of the incident tomorrow evening.

Despite today’s fire behavior being somewhat moderated by cloud cover and cooler temperatures, the fire has grown more than 2,000 acres to the northeast.  Ridgetop winds, dry fuels and difficult terrain continue to challenge firefighting efforts, especially at exposed ridges and as the fire burns towards timber fuel types to the north and east.  There is a high potential for continued spread in those directions in the overnight hours, with the potential to impact Scott Road, Chilcoot, and Highway 395 near Hallelujah Junction. 

           Firefighters are using direct suppression tactics, including bulldozers, to construct firelines where terrain and environmental conditions allow, while aircraft are strategically applying fire retardant and dropping buckets of water to slow fire spread in areas where it can be most effective. 

EVACUATIONS

           Lassen County has issued an evacuation order for Zone LAS-451-A.  Zones LAS-671-B in Lassen County and PLU-114 and PLU 104-A in Plumas County are under evacuation warnings.  Please avoid these areas to allow emergency crews access.  View details on the Genasys Evacuation Map: https://protect.genasys.com/search

WEATHER

           Weather and dry fuels will continue to be a major challenge. Direct firefighting tactics may be challenged in the footprint of the Loyalton fire where snags and heavy dead fuels are present. Outflow winds from thunderstorms will increase in likelihood early week.

July 12, 2026 at 4:53 PM

The fire has been mapped at 6,436 acres. Mandatory evacuation for Lassen Zone LAS-451-A.

July 12, 2026 at 8:36 AM

Air Attack 17 has lifted from the Grass Valley Air Attack Base to the Elephant fire.

July 12, 2026 at 8:19 AM

Fire behavior remained active overnight. Structures are threatened and road closures are in effect.

July 11, 2026 at 6:35 PM Structures are threatened and road closures are in effect. The fire is east of the community of Loyalton. Evacuation warnings have been issued in the area.

From the Tahoe National Forest:

The Elephant Fire ignited near Highway 49, northeast of Loyalton, Calif. near the Sierra and Plumas County line. It is burning primarily in grass with some snags, brush and timber. The fire is moving through the 2020 Loyalton Fire scar.

The U.S. Forest Service and allied agencies are responding aggressively during initial attack to slow the fire’s spread and increase containment.

Firefighters are using a combination of direct suppression tactics, including bulldozers to construct firelines where terrain and environmental conditions allow, while aircraft are strategically applying fire retardant and dropping buckets of water to slow fire spread in areas where it can be most effective. These coordinated efforts help support firefighters on the ground, protect nearby communities and natural resources, and improve opportunities to safely contain the fire.

EVACUATIONS

Lassen County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation Warning for Zone: LAS-451-A. View details on the Genasys Evacuation Map: https://protect.genasys.com/zones/US-CA-XLS-LAS-451-A

July 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM The fire was reported at 1:27 pm as a grass fire with a rapid rate of spread. Full wildland dispatch responding. At 2:45 pm, the fire was 60 acres. At 4:00 pm, the fire was 1,200 acres and 5% contained.