Fire at a glance (numbers)

  • Incident Name: Hill, Iowa Hill
  • State: CA
  • Lead Agency: NEU
  • Size (acres): 13
  • Percent Contained: 95%
  • Estimate of Containment: September 8, 2022
  • Personnel: 60
  • Structures Destroyed: 0

Hill, Roach Hill off Iowa Hill Road in Placer County. Brush and timber, very steep terrain.

September 8, 2022 at 8:42 AM

No new information but road closures appear lifted on the PCSO map.

September 7, 2022 at 12:00 PM

Latest update shows 60% contained. Road closures:
Iowa Hill Road and Big Dipper Road
Sugar Pine Road at Foresthill Road Finning
Mill Road at Brimstone and Old Hollow Log.

September 6, 2022 at 1:38 PM

Tahoe Hotshot crew have been released from the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 11:43 AM

All aircraft with the exception of one helicopter are off the fire. Fire has been mapped at 11.46 acres, no spots outside the retardant lines. Forward progress stopped.

September 6, 2022 at 11:04 AM

Air Attack is releasing the TNF helicopter back to White Cloud.

September 6, 2022 at 11:01 AM

Road closure update:

Iowa Hill Rd at Big Dipper Rd: Iowa Hill Rd is closed at Big Dipper Rd
Finning Mill Rd at Brimstone and Old Hollow Log: Finning Mill Rd closed at Brimstone and Old Hollow Log
Finning Mill Rd at Andersons Rd: Finning Mill Rd closed at Andersons Rd
Andersons Rd at Foresthill Rd: Andersons Rd is closed at Foresthill Rd
Foresthill Rd at Sugar Pine: Foresthill Rd is closed at Sugar Pine Rd
Elliott Ranch Rd at Foresthill Rd: Elliott Ranch Rd is closed at Foresthill Rd

September 6, 2022 at 10:55 AM

Smoke from the fire is drifting over Placer and Nevada counties. There is no other active fire in the area at this time.

September 6, 2022 at 10:29 AM

Air Attack is canceling the order for the relief air attack – great work by ground and air resources making good progress.

September 6, 2022 at 10:22 AM

The spot weather forecast by the National Weather Service in Sacramento for the fire:

Mostly dry conditions are expected through this afternoon. Main concerns will be hot and dry conditions along with locally breezy winds along the ridgetop and upper foothills. Expect winds around 10 mph from the west with occasional gusts to 20 mph both today and tomorrow afternoons. Lighter, easterly winds expected overnight. Distance showers and thunderstorms are possible east of the Hill Wildfire today and tomorrow afternoons, primarily along the Sierra ridge. Any storms that do develop today will move northeast and storms that develop tomorrow will move east. Low confidence on any thunderstorm outflow winds reaching the Hill fire this afternoon. Slight chance for thunderstorm outflows to reach the Hill fire this evening, which could bring breezy easterly winds with gusts around 25 mph.

Sky/weather: Sunny.
Max temperature: 104-108.
Min humidity: 7-12 percent.
Wind (20 ft)
Slope/valley: West-southwest winds around 8-12 mph with gusts to around 20 mph in the afternoon.
Ridgetop: South around 12-18 mph.
Mixing height: 9500 ft AGL increasing to 12300 ft AGL late in the afternoon.
Transport winds: South around 12 mph.
CWR (chance of wetting rain) 0 percent.
LAL (lightning activity level) 1 (lowest).

September 6, 2022 at 10:10 AM

September 6, 2022 at 10:01 AM

September 6, 2022 at 9:53 AM

Hose and drink modules have arrived at the Sugar Pine boat ramp. Hydration is extremely important in the current weather conditions. Firefighters are encouraged to pre-hydrate and take regular breaks.

September 6, 2022 at 9:40 AM

Relief Air Attack requested for 11:00 am, AA 230 will need fuel.

September 6, 2022 at 9:35 AM

Four inbound dozers are not needed at this time, they will stage for now in Auburn at Station 10. IC is waiting on a spot weather forecast to determine if resources can be released or continue staging.

September 6, 2022 at 9:31 AM

Dozers have made good progress in cutting line, some of them staging at the Sugar Pine dam area.

September 6, 2022 at 9:17 AM

Contingency plans have been drawn up, Tahoe National Forest to stand up additional resources to assist.

September 6, 2022 at 9:08 AM

One strike team from BTU (Engines) and one dozer strike team from TCU are inbound to the fire. Two private dozers are to stage in Auburn, all others to continue in.

September 6, 2022 at 9:00 AM

ICP is being moved to the Colfax Station 30. Air Attack is releasing Tanker 89 from the load and hold at Grass Valley AAB. Tanker 88 is also off the fire. Helicopters continue to work hotspots.

September 6, 2022 at 8:59 AM

IC is requesting three falling modules to report to the Sugar Pine dam staging area.

September 6, 2022 at 8:58 AM

Some spotting reported at the head of the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 8:50 AM

Temperature in the area is now 87 F at the Seedorchard station (elevation 4,335 ft)

September 6, 2022 at 8:33 AM

Air Attack reports they are working with three helicopters, tankers have completed retardant lines. Tanker 89 is on a load and hold at the Grass Valley Air Attack Base. Tanker 88 remains over the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 8:21 AM

Unified command has a conference call at 8:30 am. Biggest concern is spotting and interior burning with the forecasted weather.

September 6, 2022 at 8:20 AM

Progress made by firefighters, assisted by air tankers, is slowing progress of the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 8:09 AM

Per PCSO: The following areas are under an Evacuation Order:
Giant Gap Campground
Big Reservoir Campground
Shirttail Creek Family Campground
Morning Star Lake Campground

Sugar Pine OHV area is now clear of recreationists.

Photo courtesy CAL FIRE NEU

September 6, 2022 at 8:07 AM

Helicopters will use the Sugar Pine Reservoir as a water source.

September 6, 2022 at 8:04 AM

Air Attack estimates the fire at 20-25 acres. Two additional helicopters requested.

September 6, 2022 at 7:59 AM

Significant amount of resources arriving at the incident. Fire is making a push on the left flank. Firefighters are making good progress with line construction on the right flank, continuing on the left flank with dozer and handlines.

September 6, 2022 at 7:58 AM

Additional dozers arriving on the incident. They’ll work in Division Charlie on the left flank of the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 7:52 AM

Tanker 88 is dropping across the head of the fire, the fire is estimated at 23 acres.

September 6, 2022 at 7:49 AM Air Attack placing an order for additional aircraft. Four campgrounds in the area are being evacuated. Shirttail Creek Family campground, the Manzanita Day Use area, Giant Gap campground and the Sugar Pine boat ramp.

September 6, 2022 at 7:47 AM

The fire in burning downhill into Indian Creek, west of Sugar Pine Reservoir.

September 6, 2022 at 7:40 AM

Some of the incoming resources will stage at the Sugar Pine dam near the boat ramp. Access is better via Foresthill Road. Iowa Hill Road is only suitable for Type 3 engines, larger engines cannot navigate the narrow, twisting road.

September 6, 2022 at 7:36 AM

Current weather conditions from the Foresthill Road station:
Temperature 79F
Humidity 29%
Wind North at 1-2 mph

September 6, 2022 at 7:31 AM

Tankers are starting to work the right flank. Iowa Hill Road is closed at Big Dipper Road. Foresthill Road is closed at Sugar Pine Road.

September 6, 2022 at 7:29 AM

September 6, 2022 at 7:26 AM

Tankers and Air Attack are arriving over the fire. Air Attack 230 estimates the fire at 20 acres.

September 6, 2022 at 7:12 AM

CHP Helicopter H24 is over the fire, Air Attack and tankers have an early up. The Sugar Pine boat ramp and the campground are being evacuated now.

September 6, 2022 at 6:55 AM

IC is requesting the evacuation of the Sugar Pine campground and all surrounding campgrounds. Firefighters access the fire from the 10 Road. 4 strike teams requested. Winds are expected to change to the southeast once the sun comes up and starts hitting the fire.

September 6, 2022 at 6:53 AM

The fire is slightly north/northwest of Sugar Pine Reservoir.

September 6, 2022 at 6:52 AM

Slow to moderate rate of spread now, moving downslope in a northerly direction. 5-10 acres.

September 6, 2022 at 6:45 AM

Hill IC states with the weather forecast they will go full bore this morning to attempt and contain this fire as fast as possible. Ordering a total of 8 water tenders.

September 6, 2022 at 6:43 AM

First unit at scene reports 10+ acres, in brush and timber. Burning at a slow rate of spread for now.

September 6, 2022 at 6:39 AM

Command post will be set up in Colfax at the Red Frog. Unified command with PCSO.

September 6, 2022 at 6:27 AM

CHP Helicopter lifting within the next 10 minutes, early up for all aircraft requested. Expect road closures and evacuations in the Iowa Hill area shortly.

September 6, 2022 at 6:23 AM

Augmented dispatch for this fire now.

September 6, 2022 at 6:09 AM

Reported vegetation fire in the area of Roach Hill and Iowa Hill Road in Placer County, units dispatched.

Hill Fire