August 13, 2019 – Over the weekend, fire resources from American River, Yuba River, and Truckee Ranger District were busy responding to 5 human-caused wildfires which remained small in size thanks to quick containment by Tahoe National Forest (TNF) firefighters.
Yesterday, on the east side of the forest, Joe Griffin, the Duty Officer for Truckee and Sierraville Ranger Districts (Battalion 71) answered two after-hours fire calls and mobilized a TNF fire response.
At 3:30 am on Monday, Aug. 12th, Battalion 71 responded to the Emigrant Fire, located near Emigrant Campground at Stampede Reservoir.
Griffin arrived on-scene and constructed containment line to slow the fire’s spread until additional resources arrived from Truckee. Those included Engine 371, Truckee Patrols, and a cover crew from Arizona, the Geronimo Hotshots.
A medical aid was also dispatched nearby at Captain Robert’s Boat Ramp and the Geronimo Hotshots secured the fire so that Engine 371 could locate and assist the person in need. The Emigrant Fire was contained at 0.3 acres and will continue to be patrolled.
That same evening around 9:00 pm, Battalion 71 received a call from Babbitt Lookout reporting a vehicle on fire at the intersection of County Rd. 450 (Smithneck Canyon Rd.) and Henness Pass Road.
Griffin alerted two Sierra County deputies and Sierraville Ranger District Engine 62. Engine 62 knocked down the flames and mopped the vehicle fire up, also extinguishing a small spot fire in the vegetation. Units stayed on-scene into the early morning when the vehicle was towed away and the vegetation fire called out.
Story by Meredith Anello, eastside fire prevention technician.