Wildfire near Colfax burns homes, triggers 6,600 evacuations in Placer, Nevada counties

At least several homes have burned in a wildfire that sparked Wednesday and spread rapidly near Colfax. The blaze prompted authorities to issue several evacuation orders in Placer and Nevada counties.

Thursday’s Update: River Fire burns at least 50 structures, is 0% contained

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said the River Fire has prompted a mandatory evacuation for the Bear River Campground and a closure of Highway 174. Heavy plumes of smoke from the fire can be seen in Sacramento, about 45 miles southwest of the blaze.

The blaze ballooned to 1,400 acres a little before 7:30 p.m., according to the Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit. It is threatening structures east of Dog Bar Road, according to a social media post from the Nevada County Office of Emergency Services.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, an estimated 35 to 40 structures were damaged by the fire, said Cal Fire Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit Deputy Chief Jim Hudson at a briefing.

Hudson told reporters approximately 4,000 structures are threatened, half of which are in Colfax, and the fire has progressed to the area of Mount Olive Road in Nevada County.

Lt. Nelson Resendes, spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, estimated about 2,400 people were under an evacuation order in Placer County. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said about 4,200 people were under an evacuation order or warning in Nevada County.

Two overnight shelters at Bear River High School and Auburn Regional Park would be open by 8 p.m, officials with the American Red Cross said in a social media post.

Evacuation orders were issued in Placer County for both sides of Milk Ranch Road to Tokyana Road, Marhaven Way, Placer Hills Road, Ben Taylor Road and Hillcrest Boulevard. Orders are also in place for areas west of the railroad tracks to the river and from Mt. Howell Road north to Rollins Lake. High-low sirens were also sounded by authorities in the area. Lt. Nelson Resendes, sheriff’s office PIO

Placer deputies said in a Facebook post a little after 6:30 p.m. that an evacuation order is in place for the town of Colfax.

“Gather your essentials and leave the area safely,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. Authorities added additional areas were subject to evacuation warnings — those residents would be notified directly, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Thursday’s Update: River Fire burns at least 50 structures, is 0% contained

Officials in neighboring Nevada County issued evacuation orders for the following areas:

• Sierra Knoll Estates; Dog Bar (South): North of Retherford Road; Sierra Knoll Estates and east; south of Taylor Crossing Road, west of the Bear River (County Line)
• Mount Olive (Eastern): North and south Mount Olive Road, west of Highway 174, north of Bear River, east of Mount Olive including Rolphholm Road and Clydesdale Road.

• Dog Bar Road (Central); Mount Olive Road (Western): north of Buck Ridge Road; Dog Bar Road and east; south of Rattlesnake and Birch Meadow Acres; west of Clydesdale Road.

• Orchard Springs and Bear River Pines: south of Greenhorn Access Road, west of Rollins Lake, north of Bear River and east of Highway 174.

• All of and north of Old Coach Way, east of Woodpecker Ravine and south and west of Lower Colfax Road

• East side of Colfax Highway south of Bertino Road, west side of Lower Colfax Road, south of Panorama Drive and north of the Chicago Park Post Office

More areas in Nevada County are under evacuation warnings: NCO-E192, NCO-E181, NCO-E187, and NCO-E179, authorities said. Residents are urged to check the evacuation zones at https://community.zonehaven.com.

Highway 174 is also closed at Orchard Springs Road due to the fire, Caltrans said in a social media post a little after 3 p.m. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes such as Highway 49 and 20 as well as Interstate 80.

Closures are also in place at Highway 174 at Lower Colfax Road and Bear River Bridge, I-80 eastbound and westbound on- and off-ramps at the Highway 174 separation and Canyon Way/Placer Hills Road, according to a social media post from Caltrans a little after 5 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol said motorists should exit the area using Placer Hills Road south and and I-80.

A temporary evacuation point has been set up at Bear River High School, 11130 Magnolia Road, Grass Valley. Officials said the Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley, are open for animals.

Residents with pets can also go to the Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 100 East St., Auburn. Beginning at 5 p.m., the Gold Country Fairgrounds, 209 Fairgate Road, will be open, but officials said pets would not be accepted there.

For those heading north, Nevada Union High School, 11761 Ridge Rd., Grass Valley, is also open as a temporary evacuation point.

The National Weather Service had a red flag warning in place Wednesday. The warning extends through 8 p.m. Thursday.

Around 2:30 p.m., crews received a phone call that there was a vegetation fire at the Bear River Campground along the river, according to Cal Fire NEU spokeswoman Mary Eldridge.

Eldridge said firefighters immediately began evacuating campers that were down at the river, including several homes on the two-lane road to the campground. There were no immediate reports of injuries or structures damaged, she said.

According to Eldridge, the fire was spreading on both sides of the Bear River, and the lack of moisture in the vegetation is only adding to the problem.

Jimmy Beall, an employee at Marval’s Sierra Market, a grocery store in Colfax, said smoke from the fire moved around quickly, but the wind was pushing it away from the town around 6 p.m. He added that residents were shopping and leaving the area, heading to safer areas with family members.

Randy Brock, owner of Red Frog, a bar and grill, said he can see the smoke out of the patio in Colfax. He said he’s not leaving the area, and the winds are moving the smoke to the other side of the Bear River.

Brock is actively listening to the radio for updates, and he said friends are calling to check in on the situation regarding the fire.

“The winds are all blowing in the opposite way, so it looks like we dodged a bullet,” Brock said.

This story was originally published August 4, 2021 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Wildfire near Colfax burns homes, triggers 6,600 evacuations in Placer, Nevada counties."