The fire department was paged out at 10:27 AM on Saturday morning to the report of a structure fire, with several structures. Loyalton Fire was first on scene with Engine #15 within minutes, followed shortly by Engine #12 and later engine Brush #10 with approximately nine personnel. The Incident Commander was Loyalton Division Fire Chief John Evans. Mutual aid was requested at time of dispatch and the following departments provided that mutual aid: USFS Engine #61 from Sierraville Ranger Station, USFS Engine #62 from Lewis Mills on Smithneck Road and USFS Battalion Chief #61 Shawn Burt from Sierraville Ranger Station. Sierra County Fire Protection District #1 responded with an engine and a water tender. Sierra Valley Fire from Chilcoot provided an engine and Beckwourth Fire responded with two apparatus. Cal Fire responded two Prevention/Arson Investigation Officers and an engine from the Martis Peak area south of Truckee. Also early on scene was the Sierra County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol to assist with scene control and possible evacuations, which eventually were not necessary. The Loyalton Ambulance Medic #1 from Eastern Plumas Health Care arrived to stand-by for any possible emergency medical needs. The City of Loyalton later provided a long-reach back hoe and city worker/operator to assist with the mop-up process moving heavy debris on site to allow fire department better access and to ensure the fire was out. Also, a Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative lineman from Portola responded as mutual aid for Nevada Energy Company, which was a delayed response, to disconnect a power line down in the street.
Loyalton Engine #15 and the two USFS Engines #61 and #62 knocked the fire down within twenty minutes and controlled the fire spread to the existing property at 11 Zollinger Street between Church and Jones Streets, which was a long-time vacant single story wood residence built approximately in the 1930's and uninhabited for decades. The single city lot had several moderate sized trees and over-grown vegetation consisting of tall grass and brush surrounding the structure. The fire was contained to the primary lot with no damage to adjoining residences. Fortunately there was little to no wind at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Sierra County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Fire and Forestry, Truckee Area Office. The start is considered suspicious due to the property being unoccupied for many years. There were no reported injuries or loss or damage to fire apparatus/equipment. The tall flames and black smoke plume drew many local residents and the current property owners later arrived on scene and were of the incident. Residents on several sides adjoining the property were repeatedly verbally grateful to fire fighting personnel for protecting their homes and for the rapid response and knock down/control effected by the Loyalton Fire Department volunteers and mutual aid personnel. The Loyalton Fire Department is very thankful to the other local area agencies, both paid and volunteer, who responded to help with this structure fire in the center of our city. We are thankful no one was hurt and the damage was limited to the original structure and vegetation.
Loyalton Engine #15 and the two USFS Engines #61 and #62 knocked the fire down within twenty minutes and controlled the fire spread to the existing property at 11 Zollinger Street between Church and Jones Streets, which was a long-time vacant single story wood residence built approximately in the 1930's and uninhabited for decades. The single city lot had several moderate sized trees and over-grown vegetation consisting of tall grass and brush surrounding the structure. The fire was contained to the primary lot with no damage to adjoining residences. Fortunately there was little to no wind at the time of the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Sierra County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Fire and Forestry, Truckee Area Office. The start is considered suspicious due to the property being unoccupied for many years. There were no reported injuries or loss or damage to fire apparatus/equipment. The tall flames and black smoke plume drew many local residents and the current property owners later arrived on scene and were of the incident. Residents on several sides adjoining the property were repeatedly verbally grateful to fire fighting personnel for protecting their homes and for the rapid response and knock down/control effected by the Loyalton Fire Department volunteers and mutual aid personnel. The Loyalton Fire Department is very thankful to the other local area agencies, both paid and volunteer, who responded to help with this structure fire in the center of our city. We are thankful no one was hurt and the damage was limited to the original structure and vegetation.
