What is the name and location of the wildfire?

The Bear Fire is an active fire burning in Sierra County, California, in the Tahoe National Forest near the community of Sierra Brooks (1)(2). The 3,000 acre fire is at 0% containment and is impacting air quality across the region.

Which cities or areas are affected by the wildfire?

The areas directly impacted by the Bear Fire include the community of Sierra Brooks and nearby regions in Sierra County. The fire is south of Loyalton, and smoke from the fire is visible as far as the Truckee Meadows and Fernley (3).

Wildfire smoke has impacted air quality in several nearby cities, including:

• Carson City, Nevada
• Reno, Nevada
• Truckee, California

What is the current containment status of the wildfire?

As of the latest reports, the Bear Fire remains 0% contained despite efforts by fire crews. The fire has grown to approximately 3,000 acres.

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

There are mandatory evacuation orders in place for several zones in the Sierra Brooks area, including SIE-E030, SIE-031 and SIE-E032. The evacuation is in effect for more than 500 residents (4). Multiple areas around these zones are under evacuation warnings, and residents are advised to follow instructions from local authorities.

How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?

Always plan ahead to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter wildfire smoke.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.