Elephant Fire Near Loyalton Grows to Over 6,400 Acres, Evacuation Orders in Place

A fierce blaze known as the Elephant Fire has erupted into a sprawling 6,436‑acre inferno east of Loyalton in Sierra County, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire ignited just after 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, in the Tahoe National Forest near the Sierra–Plumas county line and is still only 5 percent contained.

Fire crews are battling the flames on the ground with bulldozers that cut fire lines wherever the rugged terrain allows. Meanwhile, aircraft are dropping fire retardant and water buckets in a coordinated effort to slow the blaze’s advance. The U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire have teamed up with the Loyalton Fire Department and other agencies to mount a comprehensive response.

Evacuation orders are in effect for residents in Lassen County’s LAS‑451‑A zone, which includes Highway 49 and Dotta Lane. Additional evacuation warnings cover zones PLU‑114 and LAS‑671‑B. A live evacuation map is posted online for residents and visitors to stay up‑to‑date.

The fire’s size has grown steadily over the past two days. At 4:30 p.m. on July 11, Cal Fire’s incident page listed 2,157 acres burned; by 6:30 p.m., that figure had risen to 2,300 acres, with containment still at 5 percent. The U.S. Forest Service noted the blaze had started near Highway 49, northeast of Loyalton, and was moving through the former Loyalton Fire scar.

By the afternoon of July 12, the fire had expanded to 4,400 acres, according to Truckee Meadows Fire Protection, which added air‑attack resources as the blaze pushed eastward over ridge tops. Overnight, the acreage increased to 4,484 acres, with no significant growth reported by Truckee Meadows officials. By 9:35 p.m. that same evening, the U.S. Forest Service reported the fire had reached 6,436 acres, still with 5 percent containment.

The rapid expansion has raised concerns about smoke drift. Truckee Meadows residents are warned that smoke will continue to drift into the area today. The fire’s proximity to the 2020 Loyalton Fire scar means the vegetation has already been burned, potentially altering fire behavior and fuel loads.

The Elephant Fire is one of several incidents fueling California’s 2026 wildfire season, which has seen elevated risk levels across the state. The National Interagency Fire Center reports an active early season, with several large fires in the Sierra Nevada and inland zones. In Sierra County, the blaze’s location in the Tahoe National Forest places it near popular recreation areas and residential communities, heightening the urgency of containment.

Cal Fire’s incident page lists the fire as a Cal Fire incident, but the U.S. Forest Service indicates it is not. The incident is managed jointly by federal and state agencies, with Cal Fire providing ground crews and the U.S. Forest Service overseeing aerial support and overall incident management. Officials have not yet projected a containment timeline.

Residents in the affected zones are urged to heed evacuation orders and stay informed through the live evacuation map and local news outlets. The U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire continue to monitor weather conditions, noting that cooler temperatures and cloud cover could moderate fire behavior. However, the low containment rate suggests the fire remains active and poses a threat to structures and infrastructure.

The Elephant Fire’s trajectory underscores the challenges California faces during its wildfire season. As the state grapples with high fire risk, agencies are deploying additional resources—bulldozers, aircraft, and ground crews—to protect communities and natural resources. The fire’s impact on the Tahoe National Forest and surrounding communities will be closely watched as containment efforts persist.