SIERRA COUNTY — Today, the Sierra County Board of Supervisors ratified Officer of Emergency Services (OES) Director Mike Fisher’s Declaration of a Local Emergency regarding the Sierra Brooks Bear Fire. Although the declaration was made last Tuesday, the Board must ratify such a decision within seven days.

Sheriff and OES Director Fisher presented the declaration, taking the opportunity to thank the many agencies and people involved in fighting the fire, assisting in evacuations, and keeping the community safe. Although not fully contained, the footprint of the fire has not changed since last week, remaining at a total area of 3,325 acres.

Fisher first thanked the initial responders, the US Forest Service and Loyalton Fire. Next came prepositioned units from the Downieville and Pike Fire Departments. Beckwourth Fire Department and Cal Fire joined shortly for initial attack operations. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire joined in unified command within an hour and a half of ignition. Fisher said he “cannot speak highly enough” of his deputies and thanked Sierra County Probation for help with evacuations, road closures, and patrols.

Law enforcement cooperation across counties began Monday night when Plumas County Deputies were sent to assist. Official mutual aid requests were completed the following morning, bringing in the Truckee Police Department, Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, and Paradise Police Department, all contributing 12-hour shifts to keep neighborhoods safe and roads closed.

Fisher thanked several people by name, including Zach Stockdale, Joe Griffin, and Curtis Coots for the Forest Service, Cal Fire Assistant Chief Bob Counts, and Sarah Murdock from California OES. He also thanked Sierra County OES coordinator LeTina Vanetti for a “phenomenal” job.

Supervisor Paul Roen concurred with Fisher that all did a good job, considering such extreme circumstances at the fire’s onset. Supervisor Sharon Dryden, representing the evacuated Sierra Brooks region, thanked Fisher for an organized and professional evacuation, saying there was “great appreciation from everyone here in Sierra Brooks.”

A follow-up is expected to be presented to the Board once costs to the county are determined. Mop-up and repair operations are ongoing, but all evacuation orders and warnings have been dropped except for the area within the fire’s footprint. Containment is now 45%.