California wildfire update: Gann fire 90% contained as Bug fire grows to 16,680 acres

Darrell Smith, The Sacramento Bee on Aug 11, 2026

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Firefighters have largely contained Calaveras County’s deadly Gann fire and the Hawk fire burning in El Dorado County, but crews continue to battle the fast-moving Bug fire on the California-Nevada line and the stubborn Timber fire near Big Sur.

Here’s where California’s major fires were burning Tuesday:

Gann fire

Evacuations have been lifted on the Gann fire, now 90% contained. The 10,339-acre fire ignited Aug. 3 near Valley Springs, about 60 miles southeast of Sacramento. The wildfire claimed the life of a woman found dead at her home near Angels Camp, injured a firefighter, destroyed 48 structures and damaged five buildings, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.

More than 1,500 firefighters remain assigned to the fire, down from 3,100 at its peak. Evacuation orders and traffic controls were lifted as of 5 p.m. Monday. Crews on Tuesday mostly mopped up and removed berms and fire breaks erected during firefighting efforts, Cal Fire officials said.

Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, of Valley Springs, was arrested Aug. 3, in connection with the wildfire on suspicion of recklessly causing a fire to structures and forest land, operating equipment that could cause sparks in vegetation, and allowing fire to escape and spread beyond a person’s control. He remains free on bond.

Bug fire

The fast-moving Bug fire burned in Lassen and Sierra counties, started Saturday east of Highway 395 and south of Bringman Road in Lassen County before sweeping across the state line into Nevada’s Washoe County, threatening homes there and forcing residents to flee.

The fire has burned 16,680 acres and was only 3% contained, as of Tuesday morning, according to the federal Bureau of Land Management. More than 250 firefighters are battling the wildfire burning in sagebrush and timber in hot, dry, and unstable conditions. Crews were expected to cut fire lines on the north, south, and, on the northeast flank of the fire, near where the Fred Mountain fire, and a third, the Stallion fire, is burning north of Reno.

Evacuation zones and order areas for the three fires merged overnight, according to the Reno Gazette Journal, extending from the California-Nevada state line to southwest of Pyramid Lake in Nevada.

Hawk fire

The 45-acre Hawk fire just north of Fairplay in El Dorado County is 50% contained, said Cal Fire. The fire started about 2:15 p.m. Monday near Hawk Haven Lane and Perry Creek Road, triggering brief evacuations before orders were lifted Monday evening.

Crews remained at the scene Tuesday tending to hot spots, shoring up containment lines and monitoring the area for fire activity, said Cal Fire officials in a morning update.

Timber fire

Monterey County’s Timber fire burning near Big Sur has blackened nearly 2,500 acres since its start Monday afternoon and is 5% contained. The fire forced immediate evacuations Monday in Big Sur as firefighters worked to build fire lines along the Highway 1 corridor, said the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire burned slowly overnight in difficult terrain for fire crews as aircraft attacked the flames from the air. Crews on Tuesday protected structures along Highway 1, including the Ventana area, as the fire continued to stay to the east side of Highway 1, said Forest Service officials.

All state parks in the Big Sur area are closed due to the Timber fire, according to Monterey County and California State Parks.

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