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Tree Service in Grizzly Flats
Rebuilding or living in Grizzly Flats, 95636? We cover you. Call (530) 429-7647 and we'll find a local tree pro who knows burned ground and is willing to drive up.
Got a tree the fire left behind? Dead and burned trees are a big part of what we help with.
After the Caldor Fire
On August 17, 2021, the Caldor Fire burned through Grizzly Flats. It destroyed around 500 buildings in and near town. The old 1850s post office, the newer post office and Walt Tyler Elementary School were all lost. The fire started just south of town, and the evacuation order wasn't lifted until September 6.
The town had about 1,093 people in the 2020 census, the year before the fire.
And the trees are still a problem. Some burned trees died right away and are standing dead now. Others got hurt and are dying slowly. UC experts say it can take several years to know the full damage to a burned tree.
Burned trees and rebuilding
If you're building again, the trees around the lot matter a lot. A dead snag next to a new house is a risk in every windstorm. It's fuel in the next fire, too.
A pro sorts them out with questions like these:
- Is the bark black, cracked and pulling off the wood? UC says the living layer under it is likely dead.
- Is there fine dry sawdust and no sap? That points to dead tissue too.
- Is it an oak? Oaks can sprout back even after a hot fire.
- Is it a ponderosa pine with green buds? Waiting until spring for new needles may tell you more.
- What could it hit? A tree over the build site or the road out goes to the top of the list.
The county cleared burned trees along county roads. Trees on your own land are yours. The Fire Safe Council's hazard tree program can help with trees within 100 feet of a home when it's open.
High up, with snow
Grizzly Flats sits at about 3,868 feet, near Baltic Peak. That's snow country. Wet snow on fire-weakened trees is a bad mix. Burned limbs break easier under the weight.
The place has seen fire before. Fires in 1866 and 1869 burned most of the old town too. And this town has always been tied to Diamond Springs. A stagecoach line ran between the two back in 1855.
Costs for burned trees
Dead trees can be cheaper to take down. One guide puts it at $75 to $400. But a badly burned tree may be too risky to climb, so it may need a crane. That runs $1,500 to $2,500.
The Fire Safe Council program, when funded, pays up to $4,000 of removal and chipping. You pay a 25% share unless your income qualifies you to skip it.
How soon
It's a drive up for most pros, so it can take longer than in town. For a dead tree leaning at a house or blocking your road, we'll push to get someone out faster.
Grizzly Flats questions
My trees made it through Caldor. Are they safe now?
Not always. Trees can die years after a fire. Have a pro check any big tree near the house.
Should I take out every burned oak?
No. Many oaks sprout back from the base. A pro can tell which ones are worth waiting on.
Will someone drive up to Grizzly Flats?
Yes. Call (530) 429-7647 and give us the name of your road. We'll find a pro who works up here.