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Tree Removal in Grizzly Flats
Yes, we cover Grizzly Flats. Call us now at (530) 423-3128. We'll get someone local headed up the hill to look at your burned or dead trees.
If you're rebuilding, tell us. Clearing before a build is its own kind of job.
What the Caldor Fire did here
Grizzly Flats took the worst of it. It was August 14, 2021, when the Caldor Fire broke out, about four miles south of town. In the early morning of August 17 it reached Grizzly Flats.
That day it destroyed about 500 buildings in and near the community. That included both post offices and Walt Tyler Elementary School. Two-thirds of the community was gone. People couldn't go home until the order was lifted on September 6.
If burned trees are still standing on your lot, they deserve a hard look. Some die fast after a fire, and some take a while.
Burned trees: what to check
A tree that looks half alive after a fire can still be dangerous. Walk your lot and check:
- Black char that goes all the way around the base of the trunk.
- Bark that's burned through, so you see dry wood underneath.
- A crown that's brown or bare, even though the bark looks OK.
- Pitch tubes or boring dust on fire-weakened pines. Beetles go after stressed trees.
- Trees leaning toward the house, the road or the power drop.
UC IPM says a beetle-hit tree can die in one season and start dropping limbs. Fire-stressed pines are exactly the kind beetles look for.
High-country trees and weather
Grizzly Flats sits at 3,868 feet, near Baltic Peak to the northwest. The weather service puts it in its higher Sierra zone, for land between 3,000 and 5,000 feet along Highway 50. That's a different zone from Diamond Springs.
Higher ground means a better chance of snow. A dead tree doesn't handle that extra weight well.
The town has always lived with fire. Back in 1866 and 1869, fires burned most of the old settlement. It was named in 1850, when prospectors got surprised by a grizzly bear. By 1855 a stage line ran from here to Diamond Springs.
What burned tree removal costs
Burned trees are hard to price from a photo. The wood can be brittle, and a pro may not be able to climb it. HomeGuide says dead trees often cost more to take down because of that risk.
For tall pines over 80 feet, HomeGuide lists $1,200 to $2,500 and up. If a crane is needed, Angi puts it at about $500 a day.
Lots of burned trees on one lot? Clearing may go by the acre. HomeGuide's heavy clearing range is $4,500 to $8,000 an acre.
And ask about the wood. Burned pine piles next to green trees can draw beetles, so chip it or haul it.
Grizzly Flats questions
My pine survived the fire but now it's turning brown. Why?
Fire stresses a tree, and stressed pines are what bark beetles go after. If the whole crown is fading, UC IPM says it's dead. Get it looked at.
Is Grizzly Flats too far up for you?
No. Grizzly Flats is in our area. Ring (530) 423-3128 with your street name.
Who covers fire service up here?
The Pioneer Fire Protection District covers this part of the county. They also ask you to call the burn line right before burning, even in winter.
I'm rebuilding. Should the trees come out first?
Usually it's easier before framing starts. Get your builder and the tree pro talking early.
Nearby towns
See Somerset, Mount Aukum, Pollock Pines and Diamond Springs. For burned and beetle trees, read dead tree removal. Or see all our towns.