Tamarack Fire may be slowing down

The Tamarack Fire may finally be laying down as residents evacuated from the more than 100-square-mile blaze begin to return home.

NVEnergy has whittled the number of homes and businesses without electricity due to the Tamarack down to 205 this morning, with an 8:45 a.m. estimate on full restoration, according to nvenergy.com

Highway 395 opened between Bodie Flat and Holbrook at 6 a.m. today.

Evacuations are still in place for the corridor that includes Double Spring Flat, Spring Valley and Holbrook. Douglas County said it’s possible that residents of that area could return to their homes today, depending on the fire.

Over the weekend, deputies responded to a couple of calls that curious people were wandering around properties on Penrod Lane in Holbrook.

Hot spots are down to a few on the far southern flank of the fire near the old Washington burn and on the western flank in the wilderness.

Some flames were visible early this morning from the Hawkins Peak Camera, but the Bald Mountain camera showed the fire was relatively quiet over night.

The fire was first reported July 4 near Blue Lakes Road and had smoldered to a quarter-acre by July 10. On July 16, it took off, sending a huge smoke plume into the air as firefighters rushed to Markleeville to save the historic Alpine County town. Residents were evacuated first to Woodfords, and as the fire overtook that area, to the Douglas County Community and Senior Center in Gardnerville.

After six days of burning essentially out of control, the fire crossed into Nevada, where it threatened homes along the Highway 395 corridor and prompted authorities to advise the roughly 1,600 residents of Topaz Ranch Estates to evacuate.