ELEPHANT Fire (CA)

Active · 5% contained · 2,300 acres · started 2026-07-11 · updated 2026-07-12

True color Fire (SWIR)

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True color (left): as the eye sees it.
Infrared / SWIR (right): sees through smoke.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 red/brown = burned
🟠 orange = active fire

Imagery: Sentinel-2 (Copernicus). Drag to compare smoke vs. infrared.

Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).

The active ELEPHANT Fire, currently managed as a Type 3 Incident, ignited on July 11, 2026, approximately two miles northeast of Loyalton in Plumas County, California. The blaze has consumed 2,300 acres of private land, fueled primarily by 2.5-foot tall grass, and is exhibiting active fire behavior.

As of the latest report, the fire is 5 percent contained. With a Type 3 Incident Commander overseeing operations, the total cost to date has reached $1,000,000.