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Tree Removal in Grizzly Flats
Burned or dead trees in Grizzly Flats? Call (530) 454-8845. We'll match you with a pro who works on burn-damaged land and book a visit.
Grizzly Flats is about 9 miles south of Pollock Pines in a straight line. It sits at 3,868 feet, and 1,093 people lived there at the 2020 census.
Call (530) 454-8845or use the short estimate form
A town that has burned before
Grizzly Flats began as a gold mining camp in the 1850s. Fires in 1866 and 1869 destroyed most of the old settlement.
Then came 2021. On August 17, the Caldor Fire destroyed around 500 buildings in and near Grizzly Flats. The mandatory evacuation order was lifted on September 6.
Across the whole Caldor Fire, 1,005 structures were destroyed and 81 damaged, mostly in the Highway 50 corridor and in Grizzly Flats. So when we say a lot of trees are hurt here, we mean it.
Burned trees years later
Fire damage doesn't always show right away. Here's what to look for years after a fire:
- Dead trees still standing, bare and gray.
- Trees with scorched bark that never leafed out.
- Leaning trunks, because the roots rotted underground.
- Limbs that drop in wind or snow.
- Big snags near rebuilt homes.
If you're rebuilding, you may have a new house next to old burned trees. That's a risk worth fixing early. Read our burned tree removal page.
Local help
The Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council has a page listing Caldor Fire resources, with local, state and national links. It also lists programs for defensible space, public education and volunteers.
The county Fire Safe Council's cost-share hazardous tree program is for dead and dying trees. Its share goes as high as $4,000 for removal and chipping. You pay 25%. A TRAQ arborist checks your trees first for free. The portal is closed for now while grant money is nearly used up.
Rebuilding with defensible space
If you're building new, plan the trees. For rebuilders, county Ordinance No. 5186 sets the defensible space rule, with a focus on the first 100 feet. Leave space between trees. Limb up the ones you keep. Keep dead material away from the house.
Snow and steep roads
At 3,868 feet, Grizzly Flats gets snow. Steep roads and snow make access tough. Book work early in fall when roads are clear. Tell the pro about gates, grades and any tight turns.
What it costs
| What | Usual price | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| Short tree, to 30 ft | $150 to $450 | This Old House |
| Tall, 60 to 80 ft | $800 to $1,500 | This Old House |
| Any pine | $250 to $1,500 | This Old House |
| Diseased tree | $400 to $900 | Fixr |
| With a crane | $1,500 to $2,500 | Fixr |
Prices above come from This Old House (March 2026) and Fixr (January 2025). They are national numbers, not quotes.
Planning a rebuild lot
Walt Tyler Elementary School and two post offices, the 1850s original and the newer one, were among the losses. If you're clearing a lot to rebuild, do the tree work in this order:
- Take down dead and leaning trees first.
- Have the stumps ground.
- Chip or haul the debris.
- Call 811 before any digging.
- Plant new trees well away from the house.
That order keeps the builders safe and the new house clean.
Grizzly Flats questions
Are you able to help after a fire?
We find pros who work on fire-damaged trees. We don't handle rebuilding or insurance.
Can burned trees stay?
Some can, if they are far from buildings and roads. Near the house, a pro should check them.
How close is Grizzly Flats to Pollock Pines?
About 9 miles in a straight line to the south.
Should I take down a tree before I rebuild?
Dead and leaning ones, yes. Do that first, before the builders arrive, so nobody works under a risky tree.
Nearby
See Somerset, Pino Grande and Pollock Pines. For beetles after a burn, read beetle-killed tree removal.