Tamarack Fire near Markleeville, CA explodes to 21,000 acres, destroys at least two homes.

A once-smoldering wildfire exploded to life, growing to 21,000 acres Saturday and sending a wall of wind-whipped flames toward the evacuated Sierra community of Markleeville. The Tamarack Fire started on the Fourth of July due to lightning strikes, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The agency said it had been monitoring the blaze daily before it blew up Friday. The rapidly-growing wildfire forced the cancellation of the “Death Ride,” an extreme bike ride through the Sierra Nevada. Evacuations were in place for Markleeville, Grover’s Hot Springs Park and Campground, Shay Creek, Markleeville Village and East Fork Resort. On Saturday afternoon, the fire’s rapid advance forced additional evacuations or Alpine Village and Woodfords areas. “This evening firefighters will continue to actively suppress the fire where they can do so safely,” Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest officials said. “Utilizing a variety of tactics, national barriers and targets of opportunity.” Fueled by extremely dry conditions, the fire —