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Fire-Hurt Trees in Pollock Pines
Fire went through, and some trees are still standing. Call (530) 466-4059. A tree service from around Pollock Pines can come and size them up. That covers Pollock Pines, ZIP 95726, and the country around it.
Not sure if a tree is alive or dead? Good. That's a common question, and it's why you call.
Burned tree removal in Pollock Pines: that is the subject here. We book the day, and a tree service comes to handle burned tree removal in Pollock Pines.
The first step for burned tree removal in Pollock Pines
We answer calls about burned tree removal in Pollock Pines. We find one and set the day for burned tree removal. You choose after the price.
Why burned trees are a storm problem in Pollock Pines
People think of fire trees as a fire problem. In Pollock Pines, they're mostly a storm problem. A pine that burned and died is dry and brittle. A heavy snow or a hard wind can bring it down with no warning.
The ridge has lived through two big fires in recent years. The King Fire started September 13, 2014, near Pollock Pines. It burned 97,717 acres. Then came Caldor, which began on August 14, 2021, at Little Mountain, south of here. It burned 221,835 acres.
Three days after that fire began, on the 17th, people in Pollock Pines, Grizzly Flats, Somerset and around Sly Park Reservoir were told to go. More than 53,000 people were evacuated overall. In all, 1,005 buildings and other structures were lost. Most stood near Highway 50 or in Grizzly Flats.
It hit the lake area too. Pine trees and brush that once surrounded parts of Jenkinson Lake were destroyed in the fire.
Is the tree dead?
A tree with burned needles isn't always dead. Here's what the University of California's forestry newsletter says.
- Cambium is the thin layer just under the bark. When it's healthy it looks creamy white and damp. Cambium hurt by fire turns darker, or yellow, and feels dry.
- Bark that is black, cracked and peeling off the wood tells you the cambium has died.
- Dry boring dust with no pitch means the cambium is dead.
- A tree stripped of most needles may still recover when its cambium is whole.
- Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine may need until spring to show new needles.
Years may pass before the full toll of a fire shows, the same source adds. Trees that seemed to survive can still die. High, long-lasting heat on the roots can do it.
And hurt trees get weaker against bugs. The newsletter says that after a fire, injured trees can be more susceptible to insects and pathogens. That can finish off a tree that looked like it would make it.
You don't need to dig into the bark yourself. A tree company can check for you. But it helps to know why the answer isn't always quick.
What the work involves in Pollock Pines
Dead trees are different to work on. Burned wood can be rotten inside. It can break in odd ways while someone is climbing. Fixr says trees that are rotting are unsafe for anyone to climb.
So a tree service looks first, and picks a method. A crane can lift out sections without anyone going up the tree. For trees 80+ feet tall, Fixr says a crane may be needed, at roughly $1,500 to $2,500.
A smaller dead tree can be taken down in the usual way. The tree service will often drop it away from the house in one piece, or cut it in sections.
The wood is a pile of charcoal and dry rounds. It can be hauled off, or the crew you hire can cut it into rounds you can use. The Fire Safe Council program notes the same for its jobs. The wood stays on site. Contractors will cut logs into rounds on request and set them 30 feet from the house.
What it costs in Pollock Pines
These ranges come from published guides. They aren't quotes.
| What you need | You might pay |
|---|---|
| Taking out a dead one | $75 to $400 |
| Short (under 30 ft) | $150 to $400 |
| Mid-size (30-60 ft) | $450 to $700 |
| Tall (60-100 ft) | $900 to $1,200 |
| Giant (100 ft and up) | $1,300 to $2,000 |
| Crane work | $1,500 to $2,500 |
Where this comes from: the Fixr removal guide, read in November 2026.
Fixr says dead trees cost less to remove because they weigh less and some of the work may already be done. That holds for small ones. A big dead pine that needs a crane is a different story.
Many burned trees come in groups. If you have five or ten, ask for one price for the whole lot. A tree company who is already on site with the gear can often do better than five separate visits.
Help paying for it
One local group runs a program for hazardous trees: the Fire Safe Council of El Dorado County. A trained arborist checks trees within 100 feet of your primary home. The ones it covers are dead, dying, diseased or have an active beetle infestation. Its share reaches $4,000 for taking trees out and chipping them.
The homeowner pays 25%. A $4,000 job would cost you $1,000. Households that meet its low-income rule may not have to pay.
As of November 2026, the council had temporarily closed its application portal as it neared its funding capacity. It was waiting on more grant money. Ask them if it has reopened.
The council also runs free chipping for Western Slope homeowners, when grant money is available. You get two free services a year on a primary home, and each visit is six hours. The chipper handles material up to 7 inches across.
Why call us
Burned-tree jobs take a tree service who knows what they're looking at. We find folks who work on the ridge and have done this kind of job before.
We'll ask a few questions. How many trees? How close to the house? Is there a road or a line nearby? That helps the crew you hire show up with the right gear.
And we'll be honest if we hear a tree has a chance. Some do come back.
How it goes from here
- Note which trees look dead or hurt. Take photos.
- Keep people and cars out from under the worst ones.
- Call (530) 466-4059.
- We line up a tree service and pick a day.
- The tree service checks each tree and prices the whole job.
- The trees come down, and the wood gets hauled or cut into rounds.
Burned tree questions
It's been years since the fire. Is it still a risk?
It can be. Dead wood keeps drying out and cracking. A trunk tall enough to reach the house is worth a look.
Should I wait to see if it comes back?
Some pines take until spring to show new needles. A tree service can tell you if waiting makes sense, or if the tree is a risk right now.
What about the stump?
It stays unless you ask. Grinding is a separate job, billed per stump. The same cost guide shows $100 to $500.
Does it cost anything to call?
No. You pay nothing to call, and nothing to be matched with a tree company.
Thinking about burned tree removal in Pollock Pines? Call (530) 466-4059. We hand burned tree removal to a tree service that works in Pollock Pines.