Characterizing ground and surface fuels across Sierra Nevada forests shortly after the 2012–2016 drought

•The 2012–2016 California drought caused massive tree mortality throughout Sierra Nevada forests.•Ground (duff) and surface fuels were measured across a large plot network.•Heavy duff and surface fuel loads were common (138.2 ± 21.7 Mg ha−1, Mean ± 95 % CI).•Overstory metrics were weakly correlated with duff and surface fuel loads.•Higher fuel loads tended to occur in plots with no record of disturbance.