Monday briefing: Dixie Fire 'very active' overnight, swells to 910,495 acres, 57 percent contained
Firefighting efforts continue along the lines of the Dixie Fire near Susanville, which was mapped Monday morning at 910,495 acres and is 57 percent contained.
The southeastern part of the Dixie Fire continues to produce extreme fire behavior daily, spreading south and east in very dry and receptive fuels. Smoke is expected to linger in the valleys, with hot, dry, and breezy weather persisting for the next few days, according to Cal Fire in a Monday morning briefing.
The fire was "very active" overnight in the Ross Canyon Area north of Dixie Valley, threatening structures and challenging firefighters, according to Cal Fire. On Monday, firefighters will assess damaged structures on the north end of Dixie Valley. Hand and engine crews on the night shift strengthened containment lines, searched for spot fires around structures, and used water to extinguish the spots and cool down hot areas.
The following is from the Cal Fire report:
To the east, fire in the Dixie Mountain State Game Refuge burned into the Sugar Fire scar. Strong west winds Sunday afternoon and evening pushed more fire off the escarpment above Highway 395 south of Milford, and fire backed down to containment lines at the base of the slope in a couple areas, where crews from both the West and East Zones worked together to contain it.
Containment lines in the Coyote Hills area and on Turner and Grizzly Ridges held in place as crews used water to secure and reinforce the lines and cool interior hot spots. In the Devil’s Punchbowl area, south of Taylorsville, moderate fire behavior increases during the heat of the day.
Crews will continue to closely monitor the activity and continue to cool it down with helicopter water drops. Structure protection continued overnight and will continue again today in the Dixie Valley, Beckwourth, Clover Valley, Portola, Greenhorn, Cromberg, Genesee, and Taylorsville.
Dixie Fire West Zone: The fire continues to burn out in the heavy material and was moderated by smoke settling over the fire area. Active fire was limited to ground fuels consisting of backing and flanking fire. Interior pockets continued to burn through the night well inside the fire perimeter. The diminishing humidity recovery aided in consumption of heavier fuels. Resources continue to use all firefighting methods available in the Lassen Volcanic National Park while maintaining firefighter safety. Crews will continue to work aggressively throughout the day to extinguish hot spots and improve lines.
Crews will continue to construct direct and indirect line to secure the fire perimeter, construct contingency lines in both zones, and provide structure defense in communities at risk. Priority areas include Lassen Volcanic National Park, Old Station and surrounding communities, the Highway 395 escarpment areas including Janesville, Milford and Herlong. Crews from the West Zone continue to assist the East Zone.
The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and remains under investigation. The fire is burning on the Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and in five counties: Butte, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama. The fire has destroyed 1,282 homes and businesses, damaged 92 and has claimed the life of one firefighter.