Firefighters brace for wind, thunderstorms as Dixie Fire containment nears 60 percent
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 1:20pm
Firefighters battling the Dixie Fire near Susanville continue to make progress with containment, which was 59 percent Thursday morning and mapped at 927,320 acres, according to Cal Fire. Conditions on the ground are expected to change due to an incoming weather system that is forecast to bring gusty winds and thunderstorms over the fire area.
A Red Flag Warning was issued Thursday by the National Weather Service in Reno. This is due to the potential for thunderstorms and frontal winds this evening through Friday. Thunderstorms, strong outflow winds, and light rains are likely Thursday night, then gusty winds and low humidity are expected through the day Friday.
Very little fire growth happened Wednesday and overnight in the East Zone of the Dixie Fire. Occasionally, in the heat of the day, isolated flareups occur well inside of the fire lines, where fire moves into pockets of unburned fuel or rekindles fallen pine needles, creating areas of smoke and threatening containment. Fire to the north of Grizzly Ridge has burned into light re-growth from the 2019 Walker Fire, and in the southeast corner, fire burned into the 2021 Sugar Fire scar and stopped.
Last night’s night shift included over 250 firefighters, which is a significant increase in fresh personnel over previous shifts. In all, there are 4,846 total personnel on the fire.
The following is from the Thursday morning Cal Fire report:
Crews are patrolling the entire fire area day and night, providing structure protection, responding to smoke reports, and closely monitoring containment lines. Fire continues to burn in the very steep terrain of the Devil’s Punchbowl south of Taylorsville. Moderate fire activity in the area involves backing and short flanking runs in ground fuels occurring in the heat of the day.
On Thursday, hotshot crews are going direct with the help of water drops from helicopters, piecing together areas of open rock scree in the avalanche chutes, and constructing direct hand line around the un-contained perimeter. Working with resources from the West Zone, two type 1 hotshot hand-crews had success yesterday and overnight building direct containment line and putting out hot spots on the steep slopes of the escarpment above Highway 395 south of Milford. Today, hand-crews continue to hold the fire in the very steep terrain northwest of Dixie Peak, and crews and heavy equipment are building contingency lines along the Beckwourth-Genesee Road.
Dixie Fire West Zone
Last night at 7 p.m., Old Station was put under a Mandatory Evacuation Order. The wind continued into the evening increasing the fire activity. The northern portion continued to have active runs in the brush and ground fuels with occasional group torching. Interior islands continued to burn and smolder through the night. Heavy fuels continue to consume throughout the fire perimeter.
Additional resources assigned to the Shasta Sector work to build and reinforce lines today due to the predicted fire activity in the area. Additional engines, hand crews, and fuels reduction projects are ongoing in the area. These additional resources will also help to strengthen lines on the fire's edge and to prepare for the extreme weather event predicted for this Thursday and Friday.
The California National Guard continues their efforts with West Zone crews in the Lassen Sector on north side of Highway 44. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe fire train continues to deliver 30,000 gallons of water, per load, to fill water tenders, allowing for a faster return to the fire today.
The West Zone is working in conjunction with the East Zone south of Janesville and Milford, along the 395 corridor and up to the escarpment. Fire crews have installed thousands of feet of hose, scrapped 10-blade-wide dozer lines, and reinforced containment lines with retardant from the mobile retardant base in Herlong. Smoldering vegetation is still expected in the Lake Almanor area. Crews aggressively continue to reinforce the lines in very steep and rugged terrain in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Residents will see smoke coming from trees and stumps for days following their return. Proceed with caution, burned out areas may have unseen hazards. Residents are encouraged to call 911 if they are concerned about any active flames near their homes or businesses. Damage assessment is ongoing. The changing count of threatened structures in the update is due to changes in fire status and the evacuation warnings in Lassen, Plumas and Shasta County.
The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and 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 resulted in structure damage, evacuation orders, and evacuation warnings. Many roads are closed, as are the national forests.
As of Thursday the fire, since it began, has destroyed 1,282 homes and businesses and damaged 92 other structures. One person has died. Full containment is expected Saturday, Oct. 30.
