Dixie Fire Narrative Update 8/4

Dixie Fire Update for Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Lassen and Plumas National Forests, August 4, 2021 —A Red Flag fire weather Warning is in effect from 1:00 pm Wednesday through Thursday at  8:00 pm. Extreme fire behavior with uphill runs, single tree torching, and spotting is expected today.

Smoke columns will be visible from active fire. Communities of Susanville and Mineral will have unhealthy air quality, and Chester will have very unhealthy air quality today.

Evacuation zones have changed with new mandatory areas in Plumas, Lassen, and Tehama County. Residents in Evacuation Warning areas should stay alert to conditions and remain prepared. An evacuation center has opened at Lassen Community College 478-200, CA-139, Susanville, California 95130.

The Dixie Fire is approximately 274,139 acres with 35% containment. There are roughly 4,927 fire personnel assigned to the incident. The incident is in Unified Command, with CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 on the West Zone and California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 on the East Zone.

On the East Zone, the focus is protection of life and property while holding fire perimeter northwest of Greenville and Round Valley. Over the next 24 hours, the fire perimeter will be monitored closely as high-risk burning conditions challenge firelines. Contingency resources are available to shift to active areas. The Evans Fire is holding within its current perimeter.

On the West Zone, fire continues to move toward control lines burning unburned interior islands and ridges. Steep terrain, heavy fuel loading, and wind in alignment with canyons is making control difficult. Fire activity continued into the evening hours following local winds and topography with active uphill runs, flanking, and single tree torching. Hot conditions will persist this afternoon across the fire area. Winds are beginning to respond with southerly and westerly winds becoming more prevalent gusting up to 20 mph. Afternoon humidity will continue to plummet into the teens across many locations. Crews continue to fight fire aggressively, construct and reinforce control lines, and protect structures. Mop up efforts have begun where appropriate.

The public is encouraged to stay tuned to the latest fire information. Be prepared by having a full tank of gas, collecting important documents and medications. For additional tips, visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org/.