Single Publication

Park Fire Update: Monday, September 9, 2024

Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 2

Incident Commander John Truett

Size: 429,603 acres 

Start Date: July 24, 2024

Containment: 99 percent

Total Personnel: 563

Resources: 1 helicopter, 7 crews, 8 engines, 4 dozers, 17 water tenders, 3 chippers, 10 excavators, 3 feller bunchers, 4 skidders, 2 log loaders, 1 backhoe, 5 road graders

CURRENT SITUATION: The hazard tree group is continuing to clean up dead hazard trees that were felled along Ponderosa Way. The roads group will finish Pearl Lake Loop today and Bear Wallow Road in a couple days. While repair activity progresses on the Park Fire, the need for fire-suppression personnel and equipment across the western United States remains high. Some Park Fire resources are being reassigned to other incidents and others are being sent home for crew rest. Community members might notice a decrease in personnel, equipment, and activity; however, fire-suppression repair work and fire patrols will continue, just at a smaller scale. 

One type of machine being used by the hazard-tree group is a feller buncher. They are extraordinary machines capable of grabbing one or more full-sized trees, cutting them off near the base and stacking or even throwing them whole onto a pile. They operate on tracks or wheels. Tracked units tend to disrupt the soil less than wheeled units, so they are being used on the Park Fire. There are three types of head used on feller bunchers: felling heads, which fell single trees; bunching heads, which fell multiple trees at a time; and processing heads, which fell a tree and process it by removing all the branches and cutting the trunk into sections. 

WEATHER & FIRE SAFETY: Hazy, smoky skies are the result of fires in other states. Get air-quality information for your area and view a smoke map here: tinyurl.com/ypkfbkyn. While temperatures will gradually moderate throughout the week, relative humidity levels remain very low and winds remain gusty, increasing the potential for new fires to spread quickly. Be particularly cautious while recreating and using equipment outdoors, and be aware of applicable fire restrictions.

FOREST CLOSURE: Some Lassen National Forest lands, roads, and trails near the fire area are temporarily closed for the safety of the public and firefighters during the repair phase of the fire. Prior to recreating on your public lands, view Forest Order No. 06-24-07 and the map here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices. It is your responsibility to know where you are in relation to the closure order.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions remain in effect throughout the area. For details, view Forest Order No. 06-24-04 here: fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices. Find links to other land management agencies’ restrictions in the Park Fire Information Linktree (URL and QR code below).

Park Fire Information (Southwest CIMT 2): 530-414-9298 |  2024.park@firenet.gov

Park Fire Linktree (fire information website links): linktr.ee/park_fire