Single Publication

Barnes Daily Fire Update September 14, 2022

Acres: 5,840 acres | Containment: 48% | Total personnel: 623

Start Date: September 7, 2022, | Cause: Lightning| Location: 2 miles east of Willow Ranch, CA and 2 miles west of Fort Bidwell, CA Fuels: Timber, Brush, Litter, & Understory
 

Highlights: Yesterday, crews addressed hazard trees and any threats to the line with fallers. The fire continues to hold in the existing footprint. On the northern flank, crews continued to secure the line with many sections getting mopped up well into the perimeter. On the eastern edge, hand crews continued to complete and improve containment lines and performed heavy saw work in large diameter fuels, mainly Mountain Mahogany. On the Southern perimeter, progress continues to be made in the three large pockets of heat along the line with up to 50’ of mop-up in some sections. On the western perimeter additional containment was made. An aerial survey for lightning strikes within a 6-mile perimeter of the fire did not reveal any new fire starts from the lightning.

Operations: Today, firefighters will continue to put in work to increase the containment lines, address hazard trees, and begin fire suppression repair work. Along the fires eastern perimeter, crews and heavy equipment are improving and reinforcing direct line and gridding for pockets of heat, concentrating in the pockets of heavier fuels that are holding onto heat as well as gridding the lines and duff for residual heats.  On the northern perimeter they will be mopping up and eliminating threats to the line continuing to use aerial assets to assist. An estimated 400,000 gallons of water have been used to extinguish the fire to date. Along the southern portion, the equipment working on the contingency line has been reassigned to suppression repair work. There continues to be a night shift presence.

Evacuations: BARNES FIRE EVACUATION UPDATE (9/13/22 @ 6:00 PM) EVACUATION ORDERS for Road 133C and County Road 9 in ZONE MCU-028 are now reduced to an Advisory. You may now return to your home. County Road 9 and Road 133C will remained closed except for fire traffic and residents. There is currently NO MANDATORY EVACUATION for the Barnes Fire. MCU-028 and MCU-035 are in ADVISORY ONLY. This is strictly voluntary. Be alert to rapidly changing conditions and follow County recommendations. Residents can check Zonehaven AWARE (sign up for real time updates). Zones will be updated as the incident changes. If you don’t KNOW YOUR ZONE, type your address in the site (use the QR Code) before and it will give you your zone and any conditions noted. For more information visit the Modoc County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page. Road Closures: County Rd 9 and 133C are closed and only open to emergency responders, this closure will support public safety by keeping public members out of the hazardous burn areas and will allow firefighting resources to combat the fire without public interference. Evacuation Center: The evacuation center is staged and ready if needed at the Modoc Fairground in Cedarville.

 

Weather: Today will be cool, dryer and breezy. Winds are expected to be from the southwest at 5-10 mph until 1000. After 1000, from the west southwest at 5-11 mph, with afternoon gusts approaching 18 mph. Minimum humidity will be near 20% with good overnight recovery.  Temperatures will be in the mid-60s and mid-70s.

 

AlertWildfire Camera: Click here to view a camera pointed at the east side of the fire: https://tinyurl.com/49erCamera

 

Smoke: Fire and Smoke air map available https://fire.airnow.gov/