Incident Publication

A Mandatory Evacuation notice for residents of Frenchman Lake Cove has been issued. You should leave the area immediately. If you remain emergency personnel may not be able to help you.

An evacuation center is set up at Portola Station 171 Gulling Street in Portola Dixie Valley Rd residents are still under an advisory and we will provide updates if that should change.

Please avoid this area if possible.

An advisory Evacuation Order has been issued for Frenchman Lake including all campgrounds and residences around the lake.

Fire behavior increased significantly yesterday due to hot, dry, and windy conditions.  A steady stream of helicopters, very large air tankers (VLATS), large air tankers (LATS), and fixed wings aircraft were engaged in the fire fight from above, with additional resources of firefighters, engine strike teams and dozers working below throughout the day. However, wind alignment and receptive fuels led to the fire’s growth.  The fire grew northeast to Carmen Road and the right flank of the fire spread to Trusi Canyon. Last night, crews worked to protect structures, building direct and indirect line, conducting tactical firing operations and working to keep the fire from further spread. 

The Dotta Fire in the Beckwourth Complex remains in its current footprint and crews continue to be diligent in getting rid of the smokes and gaining more depth in the mop up. 

Today, similar conditions are expected as yesterday.  As the inversion layer lifts and drying SW winds increase, fire behavior will increase late morning and afternoon. Structure protection and improving the east side is a priority with work being conducted along Frenchman Road.  More resources are arriving to support the fire efforts. 

There will be a virtual Community Meeting tonight at 7 p.m. posted on the Plumas National Forest Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas

I have decided to issue Emergency Fire Closure, Forest Order No. 05-11-01-21-11, to prohibit going into or being upon National Forest System Lands within the Beckwourth Fire Complex on the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, as described in Exhibit A and shown on the attached map, Exhibit B. This Order will be in effect from July 8, 2021, through August 1, 2021. This Order is being implemented to provide for public safety during emergency circumstances related to ongoing wildfires and extreme fire danger.  The Beckwourth Fire Complex includes the Dotta Fire on the south side of Horton Ridge and the Sugar Fire on the north side of Sugar Loaf Peak. The Dotta Fire started on June 30, 2021, in the Dotta Canyon on the Beckwourth Ranger District, Plumas National Forest.  On July 2, 2021, the Sugar Fire was started and is west of Sugarloaf Peak on the Beckwourth Ranger District. At that time the air and ground resources were diverted to a new fire start called the Dotta Fire.  California Interagency Incident Management, a Type 1, Team 4, took over the incident command and took control of the two fires on July 4th, combining them as the Beckwourth Complex. An Incident Command Post and basecamp has been set up at the C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School in Portola, California.  This Order includes an exemption for persons with a Forest Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order (Form FS-7700-48). Authorization under this exemption will only be provided if I or my delegate determine that the risk to personal health and safety is reasonable considering the circumstances of the request. We may also require appropriate personal protective equipment and other necessary safety measures.  Scoping efforts included discussions with stakeholders. I have concluded that this decision may be categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act. This action falls within the category identified in 36 C.F.R § 220.6(d)  (1) - prohibitions to provide short-term resource protection or to protect public health and safety - and does not require documentation in a decision memo, decision notice, or record of decision. I have determined that there are no extraordinary circumstances associated with this temporary closure. Implementation of the decision may begin immediately.

The Beckwourth Complex will be hosting a virtual Community Meeting tonight at 7pm via Facebook Live on the Plumas National Forest Facebook page.

Fire officials will be providing an update on the latest information.
 
 

 PRESS RELEASE 7/8/2021 3:35PM                 BECKWOURTH COMPLEX FIRE
 

UPDATED EVACUATION WARNING
 

*An Evacuation Warning has been issued for residents West of Highway 395 from County Road A26 South to Red Rock Road and East and West of Highway 395 from Red Rock Road South to the Lassen/Sierra County line.

*Residents with special needs who require assistance evacuating or who need to evacuate large animals are asked to consider evacuating now. 

Deputies will be going door to door to make notification.  Please use caution when leaving the area. 

The Lassen County Fairgrounds will be available to board large animals.  The number is 530-251-8900.  Please call ahead.  Call non-emergency dispatch at (530)257-6121 for large animal needs if the fair office is closed.

SAFETY MESSAGE:  Be aware that changing conditions in fire activity may cause this area to escalate to an Evacuation Order at any time. Be aware that traffic interruptions may exist due to emergency personnel working in the area.  Drive with your lights on and yield to emergency personnel.

For information on what to bring with you in the event of an evacuation, go to www.readyforwildfire.org

A Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued  by Plumas County Sheriff's Office for all the residences in Dixie Valley due to the Beckwourth Complex. Please leave the area immediately. If you remain emergency personnel may not be able to assist you.
 

Personnel are responding to issue door to door orders.

A Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for residents from the North end of Constantia Road where it interests with Highway 395 South to Red Rock Road on the west side of Highway 395 only.

An Evacuation Warning is still in place for residents West of Highway 395 from County Road A26 to Constantia Road and from Red Rock Road South to the Sierra/Lassen County line. 

Current Situation: The Sugar Fire within the Beckwourth Complex experienced significant fire growth yesterday. Southwest wind alignment and receptive fuels were the contributing factors of fire spread and intensity. The fire remained active all night, progressing east towards Adam’s Peak where it crossed the escarpment west of Doyle. The fire is burning around the lake with numerous spot fires on the eastern side of the lake. Crews conducted strategic firing operations for structure protection north of Frenchman Lake. Fire is pushing to Dixie Lookout to the north. Firefighters worked to gain containment on the southwest and northwest edge of the fire near Sugar Loaf. Today firefighters will assess and reevaluate strategies for containment focusing on the escarpment area west of 395 and structure protection. 

A new branch was established today along the Hwy 395 corridor near Constantia Road including BLM, CAL FIRE and local resources. Our state, local and federal partners are critical as we implement our suppression efforts. 

The Dotta Fire remains in its current footprint as crews continue to mop up.  

A virtual community meeting was held last night at 7 p.m. and is posted on the Plumas National Forest Facebook page for viewing. 

Evacuations:  Mandatory and warning evacuations are in effect for the Plumas and Lassen Counties, and are changing rapidly due to the dynamics of this fire. For the most current information please refer to their Facebook pages:  
https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas 
https://www.facebook.com/LassenSheriff 

Closures:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7601/60695/ 

A Forest Closure Order has been issued for the Beckwourth Fire Complex within the Beckwourth Ranger District. 

Road closures from Janesville-Frenchman Road, Hwy 284, Frenchman East Shore, Beckwourth-Genesee Road and smaller feed roads are in effect. 

Weather:  Today will be hotter and dryer than yesterday with low relative humidity and highly receptive fuels. Winds will be lighter. The weather will continue to be hotter and dryer with a forecasted heat wave this weekend.  Fuel moistures remain critically low.  

Air Quality: Smoke, including smoke from neighboring fires, will continue to become more prominent each day due to southerly winds. Refer to https://www.airnow.gov for more information on smoke conditions in your area. 

Fire Restrictions: Current fire restrictions remain in effect for the Plumas National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/plumas/home/?cid=stelprdb5374320 

 MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER has been issued for residences along Highway 70 between Beckwourth-Genesee Road to the Plumas/Lassen County Line.