Incident Publication

 Tuesday, July 13, 2021 as of 12:00 PM 

BECKWOURTH COMPLEX EVACUATION AND ROAD CLOSURE INFORMATION  MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS have been issued for the following areas: Frenchman Lake

All surrounding areas of Frenchman Lake, Carmen, Frenchman Cove, Dooley, Frenchman Village, Frenchman Cove. 

Doyle Grade and Sugarloaf Road Dixie Valley 

Dixie Valley Rd from Beckwourth-Genesee Road to Frenchman Lake. 

EVACUATION WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT for the following areas: •Hwy 70 between Beckwourth-Genesee Road to the Plumas/Lassen County Line 

All addresses north of Hwy 70 between the Beckwourth-Genesee Road and the County Line. All addresses along the south side of Hwy 70 Hwy 70 between the Beckwourth-Genesee Road and the County Line. 

Chilcoot and Vinton 

All residences. 

ROAD CLOSURES AND INFORMATION CLOSED Frenchman Lake Road (SR264). For current highway information visit roads.dot.ca.gov 
SHELTER INFORMATION Due to no attendance the shelter has been demobilized. Residents in need of assistance should call 530-283-6300 If you need assistance with animals contact Plumas County Animal Services at 283-3673 or 283-6300. Large animals/livestock can also be accommodated. 

   

Current Situation: Fire crews continue making progress to contain the Sugar Fire within the Beckwourth Complex.

Containment operations are the most challenging between Diamond Face and Dixie Lookout, where fire activity and steep terrain make it difficult for crews to engage the fire directly. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are being used to help control the fire until firefighters can safely enter the area. As a precaution, fire crews are working to locate alternative areas to build containment lines in the Spade Road and Ramelli Creek area, where two spot fires were located.

 

In the Doyle Grade area, firefighters were able to add hose lines to strengthen the combination of handlines, dozer lines and railroad lines which are containing the fire.

From Scott Road, heading northeast to Doyle, as well as from Dixie Look out, south to Maddalena, the fire has had no additional growth.  Crews are conducting patrols to continue to search for and eliminate any residual patches of heat along the containment lines.

 

Tuesday was the last day of the excessive heat warning, but temperatures will remain several degrees above what is normally expected at this time of year. Southwest winds will be a steady 5-10 miles-per-hour, increasing to 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 28 mph in the afternoon.   

 

Evacuations: Mandatory and voluntary evacuations remain in place. Some areas of Lassen County and Plumas County have been downgraded. Please check your local county’s social media pages for the latest on evacuations in your area, and be sure to register for your county’s CodeRed emergency alert system:

·      Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·      Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

·      Washoe County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/169EBBD0A3AE

Evacuation centers:

·      Lassen County Fairgrounds: 195 Russel Ave. Susanville, CA.

·      Proctor R. Hug High School: 2880 Sutro St, Reno, NV 89512

·      Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center: 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV.

 

Road Closures: There is a Plumas National Forest closure order in effect surrounding the fire's perimeter, which includes several roads. Highway 395 is now open. Please monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for updated highway closure information.

 

Forest Closure: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/

 

Air Quality: For further information on smoke conditions and air quality, visit www.airnow.gov

PRESS RELEASE
7/14/2021 6:30pm
BECKWOURTH COMPLEX FIRE NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER

A new Mandatory Evacuation Order has been issued for Doyle on Old Hwy 395 from Laura Drive west on Old Hwy 395 to Cowboy Joe Road and everything in between.

The Mandatory Evacuation Order remains in place for the dirt portion of Doyle Grade where the pavement ends approximately 3.4 miles south of US 395. There will be a road block at that point and a heavy law enforcement presence will remain in the area.

Evacuation Warnings remain in effect for the following areas:

• Doyle east and west of US 395 including the town of Herlong south to the Lassen/Sierra County line.
• West of US 395 from the north end of Constantia Rd. south to the Lassen/Sierra County line and from the intersection of A26 north to Milford Grade.

Safety Message: People need to leave immediately. Drive with your headlights on and yield to emergency personnel. If you need assistance evacuating, call the non-emergency dispatch center at (530)257-6121. For shelter information, call the emergency shelter line at (530)588-8627.

We are asking the citizens of Milford, Doyle, and Herlong to remain vigilant and watch for changing fire conditions. Spot fires along the ridgeline coupled with high winds can cause fire activity to escalate quickly, especially in those areas. It is imperative that you remain alert and ready to evacuate if that occurs.

Current Situation: Firefighters continue focusing their efforts to contain increased fire behavior in the northern area of the Sugar Fire, on the Beckwourth Complex. Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, spot fires began to spread across the west side of Frenchman Boulevard. Gusting, 50 mile-per-hour winds and extreme fire behavior, such as fire whirls, caused embers to be carried even further ahead of the fire, to the escarpment. Additional crews were diverted from less active areas of the fire to assist in containment efforts, while other firefighters are still working in these areas. Dozer lines, which had previously been constructed in this area, are also being utilized to slow the fire’s progression. Firefighters were able to reengage and catch the fire between Evans Drive and Plinco Mine Road. Crews will continue working to connect this area with existing dozer lines near Spade Way.

 

Due to this increased behavior, mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for communities in these areas. Residents are urged to visit the Lassen County and Plumas County Sheriff Department’s Facebook pages for more information.

 

In the southern area of the fire, containment lines from Maddalena, east to the Scott Road, north to Constantia and the community of Doyle are still holding. The fire has had little-to-no additional progression and crews will continue patrols around these locations.

 

Windy conditions are expected to continue throughout the day, with gusts up to 30 miles-per-hour, however, the Sugar fire has been creating its own independent weather patterns as the day progresses.

 

Evacuations: Please check your local county’s social media pages for the latest on evacuations in your area, and be sure to register for your county’s CodeRed emergency alert system:

·      Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·      Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

·      Washoe County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/169EBBD0A3AE

Evacuation centers:

·      Lassen County Fairgrounds: 195 Russel Ave. Susanville, CA.

·      Proctor R. Hug High School: 2880 Sutro St, Reno, NV 89512

·      Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center: 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV.

 

Road Closures: There is a Plumas National Forest closure order in effect surrounding the fire's perimeter, which includes several roads. Highway 395 is open. Please monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for updated highway closure information.

 

Forest Closure: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/

 

Air Quality: For further information on smoke conditions and air quality, visit Smoke Forecast Outlooks (wildlandfiresmoke.net)

   

A Community Meeting will be held on the Plumas National Forest’s Facebook Page at 7 p.m.

(an account is not required to watch the meeting)

 

Current Situation:  Fire crews were able to contain an area of the Sugar fire within the Beckwourth Complex, which escaped containment lines adjacent to Highway 395, west of Doyle, yesterday. The fire encroached on the highway; however, firefighters were able to use air and ground suppression to engage the fire and prevent it from spreading. The highway was closed temporarily but is now reopened. Crews utilized pre-constructed dozer lines, as well as engines to prevent the fire from threatening the highway, Herlong Junction and surrounding communities. Firefighters then continued constructing dozer lines through Doyle Grade and Meadow View Road, along with defensive burning operations near Spade Way, as weather conditions permitted. Today, fire crews are building contingency lines, to act as secondary defenses, near Ross Canyon from Dixie Valley Road to Ferris Flat Road. This area will only be utilized if the fire cannot be held by containment lines closer the fire’s present perimeter.   Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for communities near areas where the fire is more active. Residents are urged to visit the Lassen County and Plumas County Sheriff Department’s Facebook or web pages for more information.   In the southern area of the fire, containment lines from Maddalena, east to the Scott Road, north to Constantia and the community of Doyle are still holding. The fire has had little-to-no additional progression and crews will continue patrols around these locations.   California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT4) will reach the end of their 14-day operational assignment tomorrow. A transfer of command to California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5) led by Incident Commander Rick Young will occur at 6 a.m. Sunday, July 18. CIIMT 5 will be working closely with their counterparts on CIIMT 4 prior to the transfer of command.  

Evacuations: Please check your local county’s web and social media pages for the latest on evacuations in your area, and be sure to register for your county’s CodeRed emergency alert system:

·         Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·         Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

·         Washoe County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/169EBBD0A3AE

Evacuation centers:

·         Lassen Community College Gymnasium: 478-200 Hwy 138 in Susanville. 530-250-9004

·         Proctor R. Hug High School: 2880 Sutro St, Reno, NV 89512

·         Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center: 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV.

  Road Closures: There is a Plumas National Forest closure order in effect surrounding the fire's perimeter, which includes several roads. Highway 395 is open. Please monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for updated highway closure information.   Forest Closure: A Plumas National Forest Closure Order remains in place. Visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/ for additional information.   Air Quality: For further information on smoke conditions and air quality, visit Smoke Forecast Outlooks (wildlandfiresmoke.net)     

 

A Community Meeting will be held on the Plumas National Forest’s Facebook Page at 7 p.m.

(an account is not required to watch the meeting)

 

Current Situation:  Fire crews were able to contain an area of the Sugar fire within the Beckwourth Complex, which escaped containment lines adjacent to Highway 395, west of Doyle, yesterday. The fire encroached on the highway; however, firefighters were able to use air and ground suppression to engage the fire and prevent it from spreading. The highway was closed temporarily but is now reopened. Crews utilized pre-constructed dozer lines, as well as engines to prevent the fire from threatening the highway, Herlong Junction and surrounding communities. Firefighters then continued constructing dozer lines through Doyle Grade and Meadow View Road, along with defensive burning operations near Spade Way, as weather conditions permitted. Today, fire crews are building contingency lines, to act as secondary defenses, near Ross Canyon from Dixie Valley Road to Ferris Flat Road. This area will only be utilized if the fire cannot be held by containment lines closer the fire’s present perimeter.   Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for communities near areas where the fire is more active. Residents are urged to visit the Lassen County and Plumas County Sheriff Department’s Facebook or web pages for more information.   In the southern area of the fire, containment lines from Maddalena, east to the Scott Road, north to Constantia and the community of Doyle are still holding. The fire has had little-to-no additional progression and crews will continue patrols around these locations.   California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT4) will reach the end of their 14-day operational assignment tomorrow. A transfer of command to California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5) led by Incident Commander Rick Young will occur at 6 a.m. Sunday, July 18. CIIMT 5 will be working closely with their counterparts on CIIMT 4 prior to the transfer of command.  

Evacuations: Please check your local county’s web and social media pages for the latest on evacuations in your area, and be sure to register for your county’s CodeRed emergency alert system:

·         Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·         Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

·         Washoe County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/169EBBD0A3AE

Evacuation centers:

·         Lassen Community College Gymnasium: 478-200 Hwy 138 in Susanville. 530-250-9004

·         Proctor R. Hug High School: 2880 Sutro St, Reno, NV 89512

·         Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center: 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV.

  Road Closures: There is a Plumas National Forest closure order in effect surrounding the fire's perimeter, which includes several roads. Highway 395 is open. Please monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for updated highway closure information.   Forest Closure: A Plumas National Forest Closure Order remains in place. Visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/ for additional information.   Air Quality: For further information on smoke conditions and air quality, visit Smoke Forecast Outlooks (wildlandfiresmoke.net)    

 Current Situation: The northern and western flanks, from Bird Hills to Doyle Grade area, over to Meadow View and down the Dixie Mountain Ridge system to Dixie Lookout, continue to be the most active areas of the fire. During the past few operational periods, crews have established perimeter lines around these areas. Increased winds during the afternoon have been threatening containment lines; however, crews continue to patrol these lines eliminating any residual heat. Contingency aka back-up lines, have also been created near Ross Canyon from Dixie Valley Road to Ferris Flat Road. This area will only be utilized if the fire cannot be held by the containment lines closer to the fire’s present perimeter.

  In the southern area of the fire, containment lines from Maddalena, east to Scott Road, north to Constantia and the community of Doyle are holding. The fire has had little-to-no additional progression. Crews continue patrolling and monitoring around these locations, addressing any areas of concern.   Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for communities in areas where the fire is more active. Residents are urged to visit the Lassen County and Plumas County Sheriff Department’s Facebook or web pages for more information.   California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT4) will reach the end of their 14-day operational assignment today. A transfer of command to California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT 5) led by Incident Commander Rick Young will occur at 6 a.m. Sunday, July 18. CIIMT 5 will be working closely with their counterparts on CIIMT 4 prior to the transfer of command.  

Evacuations: Please check your local county’s web and social media pages for the latest on evacuations in your area, and be sure to register for your county’s CodeRed emergency alert system:

·         Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·         Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

·         Washoe County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/169EBBD0A3AE

 

 

Evacuation centers:

·         Lassen Community College Gymnasium: 478-200 Hwy 138 in Susanville. 530-250-9004

·         Proctor R. Hug High School: 2880 Sutro St, Reno, NV 89512

·         Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center: 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV.

  Road Closures: There is a Plumas National Forest closure order in effect surrounding the fire's perimeter, which includes several roads. Highway 395 is open. Please monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for updated highway closure information.   Forest Closure: A Plumas National Forest Closure Order remains in place. Visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/ for additional information.   Air Quality: For further information on smoke conditions and air quality, visit Smoke Forecast Outlooks (wildlandfiresmoke.net)    

 

Incident Management Teams

We often hear the phrase “A team has been ordered” to take control of a fire, but what does this mean?  How are they organized, what do they do, who manages these teams?

Incident Management Teams are teams of professionals with a variety of specializations who work together to manage every aspect of a large incident.  Commonly used to manage wildland fire, they also manage search and rescues, floods, hurricanes, or other complex incidents such as the September 11 terrorist attack.

An incident management team of any type is dispatched or mobilized during complex emergencies to provide command and control infrastructure to manage the operational, logistical, informational, planning, fiscal, community, political, and safety issues associated with complex incidents and will include people from federal, state, and local agencies.

The National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) maintains qualification standards for wildland fire position which includes training, experience, and physical fitness for national mobilization to wildland fire incidents.

·         National Incident Management Teams (IMTs) can be assigned to major fires, floods, lengthy search and rescues, law enforcement incidents or other multi-day special events.  These incidents require a high degree of organization.  All personnel meet the National Wildlife NWCG qualifications at the level of their Team Type.  Type 1 is the most complex, Type 2 being less complex.   There are 16 type 1 teams and 35 Type 2 IMT’s which operated through the U.S. Forest Service.

California Interagency Incident Management Teams 4 and 5 are both Type 1 Teams.  Team 4 will be transitioning the management of the fire to Team 5 on July 18th.    CAIIMT 4 is led by Incident Commander Opliger, and CAIIMT5 is led by Incident Commander Young. 

 California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5) will host a virtual community meeting about the Beckwourth Complex tonight at 7:00. The virtual meeting will be streamed via Facebook Live on the Plumas National Forest's Facebook Page.
You can submit questions beforehand in the event discussion or email the incident: 2021.beckwourthcomplex@firenet.gov.

You do not need a Facebook account to watch the livestream of the meeting. 

 USDA Forest Service

Pacific Southwest Region
Plumas National Forest
159 Lawrence Street
Quincy, CA 95971
(530) 283-2050

http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas

 

                     Beckwourth Complex Fire Information: 530-330-5650

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7601/

                                Email:  2021.beckwourthcomplex@firenet.gov

 

 

 

Resources: 46 crews, 137 engines, 9 helicopters, 35 dozers, 60 water tenders, 6 masticators

 

Community Meeting: A virtual community meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m., via Facebook Live, on the Plumas National Forest’s Facebook page. You can submit your questions beforehand to the incident email address (above) or on the Facebook meeting event page.

Current Situation: At 6 a.m. today, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5, under the leadership of Incident Commander Rick Young, assumed command of the Beckwourth Complex.

The Sugar Fire within the Beckwourth Complex is remaining within its present parameter of over 60 miles of containment lines. Firefighters continue to secure and patrol the fire area from Highway 395, northeast from Doyle to Bird Hill and south to Meadow View. Crews are monitoring smoldering, smoking pockets of vegetation within the fire’s perimeter. A red-flag warning is in effect from midnight tonight through 8 p.m. on Monday.

 

Containment lines from the Dixie Mountain ridge system, south to Ramelli Creek and from Maddalena, east to the Scott Road, north to Constantia and the community of Doyle are still holding. Firefighters will continue monitoring these areas.

 

Evacuations: Check your county’s web and social media pages for current evacuation information.

·         Plumas County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/6EB9E0DB3133

·         Lassen County: https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/B69B31DD99B6?isMobile=false

 

Road and Forest Closures: Highway 395 is open; however, other roads in the fire area are closed. View the A Plumas National Forest Closure Order (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7601/) for detailed information. Monitor Caltrans's District 2 website or Twitter feed for current highway closure information

 PRESS RELEASE 7/18/2021 12pm BECKWOURTH COMPLEX FIRE EVACUATION WARNINGS REDUCED FOR SOME AREAS

The Mandatory Evacuation Order remains in place for the dirt portion of Doyle Grade where the pavement ends approximately 3.4 miles south of US 395.

There will be a road block at that point and a heavy law enforcement presence will remain in the area.

Evacuation Warnings remain in place for Doyle Proper west of US 395 from County Road A26 to the Red Rock Road intersection.

Evacuation Warnings have been lifted for everything on the east side of US 395 and everything west of US 395 from Milford Grade to the intersection of US 395 and County Road A26 and from the Red Rock Road intersection south to the Lassen/Sierra County line.

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. If you are in need of emergency assistance, please contact the American Red Cross Recovery Line at 1-855-755-7711 or Susanville Salvation Army at (530) 257-0314. American Red Cross’s Recovery Team will be located at the Doyle Senior Center, 434- 685 Doyle Loop, in Doyle, on Sunday, July 18, 2021, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to discuss recovery assistance for evacuees and provide access to emergency supplies.