Current Situation

Crews continued putting in hose lays and brushing along the penstock to prepare the terrain for when the fire reaches the area within the next 24-48 hour period. 

Fire tactics are looking into utilizing drones to introduce fire into the extremely steep terrain around the penstock to reduce fuels and provide for firefighter safety. A helicopter dropping ping-pong sized balls that ignite on impact is being considered as a back-up if the drones aren’t available.     

Fire fighters continue to focus on the east side of  Highway 70. Today, dozers and crews will be opening old lines in the Camp Fire area  to provide contingency if the fire spots across the highway.

The Lassen National Forest is assisting in preparing contingency lines to assist with protecting structures and with structure protection.

 Current Situation

Today, firefighters focused on constructing and reinforcing containment lines both to the north and south of the fire within the highway 70 corridor. Crews worked on cold trailing, carefully inspecting and feeling with the hand for heat, the French Creek Spot Fire from 5 days ago.

Fire is expected to continue backing and flanking with roll out down toward the North Fork of the Feather River, Highway 70 and down into Bucks Creek. Fire has not crossed Highway 70.

Firefighters will be reinforcing containment lines, in addition to patrolling for spot fires during the upcoming change in winds.

Night operations may initiate ignition to support firefighting efforts in the Penstock area to meet the main fires edge.

Fire

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 317,459 acres      Containment: 83% 

Engines: 102   Handcrews: 35   Dozers: 36    Helicopters: 13    Water Tenders: 47    Total Personnel: 1,604

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

Management of the North Complex has transitioned from Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black to California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 at 6 p.m. yesterday. Team 4 looks forward to continuing to work with our cooperators including CAL FIRE, Butte County Sheriff, Plumas County Sheriff and California State Parks.

North & South Zone:

Crews conducted firing operations overnight to reinforce retardant lines near the penstocks within the Highway 70 corridor. The fire continues to gradually back and flank to the northeast but has not spotted across the highway.

Other night shift resources patrolled the remainder of the fire’s containment lines, which continued to hold.

Today, firefighters will again be focused on constructing and reinforcing containment lines both to the north and south of the fire within the highway corridor. They will be supported by multiple heavy helicopters and single engine air tankers as soon as flying conditions allow.

There will be two operational briefing videos posted daily to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page.  Team Planning meetings (daily at 7 p.m.) and Cooperator Meetings (Mon-Wed-Fri at 10 a.m.) will be available to watch via Zoom (https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/1602646317).

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Butte and Plumas county sheriff’s offices have evacuation orders and warnings issued covering the Highway 70 corridor and surrounding area. Please check their websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 is implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both the fire area and surrounding communities.

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 317,459 acres      Containment: 83% 

Engines: 102   Handcrews: 35   Dozers: 36    Helicopters: 13    Water Tenders: 47    Total Personnel: 1,604

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

Management of the North Complex has transitioned from Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black to California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 at 6 p.m. today. Team 4 looks forward to continuing to work with our cooperators including CAL FIRE, Butte County Sheriff, Plumas County Sheriff and California State Parks.

North & South Zone:

Firefighters continue to focus on the Highway 70 corridor as the fire gradually backs and flanks to the northeast. Crews are working to establish containment lines ahead of both the north and south sides of the active fire within the canyon. Heavy helicopters and single engine air tankers delivered retardant until mid-day when visibility deteriorated. The fire has not spotted across the highway as of 6 p.m. today. There were no containment issues along the remainder of the fireline, which continues to be monitored with both day and night shifts.

Crews will continue to work overnight along Highway 70 to monitor for spot fires while watching out for rock and tree rollout making its way onto the road.

There will be two operational briefing videos posted daily to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page.  Team Planning meetings (daily at 7 p.m.) and Cooperator Meetings (Mon-Wed-Fri at 10 a.m.) will be available to watch via Zoom (https://usfs.zoomgov.com/j/1602646317).

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Butte and Plumas county sheriff’s offices have evacuation orders and warnings issued covering the Highway 70 corridor and surrounding area. Please check their websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 is implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both the fire area and surrounding communities.

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                       Size: 317,459 acres      Containment: 83%    
 

Engines: 104   Handcrews: 40   Dozers: 36   Helicopters: 13    Water Tenders: 45    Total Personnel: 1,675
 

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation
 

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 317,459 acres      Containment: 79% 

Engines: 104  Handcrews: 40  Dozers: 36     Helicopters: 13  Water Tenders: 45    Total Personnel: 1,675

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

The fire continues to actively burn in the Highway 70 corridor as it gradually moves to the northeast from the Grizzly Dome Tunnel. It has not spotted across the highway as of 6 p.m. today. Favorable flying conditions allowed heavy helicopters, large air tankers and single engine air tankers, all using retardant, to slow the fire and support firefighters constructing line.

There were no containment issues along the remainder of the fireline, which continues to be monitored with both day and night shifts.

Crews will continue to work overnight along Highway 70 to monitor for spot fires while watching out for rock and tree rollout making its way onto the road.

Firefighters are finding members of the public inside the fire closure area, specifically in the Grass Valley Reservoir and La Porte areas. The public is being asked to respect the closures and stay out of the area for public and firefighter safety.

For more information there is both a morning and evening recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Butte and Plumas county sheriff’s offices have evacuation orders and warnings issued for areas northwest of the fire along the Highway 70 corridor. Please check your respective county’s sheriff websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team Back is implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both the fire area and surrounding communities.

Residents, Property Owners, and Vacation Property Renters of Bucks Lake and Bucks Highlands will be allowed to temporarily access the area for the purpose of winterizing property or retrieving property. Those who wish to access the area MUST check in at the Bucks Lake Road/Big Creek Road Blockade. You will be required to sign aa waiver prior to accessing the closure area. You will also need to provide photo ID to gain access.
 
This is not for overnight access! You will be required to leave the same day you enter by 3pm!

 This is subject to immediate withdrawal at any time should the fire, fire behavior or weather change.