North Complex Fire PM Update 10-01-2020
 

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 316,685 acres      Containment: 79%    

Engines: 115  Handcrews: 43  Dozers: 37     Helicopters: 13  Water Tenders: 64    Total Personnel: 1,983

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

Fire restrictions on the Plumas National Forest continue and a ban on all campfires, outdoor BBQ's, and smoking is in place. Areas near active and recent fires and the entire Feather River Ranger District, including all national forest system land, roads, trails, campgrounds, lakes, etc. remain closed. No woodcutting or hunting allowed on the Feather River Ranger District. Bucks Lake is under continuing evacuation orders per the Plumas County Sheriff.

 Regional Forester Randy Moore issued Regional Order No.20-18, Emergency Fire Restrictions for the Pacific Southwest Region prohibiting building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire, or stove fire, 36 C.F.R. 261.52(e) This Order is effective from October 1, 2020, through October 8, 2020. 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd815375.pdf 

The Lassen National Forest has issued Closure Order 06-20-12 (North Complex Fire Closure Order) prohibiting going into or being within the North Complex Fire Closure Area boundary and being on any National Forest System road within the North Complex Fire Closure Area boundary as shown in Exhibit A 36C.F.R. 261.54(e). Follow this link to the Lassen NF facebook page or see attached documentation for further details.
 https://www.facebook.com/LassenNF/photos/pcb.3377249639167860/3377248732501284

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 314,949 acres      Containment: 79%    

Engines: 113  Handcrews: 45  Dozers: 37     Helicopters: 12  Water Tenders: 66    Total Personnel: 2,011

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

Fire

The North Complex Fire is 314,949 acres and 79% contained. Crews continue to look for areas to build containment on the north side of the fire along Hwy 70.

Smoke

A blanket of smoke is spread over the region. Very light winds under a high pressure system will do little to improve air quality. Quincy and other mountain communities will see generally unhealthy levels. West of the Sierra will see moderate to unhealthy air today. East of the Sierra may see better air by this evening.

Health & Safety

Here are some ways to reduce exposure to smoke: Stay inside with the doors and windows closed. Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed. Use a portable air cleaner to reduce indoor air pollution (make sure it is sized for the room and that it does not make ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant). Long-term smoke events usually have periods when the air is better. When air quality improves, even temporarily, air out your home to reduce indoor air pollution.

Smoke and COVID https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lfc1I_PMZFAWZack2cqtUlBmBXLpve0Q/view

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 314,949 acres      Containment: 79% 

Engines: 110  Handcrews: 51  Dozers: 38     Helicopters: 13  Water Tenders: 65    Total Personnel: 1,982

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

The fire continues to burn actively within the Highway 70 corridor near Grizzly Dome Tunnel, but has not spotted across the highway, nor made any significant runs as of 7:00 p.m. tonight. Helicopters effectively engaged the fire after this morning’s heavy smoke lifted. Resources are focused on keeping the fire from crossing Highway 70.

There were no containment issues along the remainder of the fireline, with good progress continuing to be made in the Bucks Lake and Highlands areas.

Crews will continue to work overnight along Highway 70 to monitor for spot fires and preparing structure protection for buildings and critical infrastructure. With active fire on the steep slopes above, firefighters are reporting rock and tree rollout making its way onto the road.

Weather conditions continue to be hot and very dry. Winds are expected to be the typical pattern of downslope/down valley at night, shifting to upslope/upvalley during the heat of the day.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.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.

Fire

The North Complex Fire grew 5,954 acres and is now 314,949 acres and 79% contained. Crews are reinforcing existing control lines and looking for opportunities to increase containment on the north side of the fire.

Smoke

Expect decreasing air quality in the central valley including Oroville and surroundings. Quincy will trap significant smoke with generally unhealthy air quality. East of the Sierra will see moderate to unhealthy air today, smoke may be less dense tonight from Susanville to Carson City.

Health & Safety

The following groups are considered sensitive when it comes to air quality: Children, mostly because their lungs are still growing. Anyone with specific preexisting conditions, such as asthma, COPD, or heart disease. Pregnant women. Check the most current air quality at airnow.gov
 
 Smoke and COVID https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lfc1I_PMZFAWZack2cqtUlBmBXLpve0Q/view
 

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 314,949 acres      Containment: 79% 

Engines: 113  Handcrews: 45  Dozers: 37     Helicopters: 12  Water Tenders: 66    Total Personnel: 2,011

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

Night crews maintained a heavy presence on the Highway 70 corridor and as of 7:15 a.m. this morning, the fire had not spotted across the highway. The fire does remain well established in the vicinity of Grizzly Dome Tunnel and has bumped up to the highway along a half-mile section.

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

Resources today will be focused on the Highway 70 corridor working to keep the fire from crossing the highway, containing any spot fires that do occur, and preparing structure protection for threatened buildings and critical infrastructure. Predicted weather conditions are favorable and should allow for the heavy use of helicopters in supporting these Highway 70 efforts.

Firefighters will continue to monitor the remainder of the fire’s perimeter and mop up any sources of heat that are found.

Weather conditions continue to be hot and very dry. Winds are expected to be the typical pattern of downslope/down valley at night, shifting to upslope/upvalley during the heat of the day.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.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.