Fire

The North Complex Fire grew 2,860 acres and is now 308,995 acres and 76% contained. Crews are reinforcing existing control lines and suppressing spot fires on the north side of the fire.

Smoke

Much calmer winds over the next several days will allow smoke to follow drainages and settle close to the fire overnight. Expect decreasing air quality in Oroville and Quincy. East of the Sierra may see moderate levels of smoke today. So many large fires have been active in California that the entire forecast area may have worse air quality by tomorrow.

H & S

Staying inside in a safe place with the doors and windows closed can usually reduce exposure to air pollution by at least a third or more. Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution: cigarettes, using gas, propane and wood-burning stoves, frying or broiling, burning candles and incense, and vacuuming can all increase particle levels in a home.

Incident Start Date: 8/17/2020                      Size: 308,995 acres      Containment: 76% 

Engines: 144  Handcrews: 55  Dozers: 38     Helicopters: 19  Water Tenders: 72    Total Personnel: 2,622

Fatalities: 15                                                   Structures Damaged/Destroyed: 2,471

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

Crews continue to monitor fire lines throughout the north and south zones working to mop up hot spots and contain several small spot fires. Of highest concern is a large section of uncontained line within the Highway 70 corridor. Started as a spot fire late on Sunday afternoon and fueled by strong winds, the fire had become well established initially in French Hotel Creek, and now in Grizzly Creek, where it has grown to within several hundred yards of Highway 70 near Grizzly Dome Tunnel. This area will be today’s highest priority for firefighting resources.

Firefighters will be aided today by calmer winds that have died down overnight and are expected to be 10-15 mph in the typical pattern of downslope/down valley at night, shifting to upslope/upvalley during the heat of the day. These conditions will allow for greater use of helicopters and other aircraft to fight the fire.

Reduction of total containment from 78% to 76% is a result of the growing uncontained fireline in the Highway 70 corridor and not from losing any previously declared containment line elsewhere.

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. Yuba County lifted all evacuation orders and warnings yesterday morning. 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.

Size: 306,135 acres Containment: 78% 
Current Situation 
North & South Zone: The fire area continued to experience strong winds out of the northeast today, which are not expected to subside until tonight. Gusts were up to 20-30 mph in some areas. These winds have resulted in increased fire activity across the fire area, causing several spot fires outside of containment lines, but were caught and contained before they had an opportunity to increase in size.
Yesterday, a spot fire became established in French Hotel Creek, approximately two miles south of Grizzly Forebay, and continued to grow in a southwesterly direction. It is approximately 1.5 miles away from Highway 70, but is not an immediate threat. In response, Butte and Plumas county sheriffs’ offices issued evacuation orders and warnings notices. Please refer to their websites and Facebook pages for the latest information. 
Tonight, resources will be focused on containing the spot fire in French Hotel Creek, as well as monitoring the rest of the fire’s perimeter and engaging any other areas of heat or spot fires that may appear.
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 ClosuresNew evacuation orders and warnings were issued late yesterday for areas northwest of the fire along the Highway 70 corridor. These are in addition to existing orders by the Sheriffs for Butte and Plumas counties. Yuba County lifted all evacuation orders and warnings today at 10 a.m. Please check your respective county’s 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

Click on the Related Information link below to view the latest evacuation news from the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

The fire area continued to experience strong winds out of the northeast overnight that are not expected to subside until this evening. Gusts will be 30-40 mph and up to 60 mph in some locations. These winds have resulted in increased fire activity across the fire area, causing spot fires outside of containment lines.

Late yesterday afternoon a spot fire became established in French Hotel Creek, approximately two miles south of Grizzly Forebay, and continued to grow in a southwesterly direction. In response, Butte and Plumas county sheriffs’ offices issued evacuation notices. Please refer to their websites and Facebook pages for the latest information.

Containment lines held strong elsewhere along the fire perimeter, including Onion Valley.

Resources will be focused on containing the spot fire in French Hotel Creek, as well as monitoring the rest of the fire’s perimeter and engaging any other areas of heat or spot fires that may appear.

The fire area is currently under a Red Flag Warning until 9 p.m. tonight, which is issued for critical fire weather including dry and windy conditions. Additionally, there is a Wind Advisory until 2 p.m. today.

The public is being asked to respect the closures and stay out of the area for public and for firefighter safety. Firefighters are still finding members of the public inside the fire closure area.

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

Evacuations and Road Closures

New evacuation orders and warnings were issued late yesterday for areas northwest of the fire along the Highway 70 corridor. These are in addition to existing orders by the Sheriffs for Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties. Please check your respective county’s 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

Click on the Related Information link below to view the latest evacuation news from the Plumas County Sheriff's Office.

Click on the Related Information link below to view the latest evacuation news from the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Special Statement
A Red Flag warning is in effect for gusty winds from the NE.

Fire
The North Complex Fire grew by 1,254 acres yesterday and is now 306,135 acres and 78% contained. Crews continue to reinforce existing control lines, suppress spot fires, and look for opportunities to increase containment in difficult terrain.  

Smoke
Northeast winds have improved air quality in the Eastern Sierra. Smoke impacts may increase in Oroville and surroundings, as it will again be downwind of the fire for the day. These valley communities may see periods of smoke. Expect continued clear air east of the fire today.  

H & S
The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems. This outlook provides data and forecasts for those small particles, known as PM2.5.

BUTTE COUNTY
From the Butte County Sheriff's Office

EVACUATION WARNING 

9.27.20 9:50 p.m. 

BCSO is issuing an Evacuation Warning for the areas of Stirling City, Magalia, and Clark Road from the Paradise town limits south to Hwy 70, east to Lake Oroville to include Pentz Road from the Paradise town limits south to Hwy 70. Please refer to the public map on the BCSO website, www.buttecounty.net/sheriff for further information, or call 833-512-5378. 

#ButteSheriff #NorthComplexWestZone 

EVACUATION ORDER 

9.27.20 8:50 p.m. 

The Butte County Sheriff's Office is issuing an IMMEDIATE EVACUATION ORDER for the areas of Pulga, Concow, Big Bend, and Yankee Hill due to fire. Please refer to the Public Map on the BCSO website, www.buttecounty.net/sheriff for further information or call 833-512-5378. 

#ButteSheriff #NorthComplexWestZone 
 
For more information from the Butte County Sheriff's Office, please use the following links: 

Butte County Sheriff's Office website 

Butte County Sheriff's Office Facebook 

9.27.20 8:28 p.m.
A MANDATORY Evacuation order has been issued for a portion of the Feather River Canyon from the Plumas/Butte County Line east to Tobin due to a wildfire. This includes the Communities of Tobin and Storrie.

You should leave the area immediately! Evacuees should evacuate east via Highway 70. If you remain, emergency personnel may not be able to help you.

For those who need any assistance, an evacuation assembly point has been established at Quincy High School.

Emergency personnel will be going door to door to conduct in person notifications.
 
Plumas County Sheriff - North Complex Information
Plumas County Sheriff's Facebook

Current Situation

North & South Zone:

Strong northeast winds persisted over the fire area last night and continued throughout today, with afternoon gusts of 30-40 mph. This resulted in increased fire activity across the fire area, causing spot fires outside of containment lines. In anticipation of the weather event, firefighters have been strategically positioned to monitor and engage increased fire behavior or any new spot fires.

As of late this afternoon there is a spot fire in French Hotel Creek, approximately two miles south of Grizzly Forebay, that is well established and actively burning. Resources including dozers, engines and handcrews will look at utilizing existing dozer lines from previous fires and building new fire lines in an effort to contain this spot fire.     Other crews will focus on containing any other spot fires throughout tonight’s shift as winds are expected to be sustained at 15-25 mph with gusts of 40+ mph.

The fire area is currently under a Red Flag Warning until 9 p.m. Monday, which is issued for critical fire weather including dry and windy conditions. Additionally, there is a Wind Advisory until 2 p.m. Monday calling for wind gusts up to 45 mph.

The public is being asked to respect the closures and stay out of the area for public and for firefighter safety. Firefighters are still finding members of the public inside the fire closure area.

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

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. 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