See related file for today's SMOKE UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 8 am

North Complex Information: (530) 316-4487; 9 am-9 pm
Email:2020.northcomplex.info@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6997
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas

North Complex Morning Update
 

Resources: 35 dozers, 206 engines, 24 hand crews, 13 helicopters, 36 water tenders, 24 other heavy equipment

Community boards: Fire staff are posting information daily throughout the communities impacted by the North Complex fires. Find out where here: https://arcg.is/18vnSe

Current Situation on the North Complex: The North Complex consists of multiple lightning-caused fires (August 17, 2020) on the Plumas and Lassen National Forests.

On Tuesday, residents of the following locations were allowed home: Quincy La Porte Road between Thompson Creek and Red Bridge; Greenhorn; Spring Garden; and Highway 70 from Massack Rest Area to Spring Garden. These areas remain under advisory evacuation orders.

The Claremont and Bear fires saw moderate growth Wednesday as east winds aligned with the Middle Fork of the Feather River and drove the fires to the west.

The Claremont Fire rose up out of Claremont Creek drainage and pushed west, slopping over dozer lines and throwing spot fires more than a quarter mile ahead of the flaming front. Firefighters were quick to react and attacked the fire with hand crews, heavy equipment, helicopters and air tankers. The fire crossed Claremont Trail and moved to the Claremont Chrome Road.

Crews remained engaged on the new growth throughout the night and will be reinforced as day shift personnel return. Other areas of the fire were relatively calm, and the fire is holding along well on the southern edge at the Middle Fork of the Feather River.

The Bear Fire pushed a little west and a little north but remains within the Willow Creek drainage to the west and is holding in the Fourth Creek drainage to the north. Crews remain focused on building indirect lines to protect communities to the north and northwest while scouting for opportunities to go direct.

Weather: East winds will give way to light, terrain-driven winds in a general south and southwest flow. Increased temperatures and low humidity will contribute to the cumulative drying trend and persistent chance for increased fire activity.

Air Quality: Southwest winds will return this afternoon, bringing widespread light to moderate smoke back to the area. Smoke will settle into valleys at night and dissipate Thursday morning. Quincy likely will see heavy smoke at times later today. The Oroville area will continue to see light smoke at night as smoke travels down the Middle Fork Feather River valley. Continued SW winds tomorrow may bring in additional smoke from other fires west of the Central Valley.

Closures/Evacuation: Plumas County – The mandatory evacuation order for Quincy La Porte Road between Thompson Creek and Red Bridge has been modified to advisory status and resident have been allowed to return their homes.

The mandatory evacuation order for Greenhorn, Spring Garden and Highway 70 from Massack Rest Area to Spring Garden has been modified to an advisory and residents have been allowed to return to their homes. More information can be found at https://plumascounty.us/2721/North-Complex-Fire-Information

Plumas National Forest: Campgrounds closed include Rock Creek, Deanes Valley, Meadow Camp, Red Bridge, Brady’s Camp, Cleghorn Bar, Stag Point, Hartman Bar & Butte Bar. Trails include: Oddie Bar, No Ear Bar, McCarthy Bar, Hartman Bar, PCT from Onion Valley to Bucks Summit, Butte Bar - PCT Tie, Minerva Bar, Hottentot, Jackson Creek (Beckwourth RD), Lost Cabin Springs, and Bachs Creek. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Bear, Sheep and Claremont fires, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumasp/alerts-notices.

Lassen County – The dirt portion of Gold Run Road remains closed and the dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only.

Lassen National Forest: Forest Service Road 29N03, Roxie Peconom and Goumaz campgrounds are closed. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Sheep Fire, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices

For text notifications about emergency alerts, sign up for the Plumas and Lassen County’s CodeRed Emergency Alert System from their respective websites: Plumas—https://www.plumascounty.us/; Lassen —http://www.lassencounty.org/dept/sheriffs-office/sheriffs-office Visit CalTrans at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-7623 for the latest maps and information of road closures in your area.

COVID-19: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 has implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both fire the surrounding communities.

EVACUATION ORDER UPDATE
 9/01/2020 AT 6:45 PM

The mandatory evacuation order for Greenhorn, Spring Garden and Highway 70 from Massack Rest Area to Spring Garden is MODIFIED to ADVISORY STATUS.
Residents ONLY may return to their homes at this time.

Please remember the fire is still active within the burned area and you may see spots of smoke. Fire personnel will still be actively working the interior and edges of the fire. Expect to see hotspots r some time. Do not call 911 to report unless there is an immediate threat to life or property:  
Be vigilant to weather and wind conditions and take any future orders seriously, should they change.  
While returning home and while fire personnel remain in the area use caution, reduce your speed, drive with your headlights on and yield to emergency personnel.
Just because the flames are out doesn't mean the danger is over. Damaged trees/terrain and flash flooding are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire. DO NOT put yourself or your loved ones in danger by exploring and remember to stay out of the forest closure area.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 8 pm

North Complex Information: (530) 316-4487; 9 am-9 pm
Email:2020.northcomplex.info@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6997
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas

North Complex Evening Update

Resources: 35 dozers, 206 engines, 24 hand crews, 13 helicopters, 36 water tenders, 24 other heavy equipment

Community boards: Fire staff are posting information daily throughout the communities impacted by the North Complex fires. Find out where here: https://arcg.is/18vnSe

Current Situation on the North Complex: The North Complex consists of multiple lightning-caused fires (August 17, 2020) on the Plumas and Lassen National Forests.

Today was the second day of clear air and easterly winds over the North Complex and both the Claremont and Bear fires showed significant activity along the western fronts. East winds channeled by the Middle Fork of the Feather River pushed the Claremont Fire to the west. The fire moved uphill and spotted across dozer lines toward Claremont Trail. The spot fire was estimated at 3 to 5 acres and firefighters are working to contain it.

In addition to ground forces, multiple aircraft were used to help stop the spread and attack the spot and main body of the fire. Four single-engine air tankers, two MAFFs and a multitude of helicopters were called into action. Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems are portable fire retardant delivery systems that can be inserted into military C-130 aircraft without major structural modifications to convert them into airtankers when needed.

The top priority for the Claremont Fire is to hold the west flank of the fire as crews will work throughout the night to bolster fireline.

The remainder of the fire perimeter of the Claremont remained relatively calm as firefighters worked to strengthen line and mop up.

The easterly winds also produced increased fire activity on the Bear Fire today. The fire continued its western spread out of Willow Creek drainage toward the face of Mount Ararat and dozer lines that have been built to protect the Highlands, Haskins Valley, Bucks Lake and surrounding communities. With the fire in difficult and rugged terrain, firefighters continue to focus on indirect lines while searching for areas where they can safely insert personnel to go direct.

Weather: Strong east winds will die off overnight, but the general flow will remain east until midday Wednesday as a westerly trend will return to the area. Temperatures are expected to rise, and humidity decrease which will continue the trend of increased fire behavior.

Air Quality: Smoke impacts are likely for Quincy, Tollgate and communities north and east of the fires as west winds return Wednesday.

Closures/Evacuation: Plumas County – The mandatory evacuation order for Quincy La Porte Road between Thompson Creek and Red Bridge has been modified to advisory status and resident have been allowed to return their homes.

The mandatory evacuation order for Greenhorn, Spring Garden and Highway 70 from Massack Rest to Spring Garden has been modified to an advisory and residents have been allowed to return to their homes. More information can be found at https://plumascounty.us/2721/North-Complex-Fire-Information

Plumas National Forest: Campgrounds closed include Rock Creek, Deanes Valley, Meadow Camp, Red Bridge, Brady’s Camp, Cleghorn Bar, Stag Point, Hartman Bar & Butte Bar. Trails include: Oddie Bar, No Ear Bar, McCarthy Bar, Hartman Bar, PCT from Onion Valley to Bucks Summit, Butte Bar - PCT Tie, Minerva Bar, Hottentot, Jackson Creek (Beckwourth RD), Lost Cabin Springs, and Bachs Creek. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Bear, Sheep and Claremont fires, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices.

Lassen County – The dirt portion of Gold Run Road remains closed and the dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only.

Lassen National Forest: Forest Service Road 29N03, Roxie Peconom and Goumaz campgrounds are closed. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Sheep Fire, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices

For text notifications about emergency alerts, sign up for the Plumas and Lassen County’s CodeRed Emergency Alert System from their respective websites: Plumas—https://www.plumascounty.us/; Lassen —http://www.lassencounty.org/dept/sheriffs-office/sheriffs-office Visit CalTrans at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-7623 for the latest maps and information of road closures in your area.

COVID-19: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 has implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both fire the surrounding communities.

Office of the Sheriff 
Office of Emergency Service
1400 E. Main Street, Quincy, California 95971 (530) 283-6375 • Fax 283-6344 
EVACUATION ORDER UPDATE 9/01/2020 AT 1:40 PM 
 
The mandatory evacuation order for Quincy La Porte Road between Thompson Creek and Red Bridge is MODIFIED to ADVISORY STATUS. 
Residents ONLY may return to their homes.

Please remember the fire is still active within the burned area and you may see spots of smoke.

Fire personnel will still be actively working the interior and edges of the fire. Expect to see hotspots for some time.

Do not call 911 to report unless there is an immediate threat to life or property. 
 
Be vigilant to weather and wind conditions and take any future orders seriously, should they change. 

While returning home and while fire personnel remain in the area use caution, reduce your speed, drive with your headlights on and yield to emergency personnel. 

Just because the flames are out doesn't mean the danger is over. Damaged trees/terrain and flash flooding are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire DO NOT put yourself or your loved ones in danger by exploring and remember to stay out of the forest closure area. 

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 8 am

North Complex Morning Update

Resources: 31 dozers, 160 engines, 24 hand crews, 15 helicopters, 53 water tenders, 19 other heavy equipment

Community boards: Fire staff are posting information daily throughout the communities impacted by the North Complex fires. Find out where here: https://arcg.is/18vnSe

Current Situation on the North Complex: The North Complex consists of multiple lightning-caused fires (August 17, 2020) on the Plumas and Lassen National Forests.

The Bear Fire saw clean air and an uptick in fire activity Monday. Firefighters were able to utilize air resources to proactively attack the western edge near Hose Mine. Helicopters dropped 15,000 gallons of retardant in the area in an effort to prevent future spread deeper into the Willow Creek drainage. The fire also pushed toward Lookout Rock and crossed the Pacific Crest Trail.

Today, crews will strengthen line and utilize the interior road system to build indirect lines as well as seek out opportunities to go more direct along the fire’s edge. Structure protection units are in place throughout the area west and northwest of the fire including the Highlands community, Bucks Lake, Haskins Valley, and other significant structural assets.

The top priority for the Claremont Fire will be to hold the fire in its current footprint and catch any potential spot fires as a wind shift will test containment lines today. One area of focus will be the southeast edge between Spring Garden Road and Peoria Creek. Crews have worked to line and install hose lays around spot fires in that area for several days. To the west, the portion of the fire’s edge between Bray Creek to Quincy-La Porte Road will be patrolled and mopped up as crews were able to secure the line through strategic firing operations Monday and into the night last night.

With the western movement of the Claremont Fire, tactical firing operations might be used in conjunction with ground and aviation resources to help control the fire. Firing operations are used to increase the width of fire lines and build a bigger “catcher’s mitt” to stop the fire’s progress when and where it is safe to do so.

Weather: East winds and lower humidity will return to the fire area today and could result in an increase in fire activity, especially along the fire’s western edge. Temperatures will remain warm as the forecast calls for a chance of record highs in the coming days.

Air Quality: Northeast and east winds today and tonight will lead to good air quality conditions east and north of the North Complex fires, but areas to the west of the fires, including the community of La Porte and Little Grass Valley Reservoir, will be in the path of the smoke. Light to moderate smoke will impact the Oroville area throughout the day. Smoke will settle into valleys west and southwest of the fires tonight. Quincy will continue to see poor air quality, but likely be improved compared to Monday.

Closures/Evacuation changes: Plumas County – All evacuations and closures remain the same and can be found at https://plumascounty.us/2721/North-Complex-Fire-Information

Plumas National Forest: Campgrounds closed include Rock Creek, Deanes Valley, Meadow Camp, Red Bridge, Brady’s Camp, Cleghorn Bar, Stag Point, Hartman Bar & Butte Bar. Trails include: Oddie Bar, No Ear Bar, McCarthy Bar, Hartman Bar, PCT from Onion Valley to Bucks Summit, Butte Bar - PCT Tie, Minerva Bar, Hottentot, Jackson Creek (Beckwourth RD), Lost Cabin Springs, and Bachs Creek. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Bear, Sheep and Claremont fires, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices.

Lassen County – All Evacuation Orders in Lassen County related to the Sheep fire have been lifted.

The dirt portion of Gold Run Road remains closed and the dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only

Lassen National Forest: Forest Service Road 29N03, Roxie Peconom and Goumaz campgrounds are closed. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Sheep Fire, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices

For text notifications about emergency alerts, sign up for the Plumas and Lassen County’s CodeRed Emergency Alert System from their respective websites: Plumas—https://www.plumascounty.us/; Lassen —http://www.lassencounty.org/dept/sheriffs-office/sheriffs-office Visit CalTrans at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-7623 for the latest maps and information of road closures in your area.

COVID-19: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 has implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both fire the surrounding communities.

 See related file for today's SMOKE OUTLOOK

North Complex Evening Update 
AUGUST 31, 2020 8 pm
 
Resources:  31 dozers, 160 engines, 24 hand crews, 15 helicopters, 53 water tenders, 19 other heavy equipment 

Current Situation on the North Complex: The North Complex consists of multiple lightning-caused fires (August 17, 2020) on the Plumas and Lassen National Forests. Firefighters were able to attack the southwest edge of the Bear Fire today and take advantage of clear air brought on by northerly winds. Helicopters dropped 15,000 gallons of retardant as the fire pushed toward Hose Mine in the Willow Creek drainage. The wind shift and clear air allowed the fire to breath but growth was minimal at less than 200 acres and containment is reported at 10%.  

Fire activity throughout the rest of the Bear perimeter was moderate but interior pockets of fuel continued to burn. Personnel are scouting for areas were crews can take direct action along the fire’s edge, but, given the terrain and resources available, indirect line remains the focus. Structure protection resources are in place throughout the Bucks Lake and Haskins Valley neighborhoods. On the Claremont Fire, crews held the fire in its footprint across all sides and worked to mop up several spot fires from Sunday. Those spots – some near Estray Creek on the east side of Highway 70, some west toward the Harrison Flat, Bray Creek and Red Bridge areas – have all been contained, lined and mopped up.  Firefighters will patrol the Claremont tonight and mop up any hot spots that pose a threat to the line.  

Weather: North winds pushed smoke out of the fire area for several hours resulting in a moderate increase in fire behavior. Tonight, winds will turn northeast at 5-10 mph on the Claremont Fire and 5-15 mph on the Bear Fire.  

Tuesday’s forecast calls for east winds and reduced humidity as well as continued warmer temperatures. 

Air Quality: Northerly winds brought clear air for a portion of the day today but communities downwind of the fire did not see much relief. Tomorrow’s east wind will bring poorer air quality for communities to the west. The greatest impacts again are seen closest to the fire, with Quincy and Portola seeing the highest smoke concentrations. 

Closures/Evacuation changes: Plumas County – All evacuations and closures remain the same and can be found at https://plumascounty.us/2721/North-Complex-Fire-Information  

Plumas National Forest: Campgrounds closed include Rock Creek, Deanes Valley, Meadow Camp, Red Bridge, Brady’s Camp, Cleghorn Bar, Stag Point, Hartman Bar & Butte Bar. Trails include: Oddie Bar, No Ear Bar, McCarthy Bar, Hartman Bar, PCT from Onion Valley to Bucks Summit, Butte Bar - PCT Tie, Minerva Bar, Hottentot, Jackson Creek (Beckwourth RD), Lost Cabin Springs, and Bachs Creek. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Bear, Sheep and Claremont fires, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices. 

Lassen County – All Evacuation Orders in Lassen County related to the Sheep fire have been lifted. 

The dirt portion of Gold Run Road remains closed and the dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only 

Lassen National Forest: Forest Service Road 29N03, Roxie Peconom and Goumaz campgrounds are closed. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Sheep Fire, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices 

For text notifications about emergency alerts, residents can sign up for the Plumas and Lassen County’s CodeRed Emergency Alert System from their respective websites: Plumas—https://www.plumascounty.us/; Lassen —http://www.lassencounty.org/dept/sheriffs-office/sheriffs-office 

Visit CalTrans at quickmap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-7623 for the latest maps and information of road closures in your area. 

COVID-19: California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 has implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in both fire the surrounding communities. 

 UPDATED PRESS RELEASE 8/31/2020 12PM

  SHEEP (NORTH COMPLEX) FIRE

EVACUATION WARNINGS LIFTED

  All Evacuation Warnings related to the Sheep Fire have been lifted.   The following are instructions for residents returning home:   1.     Please use caution, reduce your speed, drive with your headlights on and yield to emergency personnel. 2.     Just because the flames are out doesn’t mean the danger is over.  Damaged trees, structural damage, and flash flooding are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire.  DO NOT put yourself or your loved ones in danger by exploring.  Expect to see hotspots for some time.  Do not call 911 to report unless there is an immediate threat to life or property.   Road Closures: 

·        Forest Service Road 29N03 by Roxie Peconom Campground. ·        The dirt portion of Gold Run Road. ·        The dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only. 
The Emergency Shelter at Lassen Community College is closed.

 See related file for today's SMOKE OUTLOOK