PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. — As the Dixie Fire continues to burn, 4,000 people have been told to leave their homes in Plumas County. The sheriff's office issued additional evacuation orders Sunday afternoon.
The Dixie Fire has burned 192,849 acres, and fire crews have contained 21% of it, according to Cal Fire.
Smoke that stayed over the area ended up being a boon for firefighters, keeping the ground cool and limiting the amount of heat in the area Sunday afternoon, according to incident meteorologist Julia Ruthford. She said the fire activity was less than it would have been without the smoke around.
However, there are still some days with critical conditions ahead.
“We do have another day with pretty critical conditions… could be a very challenging day tomorrow. If those clouds get tall enough, they do have the potential to produce lightning as well as gusty outflow winds,” she said.
The thunder threat will continue through the week, and Ruthford said the second half of the week will bring in drier and warmer conditions.
With the fire fight in the West Zone, Operations Section Chief Mike Wink said crews have continued efforts on secondary line to make sure the fire stays out of Butte Meadows, Philbrook and Jonesville. In the Canyon Lake and Canyon Dam areas firefighters have been removing fuels that the fire could burn.
In the East Zone, Operations Section Chief John Goss said the bulk of the fire activity was in the Bucks Lake wilderness, however, while there was some fire movement, he said it didn't put crews in a bad position. Crews are continuing efforts in the area to keep the fire out of communities and off of Highway 162.
The Fly Fire, which sparked Thursday evening in Butterfly Valley, near the site of the Dixie Fire, has burned 4,300 acres and is 5% contained. Both fires burned together over Saturday night, with the Fly Fire running to the top of Mt. Hough.
According to Cal Fire, a total of 16 structures have been destroyed by the fire along with six minor structures. One structure has been damaged.
Accounts to follow:
As evacuation orders force people to leave their homes, and an evacuee shelter in Chester has reached capacity, a shelter is available in Tehama County at 19725 Ridge Rd in Red Bluff and, for those in the Quincy area, there is a shelter at 59 Bell Lane.
Evacuation orders:
Plumas County
- East Shore of Lake Almanor - East Shore of Highway 147 from Canyon Dam north to the Highway 147 and County Road A-13 intersection. East of Highway 147at CO A-13, to little Dyer Mtn, southeast to Dyer Mtn.
- Genesee Valley - ALL OF GENESEE VALLEY, southeast of Taylorsville up the Genesee Rd to just south of Babcock Crossing, Walker Mine Road, north portion of Beckwouth Genesee Road.
- North and Eastern parts of Indian Valley - From upper Williams Valley and upper Pecks Valley east to include all portions of North Valley Rd, Diamond Mtn Rd, and North Arm.
- Grizzly Mountain - South of Genesee Valley to 24N16 Road and east to the 25N42 intersection with Beckwourth Genesee Rd.
- High Lakes (Plumas County) – Recreational area of Plumas County east of the Butte/Plumas county line
- Plumas/Butte County line east to Twain – Includes both sides of Highway 70 in the areas of Rock Creek, Storrie, Tobin, Belden, Caribou Rich Bar, and Twain
- Meadow Valley at Bucks Lake – Bucks Lake Road at Riverdance and everything west to the Butte/Plumas county line. This includes Snake Lake, Meadow Valley, Tolgate, Bucks Lake, Bucks Lake Highlands, and all surrounding areas
- Caribou Road north to the Humbug Road and Humboldt Road intersection – This includes Belden Reservoir and Butt Valley Reservoir
- Prattville Butt Reservoir Road and everything west of the Butte/Plumas county line – Humbug Road from the intersection of the Humbug-Humboldt Road west to the Butte County line and everything south of the Humbug Road is under a mandatory evacuation order
- The community of Seneca south of Highway 70
- West Shore of Lake Almanor, Prattville, and Canyon Dam – From Canyon Dam northwest to Highway 36 at Highway 89. This includes Big Meadows, Lake Almanor West along with the Rocky Point Campground, the Canyon Dam Boat Launch and Canyon Dam
- Round Valley Reservoir, Dixie Canyon, Indian Falls – Long Valley (west of Round Valley), Dixie Canyon south to Indian Falls, south of Indian Falls, to the Highway 70/89 junction
- Butterfly Valley, Keddie to Highway 70 at Black Hawk Road, Snake Lake – This includes the Spanish Creek campground, Round House Road, Old Highway (West)
- Greenville and Crescent Mills
- Everything west of Highway 89/36 junction, west along the southside of Highway 36 to the county line
- The eastside of Keddie, Round House Road and Old Highway (West)
- Taylorsville – All of Arlington Road
- Highway 70 at Black Hawk RD, south to Barlow Rd and everything west to Snake Lake
- Chandler Rd West - From intersection of Highway 70 and Chandler Rd west to Oakland Camp.
- Chandler Rd East (North Side Only) - From the intersection of Oakland Camp Road and Chandler Rd, east to Highway 70, this includes American Way, Mt. Hough Rd., Pink Oak Lane, Amity Lane, and Hillside Drive.
Butte County:
- Jonesville area
- Philbrook area
- High Lakes area
Read more HERE about the intensified evacuation orders in Plumas and Butte Counties (P Zones 1-12).
Evacuation warning
Plumas County:
- Chester, Lake Almanor Peninsula - Including greater Chester area, Hamilton Branch, and Lake Almanor Peninsula. Everything west of Highway 89 between Canyon Dam and Highway 36 to the County Line.
- West Quincy – From the top of Cemetery Hill, including Quincy Junction Road, to Mount Hough Road and everything west
- East Quincy – Highway 70 near Massack and everything west toward Meadow Valley. This includes Chandler Road and Quincy-La Porte Road from Highway 70 to Thompson Creek
- Moonlight Valley, Engel Mine, Lone Rock Valley and a Portion of Growers Boulevard - USFS Road 28N32 intersection of Plumas/Lassen Line, east to Diamond Mountain area, South to Lone rock.
- Kettle Rock, Taylor Lake, Wilcox Valley, Rattle Snake Peak, Franks Valley - Taylor Diggings Mine north to Engel Mine, East to Lower Lone Rock, South to the Border of Zone 28, West to the Taylor Diggings Mine.
- Babcock Crossing, Elephants Playground, and Murdock Crossing areas - Beckwourth-Genesee at Clover Creek Loop, North to area of Drum Bridge, North to area of Babcock crossing, East to Big Flat Spring, South to 25N05, West to Beckwourth Genesee Road.
- Walker Mine, west portion of Grizzly Valley, Mt. Ingalls - Mcdermot Ravine north to Drum Bridge East to Crystal Creek, South to 23N45, West to Mcdermot Ravine.
- Greenhorn and Spring Garden - Specifically, east of Quincy La Porte Road at Thompson Creek. Highway 70 near Massack, north to Empire ravine, East to Cascade creek south to the 508 Road, southwest to the south of Lee Summit to Fells Flat. South to portion of the Middle Fork of the Feather River.
Butte County:
- Area to include the Tehama County Line East to Old Loma Road
- Carpenter Ridge East to Skyway
- Skyway North from Humbug Summit line to Butte Creek
- All the Fish Creek area within Lassen National Forest area road
- Pulga and Philbrook Areas East of the West branch of the Feather River
- West of SR70 North of Magalia
- Intersection of SR70 at Pulga Rd, and South of the Plumas County Line.
- Butte Meadows and Inskip areas
Tehama County:
- T Zone 1: to include the area of Colby Creek. The warning will begin at the Butte-Tehama county line, west along the Tehama County Line to the intersection with SR32, north along the SR32 corridor to the intersection with SR36, from the intersection with SR32 and SR36, east along SR36 to the intersection with Plumas and Tehama County Line.
Lassen County
- An Evacuation Warning has been issued for the area south of Mountain Meadows Reservoir from Hamilton Branch waterway east to the Lassen/Plumas County line.
Evacuation centers
- Spring of Hope Church, 59 Belle Lane Quincy, CA 95971
- run by the American Red Cross California Gold Country Region
- Ridgeway Park, 19725 Ridge Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080
- Plumas County Animal Services, 201 N Mill Creek Rd Quincy, CA 95971
Road Closures
Plumas County:
- Camp Creek Road
- State Route 70 at the North junction with SR 89 Greenville Wye
- State Route 70 eastbound at SR89
- State Route 70 westbound at Gansner
- Oroville-Quincy Highway at Plains Rd. at French House
- Bucks Lake Rd at River Dance
- State Route 89 southbound at Arlington Rd.
- State Route 89 at State Route 36
- State Route 89 at State Route 147
- State Route 147 at State Route 89
Butte County:
- State Route 70 is closed from 14.3 miles East of the junction of SR 191 (Jarbo Gap) at CAL FIRE Station 36
- Bucks Lake Rd from Riverdance west to Mountain House in Butte County
Butte County Evacuation Map
A live evacuation map from Butte County is available below.
Wildfire Map
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, 2020 was one of the most severe fire seasons on record as 9,917 wildfires burned 4.2 million acres. Over 9,000 structures were destroyed, and 31 people (civilians and firefighters) were killed.
California also experienced its first "Gigafire" because of the August Complex Fire, burning over 1 million acres by itself. Four of California's top five largest wildfires in state history happened in 2020.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and know your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
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