Aug. 15: Weather expected to impact the Dixie Fire today UPDATED
As of this morning, Aug. 15, the Dixie Fire is 554,816 acres and is 31 percent contained. There are more than 6,000 personnel assigned to this fire, representing about one-quarter of the total number of personnel assigned to all fires in this country. The fire which broke out July 13 near the base of the Feather River Canyon, has been burning for more than a month, and there is no estimated date for containment. Speakers during last night’s community meeting indicated that it could be weeks.
The next couple of days are predicted to be difficult for firefighters and none of the threatened communities are considered to be out of the woods yet.
East Zone
Planning Operations Section Chief Jake Cagle gave his morning briefing and said that everything remains in its current footprint up in to Crescent Mills.
Crews are working in the Rush Creek area of the Feather River Canyon where there continue to be smokes.
Cagle said it was a successful night on Keddie Point. As for Genesee Valley, everything is prepped as in case the fire were to enter the area.
Crews continue to work in Wilcox Valley and are prepping Thompson Peak into the Antelope Lake area, as well as the Janesville Grade.
The fire near Lone Rock and in the Sheep scar remains in its current footprint.
Last night crews initiated firing in the Dyer Mountain area to protect the Lake Almanor Basin, and will try to go direct on the fire if possible. “Not out of the woods today,” Cagle said. “We are set up for thunderstorms today around 2 to 3 p.m..”
After announcing that there would be no additional public meetings until further notice, a public meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom or Facebook.
West zone
The update this morning was very similar to the detailed information that was presented during the extensive update last night.
Heavy mop up continues on the West Shore of Lake Almanor, as it is with the area in Mill Creek.
The Lake Almanor Peninsula and Westwood have had the threat of fire, but no incursion thus far in those areas. Highway 36 is the division line between Lassen and Westwood. The fire threatened from the north but crews. were able to successfully backfire and prevent the spread. The fire threatened from the south, but from the lake to Dyer Mountain, crews were been able to tie that in to other containment lines to protect the Peninsula and Westwood.
Crews continue to protect the community of Janesville.
Moving into the Lassen section, north of Highway 36, there is ongoing work in Warner Valley to save the rest of the structures and infrastructure.
Crews are continue to battle a lightning strike that poses a threat to the west, which prompted the evacuation of Mill Creek.
