July 25 morning update on the Dixie Fire – destruction increases

It’s July 25 – five months before Christmas — and Plumas County residents would like an early present this year — an end to the fires that have impacted everyone regardless of their location.

This morning update brought a tiny increase of reported containment, but also the knowledge that multiple structures were destroyed overnight.

The Dixie Fire is at 190,625 acres and 21 percent containment. Last night the Fly Fire was at 4,300 acres and 5 percent contained, and as reported last night, the Dixie and Fly fires burned together.

There are now 10,721 structures threatened and as of this morning it is known that 16 structures and 6 other minor structures have been destroyed – though that number will increase as damage assessment teams access the burned areas. It is known that structures were lost in Indian Falls last night.

The good news is that there have been no deaths or injuries associated with these fires. The Dixie Fire broke out July 13 and the cause is officially under investigation. The Fly Fire broke out July 22 and is also under investigation.

This is the latest information released for the Dixie Fire by the incident command team, much of which was reported last night. 

The fire burned into the Greenville Wye and burned across both Highway 70 and Highway 89. Firefighters engaged immediately in structure protection in nearby communities. The communities of Paxton and Indian Falls were the most severely impacted. Several strike teams of engines were in the area fighting to protect structures as the fire intensified. They remained in the area overnight as the fire remained active.

The Fly Fire and the Dixie Fire have burned together. The Fly Fire has run to the top of Mt. Hough and is now expected to back down the mountain to the northeast. Preparations made to the communications infrastructure on the mountain top were successful in preventing fire damage.

Firefighters are preparing fire line southwest of Taylorsville to protect the community as the fire advances. They are also working on dozer line across the top of the fire. Extreme fire behavior is expected again today. Atmospheric conditions are less stable and large pyrocumulus clouds are expected to develop over the fire increasing the potential for spot fires and rapid fire growth. As conditions become safer a damage assessment team will survey the area to determine the extent of structure damage.

Information was sparse for the West Zone. The Dixie Fire remained active overnight, with uphillruns, shortrange spotting and rollout. Critically low fuel moistures and record-setting Energy Release Components (ERC) have caused difficulty in suppressing the fire spread. The fire continues to burn in a remote area with limited access, and extended travel times with steep terrain are hampering control efforts.

This information will be updated when more specifics are shared.

A second incident base, in Westwood, has been established to support logistical needs of the fire.  The Dixie Fire remains in Unified Command, with two teams overseeing the fire: CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 1 on the West Zone and California Interagency Incident Command Team 2 on the East Zone.