Oct. 21 North Complex Fire: Monitor hot spots; suppression repair

With Red Flag Warning going into effect tonight through Friday morning, firefighters will be vigilant with regard to interior hot spots. North to east winds are predicted of 15 to 25 mph gusting to 40 mph. Locally stronger gusts are possible over ridges and through gaps and canyons during the night and morning hours.

During last night’s briefing, incident command reported that the effort has shifted from active firefighting to suppression repair. The priorities are to avoid erosion issues and to protect the watershed.

Dozers are being used to recontour firelines, hand crews are pulling brush back over exposed soils, and chippers are mulching cut vegetation into chips that are spread over disturbed soils to minimize erosion. Incident leadership is hopeful that much of this work can be completed so that care of the fire area can be returned to the Plumas National Forest.

The fire remains at 318,930 acres and is 95 percent contained.

Forest closures remain in effect and hazardous conditions still exist. Law enforcement will be patrolling the area.