Oct 28 North Complex Fire: team transitions out
There will be another changing of the guard on the North Complex Fire, as Incident Management Team 11 heads home to Southern California tomorrow after completing its two week rotation. The team arrived Oct. 15, and took command Oct. 16. The team will provide one last briefing tomorrow morning before its members leave and hand over the reins to a Type 3 team. The team that had been scheduled to arrive also hails from Southern California, but due to the fires there, plans have changed.
The Plumas National Forest is assembling a team to manage the fire, and the briefings will change from daily to twice a week, unless circumstances change.
For instance yesterday, a spot fire slopped over the containment lines southwest of Bucks Lake. Helicopters and crews responded and the fire was held at five acres. Two crews remained overnight to ensure that it didn’t reignite and spread. Even though the fire is 96 percent contained there are hot spots burning within the perimeter. A Forest Service spokeswoman said she was traveling through the fire zone yesterday and saw smoldering tree stumps, which have the potential to reignite.
Crews are focused on monitoring hot spots and continuing with suppression repair. The numbers are slowly dwindling as this fire wraps up and they are needed elsewhere. As of yesterday, there were 334 personnel assigned to the fire.
The Plumas National Forest has a necessary closure in place for the fire area; for details, please check https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices Only part of the Plumas National Forest is closed due fire-related safety risks. Most of the Forest is open for recreation. In the affected areas, Forest Service roads and campgrounds are closed. Falling trees, smoldering stump holes and moving heavy equipment are some of the public safety hazards on closed public lands. Longer term hazards include landslides and flash flooding caused by erosion or suppression activities not yet repaired in the closure area can lead to serious injury or death without warning. Law enforcement is patrolling the area. Please use caution as fire personnel continue working in the area. Drive carefully and watch for fire equipment. Watch your speed and also be aware of the logging trucks around La Porte Road.
The North Complex Fire, which broke out Aug. 17 due to lightning strikes remains at 318,930 acres and 96 percent contained.
