Reporting from along the fire line – through Westwood and up to Silver Lake Road

By Ken Donnell

Plumas News contributor

Editor’s note: Ken Donnell begins his reporting tonight from Westwood at 8 p.m.

Winds are rising from the north. Presently 10 mph.

It appeared to be mostly quiet today on the fire fronts from Quincy to Westwood. I left Quincy at 5 p.m., and arrived in Westwood at 7.30. Visibility ranged from 5 miles in Crescent Mills, to one-half mile at Lake Almanor.

No smoke plumes were visible along this corridor, and the heavy smoke cover probably indicates low fire activity. After active winds from the west earlier today, winds became very calm at approximately 5 pm. It felt like this might be a “lull before the storm,” which was confirmed at 7.30 p.m. when the much predicted cooler north winds arrived.

I extended the range of my daily tour by traveling north on road A 21 from the junction with Highway 36 for 14 miles to the junction with Silver Lake Road.

There was no sign of fire activity until mile 5 northward ( just past the RR tracks and Bizz Johnson trailhead) when suddenly there was visible scarring of a recent hot fire on both sides of A21. This double-sided fire scar continued for approximately 2 miles, until the fire scar was only on the west side of A 21 — the side toward Chester. This one-sided fire scar continued for 7 miles to the junction of Silver Lake Road, and A 21.

A fire crew member reported that the fire line held along Silver Lake Road, and that the section where the fire jumped to the east side of A 21 was contained.

As we spoke, the long predicted cooler north winds appeared, which portends a battle to save Westwood, Clear Creek, and Hamilton Branch if these north winds push the fire back toward these communities.

I witnessed the presence of significant quantities of large equipment along A21, Highway 36, and in Westwood.
The ground has been prepared, and the troops are in position. Now we must wait, and pray, that by tomorrow morning, and Thursday morning, these communities will survive the wrath of the Dixie fire.