Supervisor Hagwood warns of erratic winds and the significant threat to many communities

Plumas County District 1 Supervisor Greg Hagwood said this afternoon, Aug. 16, that he is frustrated with the dearth of information that he and the other supervisors are receiving with regard to the Dixie Fire — and he has constituents calling him wanting answers. In particular, with District 3 Supervisor Sherrie Thrall out of the area, he has been hearing from Lake Almanor Basin residents anxious to return home. He has a message: It’s not going to happen anytime soon.

“I sympathize with residents who have been evacuated in the north end of the county — Almanor West, Chester, the East Shore, the Peninsula and Hamilton Branch — but the weather forecast for the next 24 to 48 hours is strong winds with the potential to reverse direction creating a completely new fire dynamic,” he said.

“Communities that have generally been protected from this fire may find themselves in the path of the new fire direction,” he added.

While this includes the aforementioned Almanor Basin communities, he said the danger extends into Taylorsville, Genesee, and potentially other areas including Greenhorn Ranch and the northern slope of Highway 70 between Quincy and Portola.

“If this does a total 180, Quincy could face a renewed threat,” Hagwood said.

He doesn’t want to alarm people, but he wants them to be prepared. Those who are already evacuated could be for much longer, and others could face evacuation orders.