Plumas County Canyon Complex Fire Updates

Canyon Complex Fire Information

1:00 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Fire Update
Cold Fire No real change to report, we continue to mop up and patrol.

Belden Fire No real change to report. There is still some active fire in the northwest corner which is currently inaccessible due to terrain and snags. It is very smoky.

Little Fire No real change to report, firefighters continue to construct line.

Scotch Fire Dozer line is being built on the north side of the Scotch Fire, fire crossed Middle fork of the Feather River. Efforts are underway to hold the fire between the 94 Road and the river.

South Fire No real change to report, firefighters are patrolling and holding the north side.

Frey Fire Firefighters are actively constructing line on the southeast corner to check fire spread down Frey Creek.

Friend-Darnell Fire No real change to report, firefighters are holding and improving containment lines on top. They are also constructing containment lines on the south and east sides into Feather River Canyon.

The fires declared contained, remain contained and are being mopped and patrolled.

Friday July 11, 2008 - AM Update

5:00 p.m. Thursday, July 10, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Fire Update
Cold Fire The Cold Fire is in mop up and in patrol status.

Belden Fire There is some active fire in the northwest corner which is currently inaccessible due to terrain and snags. It is very smoky.

Little Fire Firefighters are constructing line.

Scotch Fire Dozer line is being built on the north side of the Scotch Fire.

South Fire Firefighters are patrolling and holding the north side.

Frey Fire Firefighters are actively constructing line on the southwest corner to check fire spread toward Feather Falls.

Friend-Darnell Fire Firefighters are holding and improving containment lines on top. They are also constructing containment lines on the south and east sides into Feather River Canyon.

The fires declared contained, remain contained and are being patrolled.

Thursday July 10, 2008 - AM Update

3:45 p.m. Wednesday July 9, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update
Crews are making progress on the Friend-Darnell Fire, which started yesterday afternoon north of Berry Creek and required the evacuation of the area. Today the north, south and west flanks are shaping up, and crews are making progress on the east flank. The calm winds are helping firefighting efforts. The Scotch Fire, near Hartman Bar has been active today. Other fires in the complex are not reporting any problems.

Wednesday July 9, 2008 - PM Update

Tuesday July 8, 2008 - PM Update

2:15 p.m. Monday July 8, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update
Due to a fire burning in the area of Big Bald Rock and Bean Creek Rd. the Canyon Complex and Butte County Sheriff have declared an immediate evacuation for the areas of Berry Creek, Milsap Bar, and Brush Creek. Bald Rock Road is being closed at Rockefeller Rd. and the Oro-Quincy Hwy (Hwy 119).

Additionally, a precautionary evacuation has been issued for the communities north of Brush Creek along Hwy 119 including: Mountain House, Junction House, and Sly Saddle north to Rogers Cow. An Advisory has been issued for the area between the Scotch and Little fires to Brush Creek.

Resources are responding from the Canyon Complex, Plumas National Forest, Butte County Fire, the BTU Lightning Complex, and Cal Fire Butte unit.

Currently the estimated 600-acre fire is moving strongly to the southwest from Bald Rock Dome north of the Johnson Ranch. It is being pushed by a strong northeast wind and has a mile wide front. Air tankers are on scene and type one heavy helicopters are on order. The California Highway Patrol is assisting the Butte County Sheriff's office with the evacuations. No structures have been reported lost at this time.

Tuesday July 8, 2008 - AM Update

4:00 p.m. Monday July 7, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update
On the Belden Fire, crews are maintaining lines and watching for hot spots, while two heavy helicopters with water buckets are wetting down the upper part of the fire on the north. With warmer temperatures and lower humidity, fire activity is increasing on several fires within the complex. Firefighters are working on spot fires from the Frey Fire—the spots are still within the containment boundaries. Several spot fires have also been contained from the South Fire. South Fire lines are holding well on the east side of the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Crews are continuing to build line on the Little Fire. The Scotch Fire has spotted across Scotch Canyon, and crews are working to hold it on Road 23N70.

Monday July 7, 2008 - AM Update

4:30 p.m. Sunday July 6, 2008 - Canyon Complex afternoon update
Due to favorable weather and fuel conditions, firefighters on the Belden Fire are building lines much closer to the fires edge. The fire is slowly backing downhill to the highway, where ground crews and engines are monitoring and preventing it from crossing. To the west, hotshot crews are building line along Chips Creek in preparation for a firing operation if conditions are suitable. To the east, plans are to hold the fire on Indian Creek; to the north, fire activity has decreased markedly at the higher elevations in wetter fuels. Crews are being supported by two type one helicopters from the Butte Complex. The Cold Fire remains in a mop-up and patrol status. On the South and Frey fires, firefighters are burning along roads on the flanks to take the fuel away and prevent large runs. Atmospheric conditions continue to push smoke into Quincy and other valley areas

Sunday July 6, 2008 - AM Update

Saturday July 5, 2008 - PM Update

4:45 p.m. Saturday July 5, 2008 - Canyon Complex afternoon update
The Cold Fire is in a mop-up and patrol status. Residents may continue to see smoke from the area as fuels burn within the fire perimeter. On the Belden Fire, six bulldozers are completing a fire line along the Gansner Bar Road in preparation for burning operations, planned for tomorrow. The South and Frey fires continue to burn toward each other as crews line the flanks and burn out where possible. Currently the southwest winds are moving smoke into the Quincy area. Lines on the Scotch and Little fires are being prepared for possible burning operations. Starting tomorrow, Sunday July 6, the Canyon Complex information call center will reduce its hours to 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. Updates will continue to be available on the forest website, www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas

Saturday July 5, 2008 - AM Update

4:00 p.m. Friday July 4, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update
Hand crews and bulldozers continue to build fire lines on the Belden Fire, in cooperation with CAL FIRE Team 9, which is assigned to the Butte Lightning Complex to the north.

For public safety during the Canyon Complex fires, the Plumas National Forest has closed Forest Road 22N94, from Tamarack Flat west across Hartman Bar Ridge and then south to Camp 18. A segment of the Pacific Crest Trail has also been closed, beginning on the northern boundary of the forest, south to the Quincy-La Porte Road. Specific descriptions of the closure orders and maps can be found on the forest website, www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas.

During the next few days, residents may see heavier smoke in the area as fire fighters conduct burning operations on the South and Frey fires and the Belden Fire.

Friday July 4, 2008 - AM Update

Thursday July 3, 2008 - PM Update

3:20 p.m. Thursday July 3, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update
Four crews are working on the 70-acre Belden Fire, located about a half mile north of the community. Firefighters are building line along the south side of the fire, using the Pacific Crest Trail as a fire line. On the west side, they are clearing brush to build a line. For crew safety, lines are being constructed indirectly, that is away from the actual fire edge. In Belden, fire engines are standing by to protect structures if necessary.

Travelers are reminded that Highway 70 remains closed in Butte County between Big Bend Road and the Greenville "Y".

Thursday July 3, 2008 - AM Update

Wednesday July 2, 2008 - PM Update

Sheriff Issues Evacuation Notice to Belden Residents

3:00 p.m. Wednesday July 2, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update:
Travelers are reminded that Highway 70 remains closed in Butte County between Big Bend Road and the Greenville "Y". The route is closed to the public because of the danger from boulders, tree stumps, burned logs and other debris rolling onto the highway. Residents living in the area will be allowed to access their homes. The Cold Fire is being held within its containment lines. Firefighters on the Little, Scott, South and Frey fires continue to make progress. The Butte Complex has sent two Type 1 helicopters to assist with suppression efforts on the Belden Fire.

Wednesday July 2, 2008 - AM Update

Tuesday July 1, 2008 - PM Update

4:00 p.m. Tuesday July 1, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update:
Operations on the Cold Fire are going well as firefighters reinforce lines and build hand lines around small spots on the east side of the fire. A new small fire was discovered approximately two miles northeast of Belden. This six acre fire is being worked by rappellers supported by helicopter water drops. Good progress is being made on the Frey Fire and firefighters on the South Fire are brushing and clearing along forest road 21N25. The Fox and 4-mile fires are being mopped up. Four helicopters are working within the complex today.

Tuesday July 1, 2008 - AM Update

Monday June 30, 2008 - PM Update

4:00 p.m. Monday June 30, 2008 - Canyon Complex Afternoon Update:
Currently four air tankers and two medium helicopters are making drops on the Cold Fire. A heavy Chinook helicopter is being prepared to assist. On the Pit Fire, firefighters are building hand line up the Ben Lomond Trail to the peak and are using a dozer on Rock Creek to Shores Gap. Mop-up is continuing on the Fox, Roady and Rock 2 fires. Firefighters are accessing and beginning hand line on the Little and Scotch fires. The south end of the South Fire is being worked along the road and mop-up is beginning. The Hartman Fire is lined and being mopped up.

Highway 70 is being re-opened to one way escorted traffic, subject to the following conditions:

Through traffic will be escorted by a pilot car and will be restricted to one way traffic.
Traffic control points will be in place on Hwy. 70 at Andy Mountain/Jarbo Gap on the west & Rock Creek Dam on the east
Westbound traffic will be escorted from Rock Creek Dam & Hwy. 70
East Bound traffic will be escorted from Andy Mountain & Hwy. 70

Monday June 30, 2008 - AM Update

Sunday June 29, 2008 - PM Update

4:00 p.m. Sunday June 29, 2008
Canyon Complex firefighters are keeping a close eye on the weather today due to the Red Flag Warning for dry lightning and potential thunderstorms this evening. Some of the fires are more active due to gusty winds and warmer temperatures, but good progress is being made in the complex. Priorities on the Cold Fire are the northeast, east and south sectors. A new small fire found near the Sloat staging area today was quickly contained. Work on other small fires continues based on resources available and safety considerations. Two helicopters are being used on the complex fires, but area residents may occasionally hear air tankers overhead flying to other fires or returning to their bases.

Sunday June 29, 2008 - AM Update

4:20 p.m. Saturday June 28, 2008
Crews continued to build lines on the Canyon Complex fires. Helicopters have been used for the last several hours on the Cold Fire. The fire slopped over a small section of the line on the south part of the Cold Fire; helicopters and crews are being used to control the slopover. Twenty mile-per-hour winds are predicted in the next few hours. No thunderstorms are predicted for now, but are possible later in the afternoon. Crews expect to complete lines this evening on two of the smaller fires in the complex, the 4-mile and Fox fires, located approximately four miles north of Brush Creek.

Saturday June 28, 2008 - AM Update

4:00 p.m. Friday June 27, 2008:
Operations personnel are reporting good progress on the Canyon Complex fires today. Although the clearing air increased fire potential, it has allowed us to use our air support. Currently helicopters are being used for reconnaissance and water drops. Progress is also being made on the smaller fires in the complex. There is still a chance of afternoon thunderstorms

Friday June 27, 2008 - Day Operations Update

Friday June 27, 2008 - AM Update

Thursday June 26, 2008 - PM Update

Thursday June 26, 2008 - Day Operations Update

Thursday June 26, 2008 - AM Update

Wednesday June 25, 2008 - PM Update

Wednesday June 25, 2008 - AM Update

Tuesday June 24, 2008 - AM Update

Monday June 23, 2008 - AM Update

Sunday June 22, 2008 - Canyon Complex Summary

The Plumas National Forest issued a Forest Order closing areas with active fire to protect visitors. The closure covers public land generally bounded by the North and Middle Forks of the Feather River toward the Pacific Crest, the Bucks Lake Wilderness and land surrounding the Cold Fire. Please refer to maps and descriptions posted on the Forest website. Please note that private businesses and resorts, including facilities around Bucks Lake, remain open along State and County highways and in communities.

Plumas Closure Order

Closure Map-Exhibit A

Closure Map-Exhibit B

Plumas National Forest Website - Canyon Complex Updates

Fire Restrictions Begin June 26th, 2008

www.myairdistrict.com
www.airnow.gov
http://bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/epo
www.plumasnews.com

http://plumasfiresafe.org

Volunteer Registry:

Plumas County Public Health Agency has been getting calls from the public, offering to volunteer to assist with local response efforts. Those interested in volunteering should register at https://medicalvolunteer.ca.gov/ This California Medical Volunteer System (Cal Med) is a web based system that helps local health departments access a registry of willing volunteers for their area. Anyone can register, not just medical and health professionals. Once registered, County Public Health Officials can send out requests for help through the Cal Med system.

Updates are in PDF Format. You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.