Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest are continuing to respond to lightning and other fires on the forest.
Three lightning fires were discovered Aug. 16 and were contained and controlled at a tenth of an acre. On the Feather River Ranger District, the Hopkins Fire was located near Hopkins Creek and Blue Nose. On the Mount Hough Ranger District, the Loop Fire was located west of Quincy in the forest above Purdy Lane, and the Blackhawk Fire was located above the Mount Hough Ranger District office.
On Aug. 17 firefighters responded to the Haskins Fire near Bucks Lake. The fire was contained at seven-hundredths of an acre and crews were mopping up into the evening. The cause is under investigation. The Ridge Fire, a lightning fire reported around 1 p.m. on Mount Hough Ranger District near Snake Lake was contained at a quarter acre. Again, firefighters were working on mop-up in the evening.
At around 4 p.m. the Blue Fire was reported at McRae Meadow on the Beckwourth Ranger District, in a remote area west of Plumas-Eureka State Park. As of the evening of Aug. 17, the fire was reportedly burning in high-elevation fir and estimated to be approximately 5 acres. There is a hoselay around the fire. Multiple air and ground resources were fighting the fire the evening of Aug. 17, including two helicopters, two air tankers, air attack, engines, handcrews, and overhead. There are no immediate threats to structures or communities. The cause is still being determined.
The chance of thunderstorms in the area has been extended to Tuesday, Aug. 22, with lower temperatures and predictions of heavy rain on Monday. Lightning fires can hold over for more than two weeks after a lightning strike, typically becoming visible as conditions dry out. Plumas National Forest firefighters are monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond not only this week, but in the coming weeks ahead.
PNF is providing support to fires from recent lightning activity across Northern California. However, firefighting resources are being maintained to be able to respond effectively to local lightning fires. Area residents and visitors are asked to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire, especially as firefighting resources work on lightning fire response. Report suspected wildfires by calling 911.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas, or follow
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
Information submitted by Plumas National Forest
