The Plumas and Tahoe national forests provide the following July 25 operational update for the Gold Complex Fire currently burning on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth Ranger District and Tahoe National Forest Sierraville Ranger District. Gold Complex includes the Smith Fire and Mill Fire.
An Ask-the-Incident-Commander meeting is set for today, technology permitting, at 2 p.m. on http://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
Line around the Smith Fire held again overnight. Crews will remain on the fire today to ensure that winds do not affect containment. Crews are keeping a close eye on hot spots near the line that could threaten containment and continue to mop up to the extent possible.
The Mill Fire containment lines have also continued to hold. However, embers and burning snags from still-active areas interior to lines continue to challenge firefighters and are of special concern today with increased winds. There are still unburned pockets of vegetation inside containment lines, and residents and visitors to the area can expect to see fire activity increase as those interior areas continue to ignite and burn. Today, crews will work to find and extinguish those areas and to strengthen lines around the fire.
As of the evening of July 24, the Mill Fire has been almost completely lined. However, there are still numerous hot spots, burning snags and other hazards near the fire lines that could threaten containment and spot fires are possible. Crews continued to work on mitigating those hazards yesterday, but there is still considerable work to be done. In addition, increased wind speeds could threaten containment, so work continues to strengthen lines and to build contingency lines in case of an increase in fire behavior.
Crews are on 24-hour shifts around structures and critical powerlines. Engines remain prepositioned in neighborhoods and dozers continued to build and reinforce lines overnight last night. In addition, crews utilized helicopters with night-flying water-dropping capabilities to aid firefighting efforts on the ground overnight.
Slightly cooler weather is likely to persist into the weekend. Wind speeds are anticipated to increase today, with gusts up to 30 mph possible.
Crews and aircraft from the Gold Complex are also assisting with response to the Park Fire near Chico.
Quick facts
- Acres: Mill, 2,962; Smith, 45.
- Containment: Mill 0%; Smith 5%.
- Detection date: July 22, 2024.
- Cause: lightning.
- Total resources: 910.
- Crews: 15.
- Engines: 127.
- Dozers: 16.
- Helicopters: nine, plus mapping-capable unmanned aircraft systems.
- Fixed wing aircraft: available as needed.
Official fire information
Maps and operational updates are available at http://www.inciweb.wildfire.gov/. Official information is available at http://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents.
Real-time map-based information with no login required is available at http://www.egp.wildfire.gov/egp/Default.aspx.
Evacuation information is available at http://www.facebook.com/plumascountysheriff and http://www.facebook.com/sierracosheriff.
Information provided by Plumas National Forest, Tahoe National Forest
