The Lassen National Forest announces that Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team 2 assumed command Aug. 30 of the Park Fire area that is on Lassen National Forest lands. Prior to the transition, the Park Fire was managed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cal Fire’s Tehama-Glenn Unit will continue managing state lands within the fire area. LNF personnel say they are grateful to Cal Fire for their successful suppression efforts and positive collaboration.
Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6 had been managing the fire-suppression effort of the Park Fire, which impacted both state and LNF lands. Also on Aug. 30, Cal Fire Team 6 transferred command of fire-affected state lands to Tehama-Glenn Unit’s local Type 3 incident management team. Information about can be found at fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/24/park-fire or by calling 530-529-9233.
While fire-suppression and mopup operations have been largely completed, much work around the fire perimeter remains, say forest personnel. Numerous resources, including firefighters and heavy equipment, are assigned to the fire to implement LNF’s suppression-repair plan. The priority is to protect and rehabilitate natural and cultural resources, reduce soil erosion and repair areas damaged by fire-suppression activities. For example, the suppression repair groups are repairing miles of dozer-constructed fireline, currently along Hogback Road and Ponderosa Way.
Work being done by resources in the roads group consists of using water tenders for dust abatement, grading roads that became washboarded with heavy use, and clearing clogged culverts. The hazard-tree group — consisting of tree-felling crews and a lot of heavy equipment — is working off roads within the forest closure.
LNF lands, roads and trails near the fire are temporarily closed under Forest Order No. 06-24-07. Fire restrictions are also in effect within the forest under Forest Order No. 06-24-04. Both orders and supplemental information can be viewed at fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices.
LNF asks the public to observe the closure and not attempt to access closed roads, allowing firefighters to focus on their work and not be further endangered by vehicle traffic.
Hot, dry conditions at all elevations will persist through the weekend, but winds will remain light. All vegetation in the fire’s vicinity is very dry and no precipitation is expected. Smoke from stump holes, berm piles and other scattered heat sources in the fire’s interior could produce visible smoke. However, these hotspots do not pose a threat to containment lines, say LNF personnel.
The Park Fire started July 24. As of Aug. 30 the fire was 94% contained at 429,603 acres. Resources assigned to the fire include 1,521 personnel, 98 water tenders, 82 excavators, 59 dozers, 38 engines, 17 masticators, and 11 skid steers.
Park Fire information is available via 530-414-9298 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., by emailing [email protected] and online at inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calnf-park-fire.
More information about Lassen National Forest is available on Facebook at facebook.com/LassenNF.
Information provided by Lassen National Forest
