Quincy area residents were startled by a loud explosion at 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, prompting several to call 911. The incident occurred near the west end of River Ranch RV Park at 42331 State Route 70 near Feather River College. The sound frightened horses at the FRC equine facilities and was heard as far away as East Quincy, according to residents there.
The Quincy Fire Department and Plumas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and found no evidence of injuries or property damage. Firefighters determined that an individual had been attempting to light a burn pile with a mixture of gasoline and diesel fuel when the gasoline vapors ignited and exploded.
“He was standing right next to it,” said Quincy Fire Chief Frank Carey. “It actually wasn’t that loud where he was, but it echoed off the mountains, and that’s what caused everybody in downtown Quincy to hear the explosion,” Carey told The Plumas Sun in a phone interview. Carey also reported that the individual involved had expressed embarrassment over the incident.
According to Carey, the burn site was safe. It was built in a pit, and a skid-steer loader waited nearby, ready to dump soil into the pit in case the fire got out of control. The individual had a general burn permit from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection of the type required for agricultural burning, and all other aspects of the planned burn were safe and legal. According to PSCO Public Information Officer Chandler Peay, no action was taken by law enforcement regarding the incident.
Many agencies discourage or prohibit the use of gasoline and other flammable liquids to ignite burn piles and recommend instead the use of butane or propane torches, drip torches, flares, paper or kindling.
Carey emphasized that prior to burning, all residents should make sure they have the proper burn permit, available through the Cal Fire website, and should confirm that the burning is conducted on a permissive burn day. Local burn day information is available on the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District website or by calling 530-274-7928.