Current Situation

South Zone:

Crews last night focused on the Quartz Hill and Onion Valley area picking up spot fires and conducting mopping up operations. Resources today will continue to concentrate in this area to reinforce existing containment lines. The fire remained in its current footprint throughout the rest of the zone.

North Zone:

Resources will be looking to complete firing operations in the vicinity south of Grizzly Forebay, should conditions permit. There continues to be spotting adjacent to containment lines in the areas south of Bucks Lake, but crews have been successful in catching them all.

Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black took command of the fire at 6 a.m. this morning. Incident Commander Troy Hagan would like to thank California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 for the great work that has been done during their 21-day assignment.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.m.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Today’s temperatures in the valleys will reach the low 80’s, with temperatures in the higher elevations topping out around 70 degrees. Southwest winds 4-8 mph.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

Current Situation

South Zone:

Crews today continued to patrol and mop up around Quartz Hill and Onion Valley after last night’s successful firing operations. A helicopter with heat detecting sensors surveyed the area to aid crews in finding any hidden hot spots. Night crews will continue mop up efforts throughout this same area. All other containment lines remain secured.

North Zone:

Firing operations took place south of Grizzly Forebay and will continue into tonight’s night shift, should conditions allow. Crews were able to catch all slop overs and hot spots and will continue to patrol containment lines throughout the night.

Members of the Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black will take over command of the fire tomorrow at 6 a.m. as California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 has reached the maximum 21-day limit.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.m.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Overnight temperatures in the valleys will range from 36 to 42 degrees, with temperatures on the slopes and ridges ranging from 48 to 54 degrees. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

Fire

The North Complex Fire grew 1,682 acres and is now 301,404 acres at 75% containment. The fire was active in a few places yesterday and today expect similar fire activity as yesterday due to a moderate risk environment from mild temperatures and low relative humidity. Crews continue to increase containment with aggressive backfiring.   

Smoke

Smoke and air quality conditions today will be similar to yesterday trending toward less smoke in the afternoon due to the increase in SW winds. Smoke from the North Complex will continue to be transported towards areas between Chester and Janesville, including Susanville which will lead to an increase in smoke impacts due to smoke settling in this area.   

Health & Safety

When looking at this Smoke Outlook think of it as a tool to plan your day. If the area that you reside in has poor air quality and you desire outdoor activity, think about going to an area that is green (good air quality) if you want outdoor recreation. https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks  

Current Situation

South Zone:

Overnight firing operations were successful around Quartz Hill and Onion Valley as crews were able to reinforce containment lines. Resources today will be focusing on monitoring these areas and looking to pick up any possible spot fires. Previously established south zone containment lines remain secured.

North Zone:

Firing operations in the vicinity of Grizzly Big Creek to Grizzly Forebay were very productive last night. Crews completed firing to just south of Grizzly Forebay, where crews will look to complete firing during today’s shift. All slop over fires and spots have been picked up and will continue to be patrolled.

Members of the Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black will be shadowing California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 today. Team Black will take over command of the fire on Thursday at 6 a.m. after Team 4 reaches their maximum 21-day limit.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Afternoon temperatures today in the valleys will range from 78 to 84 degrees, with temperatures on the slopes and ridges ranging from 64 to 69 degrees. Southwest winds will be 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.  Relative humidity will be trending slightly lower from yesterday.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

Current Situation

South Zone:

Overnight firing operations were successful around Quartz Hill and Onion Valley as crews were able to reinforce containment lines. Resources today will be focusing on monitoring these areas and looking to pick up any possible spot fires. Previously established south zone containment lines remain secured.

North Zone:

Firing operations in the vicinity of Grizzly Big Creek to Grizzly Forebay were very productive last night. Crews completed firing to just south of Grizzly Forebay, where crews will look to complete firing during today’s shift. All slop over fires and spots have been picked up and will continue to be patrolled.

Members of the Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black will be shadowing California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 today. Team Black will take over command of the fire on Thursday at 6 a.m. after Team 4 reaches their maximum 21-day limit.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.m.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Afternoon temperatures today in the valleys will range from 78 to 84 degrees, with temperatures on the slopes and ridges ranging from 64 to 69 degrees. Southwest winds will be 10 to 15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph.  Relative humidity will be trending slightly lower from yesterday.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

Current Situation

South Zone:

Day shift resources will be extending their shift in order to assist night shift crews attempting to complete ignitions near Quartz Hill. Unfavorable wind conditions have hampered ignition operations for the last several shifts. Other resources will be continuing to monitor and patrol the south zone fire perimeter. Currently, all containment lines remain secured.

North Zone:

Due to today’s winds, there have been several small spot fires near Grizzly Forebay, though all remain within containment lines. Crews here will also be extended into the night shift to take advantage of expected favorable condition for firing operations.

Members of the Type 2 Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team Black have been arriving and will be inbriefed later this evening. Team Black will take over command of the fire on Thursday morning at 6 a.m. after California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 reaches their maximum 21-day limit.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Overnight temperatures in the valleys will range from 39 to 44 degrees, with temperatures on the slopes and ridges ranging from 47 to 53 degrees. Southwest winds will bring in a modest bit of moisture, look for a small increase in humidity overnight at high altitudes.

Smoke outlook: fires.airfire.org/outlooks/EasternSierra or www.airnow.gov/

Plumas National Forest closures: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices

Fire

The North Complex Fire grew 5,421 acres and is now 299,722 acres at 74% containment. Today expect similar fire activity as yesterday due to a moderate risk environment from mild temperatures and low relative humidity. Crews continue to increase containment with aggressive backfiring.

Smoke

Overall weather and smoke dispersal in the forecast area is expected to be very similar to yesterday. Light terrain driven winds will drive smoke towards communities NE of the fire. Dispersal will be poor for most of the day and smoke from the North Complex and other fires in the state will continue to impact the smoke outlook area. Smoke impacts will continue to be high today in Quincy, Oroville and Susanville.

Health & Safety

Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects and can mimic COVID symptoms such as headaches, trouble breathing and fatigue. If you have a fever, seek medical Attention. For more information on Smoke and COVID-19 on the link below.
 
For more information on Smoke and COVID-19 go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lfc1I_PMZFAWZack2cqtUlBmBXLpve0Q/view 

Current Situation

South Zone:

Crews will look to continue firing operations that began overnight to reinforce dozer line in the Onion Valley area, should conditions permit. The fire continues to hold from Little Grass Valley south to Harrison Ridge and is largely in patrol status.

North Zone:

Firefighters continue to focus on prepping along Grizzly Big Creek and south of Grizzly Forebay for firing operations. As always, firing operations can only happen with favorable weather conditions, which are expected today. Patrol and mop up continues on the Red Mountain Road and the containment lines continue to hold from Lookout Rock, east all the way to Quincy.

When the time comes for residents to return home, please drive with caution as firefighters and incident personnel will still be working and patrolling the fire perimeter.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Today’s highs will be heavily dependent on cloud cover with temperatures ranging from 67 degrees on the slopes and ridges and 84 degrees in the slopes and valleys. General winds are expected to be southwesterly, with some gusts as high as 25 mph.

Current Situation

South Zone:

Firefighters completed the ignitions along the dozer line that parallels the LaPorte Road. Operational resources were planning to go direct with the fire perimeter near Quartz Hill. However, adverse winds have shifted tactics to firing off the constructed dozer line later tonight if conditions allow.

North Zone:

Crews contained a slop over near Red Mountain Road and they will continue to mop up and patrol that fire perimeter area. Resources have been waiting for favorable winds along Grizzly Big Creek and south of Grizzly Forebay so no ignitions were conducted during the day but operations are hoping conditions will align over the next 1-2 shifts.

When the time comes for residents to return home, please drive with caution as firefighters and incident personnel will still be working and patrolling the fire perimeter.

For more information there is a daily recorded operational briefing video that will be posted to the Plumas National Forest Facebook Page at 9 a.m.

West Zone: See CAL FIRE Team 4 updates at: www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/18/north-complex-fire/

Evacuations and Road Closures

Orders and Advisories are still in place for communities in Butte, Plumas, and Yuba Counties. Please check your respective county’s websites and Facebook pages for the latest updates on evacuations and road closures. You can also sign up with your county for reverse 911 notifications by registering with the CODE RED system.

Weather and Air Quality

Nighttime conditions will be similar to the past few nights with temperatures ranging from 38 to 42 degrees in valleys and drainages and 45 to 51 degrees on slopes and ridges. Forecast for tonight is slightly warmer, indicating slightly greater cloud cover.

Click on the Related Information link below to view the latest evacuation news from the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

Fire

The North Complex Fire grew 3,101 acres and is now 294,301 acres at 64% containment. The fire remained active in a few places yesterday with interior burning and smoldering, but crews continued to make progress increasing containment. Today expect similar fire activity due to a moderate risk environment from mild temperatures and low relative humidity.

Smoke

Smoke and air quality conditions yesterday stayed in the USG to Unhealthy ranges throughout most of the forecasted area in the Sierras and Moderate East of the Sierras. Today, expect the same air quality as yesterday due to stagnant air from less wind and very little lifting of smoke. Communities in the forecasted area on the east side of the sierras will stay in the moderate ranges. Grass Valley and Oroville will see air quality in the Unhealthy ranges. Communities in the Sierras will see air quality in the moderate to USG ranges with Quincy getting into periods of Unhealthy ranges.

H & S

Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials. Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick. Even someone who is healthy can get sick if there is enough smoke in the air. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, and can mimic COVID symptoms such as headaches, trouble breathing and fatigue. If you have a fever, seek medical attention.

For more information on Smoke and COVID-19 go to: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lfc1I_PMZFAWZack2cqtUlBmBXLpve0Q/view