Crews keep fire from hopping Highway 70
OROVILLE -The North Complex Fire continues to stay within its containment lines. The fire remains at 317,459 acres and 83 percent contained.
On Sunday, officials said that firefighters focused on constructing and reinforcing containment lines both to the north and south of the fire within the highway 70 corridor. Crews worked on cold trailing, carefully inspecting and feeling with the hand forheat, theFrench Creek Spot Fire from 5 days ago.
Fire
is expected to continue backing and flanking with roll- out down toward theNorth Fork of the Feather River, Highway 70 and down into Bucks Creek. The fire had still not crossed Highway 70 as of Sunday night.
On Sunday night firefighters were set to be reinforcing containment lines, in addition to patrolling for spot fires during the upcoming change in winds, officials said.
Night operations may initiate ignition to supportfirefighting efforts in the Penstock area to meet the main fire’s edge.
Fire crews had conducted firing operations overnight Saturday into Sundaymorning
to reinforce retardant lines near the penstocks within the Highway 70 corridor, US National Forest officials said on Sundaymorning.
Officials said Saturday night shift resources that patrolled the remainder of the fire’s containment lines, whichcontinued tohold. The fire remains at 317,459 acres and is 83% contained. During the day Sunday, firefighters were to be supported by multiple heavy helicopters and single- engine air tankers if flying conditions allowed. In themorning briefing, officials said there were 1,604 firefighting personnel on the fire, by the evening that number had fallen to 1,313.
According to the Butte County Sheriff website, evacuation orders are still in place for the area west of Oro- Quincy Highway from Stephens Ridge north to the county line, and both sides of Highway 70 from Pulga Road north to the county line, including Pulga Road and Concow Road north of Rim Road.
Evacuation warnings are still in place for Stirling City, Concow, Big Bend and Yankee Hill and the area of Stephens Ridge Road.