Fire crews relocate, blaze remains active down Genesee Valley
Fire crews from the west zone of the Dixie fire relocated to the Milford and Janesville areas Monday, enabling east zone crews to relocate to the south end of Genesee Valley to assist where the fire is burning aggressively downhill.
After facing challenging weather conditions over the weekend, Cal Fire said crews fighting the Dixie Fire should be in for more favorable conditions as a new week of work begins, though gusty local winds in the fire zone will persist.
Cal Fire announced drones will be flying Monday night if conditions allow to add depth and reduce fire behavior.
The Lassen County sheriff and Tehama County sheriff changed several evacuation orders near Janesville and and Milford to evacuation warnings Monday. There have also been several evacuation warnings which have been lifted. Evacuation warnings in Butte County are still in effect. A full list of evacuation orders and warnings can be found by visiting community.zonehaven.com.
After growing 1,711 acres overnight Sunday into Monday morning, Cal Fire reported the Dixie Fire grew 2,075 acres Monday. The fire has now burned 727,896 total acres. After containment grew by two percent Sunday, containment remained at 40 percent Monday according to Cal Fire’s evening incident report.
The Dixie Fire, which started July 13 in the Feather River Canyon near the Cresta Powerhouse, has an expected containment date which remains “to be determined.”
Cal Fire reported three additional destroyed structures Monday evening, bringing the total number of destroyed structures to 1,252 lost. The total number of damaged structures remained at 91. After rising Sunday evening and into Monday morning, Cal Fire reported fewer 682 structures threatened by the Dixie Fire. Currently 11,971 structures in the fire zone remain threatened by the fire.
Cal Fire reported that damage assessment is ongoing, and the numbers of damaged and destroyed structures may change as assessment teams are able to safely access the fire area.
The fire is the secondlargest fire in state history. The largest fire in California history is 2020’s North Complex.
East Zone
Cal Fire reported the eastern edge of the fire line towards the Janesville area remain secure. On the southern edge above Antelope Lake, crews continue to work the fire’s edge with dozers and handlines to tie it into the lake.
Resources from the fire’s west zone assisted in the Milford and Janesville areas Monday enabling firefighter to relocate as the fire burned aggressively downhill in Genesee Valley. Cal Fire reported crews are actively engaged with the fire as it is making its way down the road. Crews are watching for hot spots and spot fires while securing it to the road.
There are two spot fires on the south end of Genesee Valley. One spot fire below the Grizzly Peak is continuing to burn uphill towards the main fire with an estimated size of 560 acres. On Monday, crews worked to minimize any spread moving towards homes. Firefighters are continuing work on contingency lines to minimize any spread of the fire reversing course and burning south.
In the Taylorsville and Peters Creek area, firefighters are working directly on the fires edge, mopping up and patrolling around all the structures. A contingency line above Taylorsville is being constructed as well as south of Grizzly Ridge.
West Zone
After Cal Fire said fire remained active until after midnight Sunday and into Monday morning, fire activity subsided Monday despite local winds in the fire zone which continue to persist. Monday morning Cal Fire said this is a result of smoke settling back over the fire area.
Crews from the west zone were relocated to the east zone where the fire remains active. Crews continued mopping-up hot spots Monday and will continue working to strengthen control lines overnight.
Cal Fire stated cooler weather and increasing humidity slowed rates of spread, with isolated torching still being observed. Crews are expected to be facing less severe weather patterns this week.
Cal Fire noted Northern California has experienced large fire activity and will likely experience an extended fire season. They added fires burning in Northern California are exhibiting extreme fire growth based on critical fuel conditions and have traveled up to eight miles in a single day. Monday evening’s incident update said this year’s fuel conditions are much worse than previous years and have only been aided by wind, causing more significant fire spread.
There are currently no evacuation orders in Butte County. Evacuation warnings remain in effect for for the areas of Butte Meadows, Jonesville, Snag Lake and Lake Philbrook.
Evacuation warnings in Butte County include at Butte Meadows at Humboldt Road and Thatcher Ridge, up to Cherry Hill campgrounds and north to the Butte and Tehama County lines. In Jonesville the warning includes the area of Highway 32 at the Butte and Tehama County line, east to the area of Cherry Hill campground, southeast to Snake Lake, southwest to Skyway at Bull Creek, and north along Skyway to Humboldt Road. The Lake Philbrook area, which includes Philbrook Lake south to Browns Ravine Road, is also under an evacuation warning.
Lassen County Sheriff Dean Growdon said for the most up to date information about road closures follow Caltrans or California Highway Patrol on social media. A full view of the fires burning across California can be found by visiting https:// www.fire.ca.gov/incidents.