Evacuation warnings are lifted for parts of Janesville
Following extended efforts by fire crews, evacuation warnings in parts of Janesville have been lifted.
The areas include Janesville west of Highway 395 from the Bass Hill area south to Janesville Grade as well as Janesville and Milford east (lake side) of Highway 395 from the Thunder Mountain Road intersection south to the Flux Road intersection.
With the evacuation warning lifted in Janesville, other evacuation warnings now affect the east of Quincy. This includes portions of Chandler Road from Quincy Junction Road east to Highway 70 and the north side of Highway 70 from Chandler Road east to west of Massack Road. It also includes Highway 70 at Massack Road, to the east side of Lee Summit and everything north to Argentine Rock and the south boundary.
On Wednesday, Cal Fire reported temporary road closures are in place for Highway 44 from A21 to Old Station due to fire activity.
Evacuation warnings are in affect for the areas of Old Station and Hat Creek, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office announced. The evacuation warning is for both sides of Highway 44 from Big Pines Road, north of Brians Way, due to fire activity.
Some roads are reopening however, with portions of Highway 299 access available Thursday following closure since the beginning of the Dixie Fire. Traffic will be one-way with flagging operations and available only to local traffic. Cars will be escorted by pilot every three hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Additionally, operations resumed Wednesday at the Westwood and Janesville post offices after temporary closures due to the fire. Customers normally served by the Milford Post Office are being directed to the Herlong Post Office at 2067 Yuba St. in Herlong for mail pick up. Photo ID is required.
After a pause in rise of containment on Thursday, containment rose on Friday to 46 percent.
The fire grew an additional 959 acres Friday, Cal Fire reported, bringing the total acres burnt to 750,672. On Thursday, Cal Fire reported the Dixie Fire burnt 2,622 acres.
There were no changes to structures affected Thursday, Cal Fire reported. The total number of destroyed structures is still currently 1,273. The total number of damaged structures is 92. There are 11,996 structures in the fire zone threatened by the fire.
East zone
Cal Fire reported Thursday that the fire by Janesville and Millford has not seen a change in its footprint. Foot continues to be seen from the area but it is interior they noted. There was also reported progress made on the areas in the area of Antelope Lake.
Along Genesee Valley Road crews continue to find and extinguish spot fires from the Grizzly spot. The Grizzly spot fire reached the top of Grizzly Ridge and firefighters are working down the ridge to the south, burning as necessary to keep it from moving to the west. Cal Fire said this was expected to continue on Friday.
Multiple contingency lines have been constructed between Grizzly Ridge and Quincy and Greenhorn.
The spot continues moving west, but crews continue to constructing and improving lines to protect Taylorsville. Cal Fire said aircraft will continue to work at slowing its movement using both water and retardant as air quality allows.
Equipment is also working north of Davis Lake on contingency lines. The fire backing down Mount Jura to the east of Taylorsville has reached the bottom of the valley. Cal Fire said the lines have held and crews will continue mopping up on Friday. Around Dyer Mountain, work continues to mop up heat.
West zone
In the west zone, Cal Fire reported light winds along with the a warming trend are expected on Friday. Temperatures are forecasted to be above normal through the weekend with poor overnight recoveries.
Cal Fire is anticipating an increase in fire behavior with the forecasted hot and dry weather.
With evacuation warnings being lifted, Cal Fire is strongly encouraging returning residents to remain vigilant with regard to current fire conditions. The fire agency added some residents may see smoke coming from trees and stumps for days following their return, telling those returning if they are concerned about active flames, call 911 instead of attempting to deal with the fire themselves.
Cal Fire noted Northern California has experienced large fire activity and will likely experience an extended fire season. The state fire agency 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.
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.