In wooded areas of state, wildfire evacuations hard
The wildfires tearing through California's forests every summer are making evacuations an annual event in the state's rural, woodsy corners.
“We've done so many, we're getting pretty proficient at it,” said Plumas County Sheriff-Coroner Todd Johns.
Last year, Johns evacuated a quarter of Plumas's 19,000 residents when the deadly Bear Fire encroached from the south. This year, with the Dixie Fire burning through a substantial chunk of the county, Johns had to evacuate more than half the local population.
“Most of the north state sheriffs have become quite proficient at evacuating areas in their counties now,” he said. “It's a lengthy process, as you can imagine.”
Carrying out evacuations in vast, remote, mountainous areas presents all kinds of challenges: People are spread out, cell service is spotty, resources are thin, livestock and large animals are abundant, and homes in the hinterlands are often tucked deep in the woods, only accessible via rugged dirt roads. Plus, a prevailing attitude of self-reliance means some residents dig in their heels and simply refuse to leave.
What does it take to clear California's wild geography when a wildfire approaches? We asked county sheriffs and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Ser
vice how it has worked in the far north over the past month as the Dixie Fire burns across the landscape.
Who calls for an evacuation in these places?
Evacuation warnings and orders in rural areas flow from county sheriffs, who consult with the state Office of Emergency Services on the danger to their communities. They’ll typically start with a warning pushed out on social media, radio stations and news outlets and send officers door to door to alert people.
Carrying out a mandatory evacuation is a complicated process that typically involves coordination with Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, county road departments and federal agencies. Together, they close roads and campgrounds, knock on doors, ping cell phones and sweep recreation areas on foot or by vehicle.
“It is crucial to understand that the sheriffs face tough choices. Evacuate too late, and people will get hurt. Evacuate too soon, people will be displaced from their homes. Neither decision is made easily,” according to written replies provided to The Chronicle by Lassen National Forest public information officer Mark Gaston. “The welfare of an entire community is a heavy burden for anyone to shoulder.”
How do evacuations work at campgrounds, trails and wilderness areas?
California’s far north is a puzzle of intertwining national forests extending across millions of acres of mountains, meadows and woodlands. These are the places largely given over to nature, where people go to separate from the pull of modern life, often on multi-night trips.
“The greatest challenge we face in wilderness areas is determining where there are people,” according to the Lassen National Forest public information officer. That forest alone is 1.2 million acres in size. “These areas, by design, are not easily accessible.”
In an evacuation, authorities work with phone service providers to ping cell phones and GPS devices in a specific geographic area with text message alerts. They post closures at trailheads and developed campgrounds and check wilderness permits to get an idea of who and how many people may be in the backcountry. The Forest Service and sheriffs’ departments will also send enforcement patrols on foot and via ATV through popular hiking and camping areas to reach people on the ground.
Evacuating campgrounds in Plumas and Lassen counties hasn’t been an issue lately, authorities say.
“Our entire county is full of smoke, so we’re not seeing many people camping or vacationing here right now,” Lassen County Sheriff ’s Lt. David Woginrich said.
Helicopters are deployed to search for people that authorities suspect may be in the least accessible areas. Earlier this month, for example, Butte and Plumas counties sent a helicopter over Butte Meadows, a popular spot for 4x4s and rockcrawlers.
Still, several residents in Butte Meadows, west of the Dixie Fire, refused to leave their homes and cabins after an evacuation order in late July. The area was spared fire damage and the order was reduced to a warning last week.
What happens when a person refuses to evacuate?
Authorities say the overwhelming majority of people are thankful to receive the heads-up about an approaching fire and are receptive to early warnings and evacuation orders. But they do encounter residents who push back, determined to protect their homes. Some are prepared with personal fire trucks, sprinkler systems and pond reservoirs to stave off the flames.
Elderly people with deep connections to their properties tend to be more ornery and resistant to evacuating, Sheriff Johns said.
“Of course, we can’t force people to leave,” Sheriff ’s Lt. Woginrich said. “But we strongly recommend it.”
Occasionally, a confrontation can turn aggressive. Earlier this month, officers who stopped a man driving his truck toward a fire containment area near Greenville said he pulled a gun on them to move aside so he could drive into the fire zone, Johns said. Officers later searched for the man but weren’t able to locate him.
What happens to people’s pets and livestock in an evacuation?
Residents who evacuate often must leave their animals behind. Sometimes, that can mean risking one’s livelihood. For example, a Plumas County rancher who had to leave his free-range cattle during last year’s Bear Fire returned to find a large portion of his herd had died.
When evacuations last days or weeks, local authorities in Plumas and
Lassen will often volunteer to check in at certain homes and properties and tend to pets and livestock. This summer, they have been feeding and watering dogs, cats and horses, among other animals, Johns said.
Ideally, a rancher or person with lots of heads of livestock will be able to leave their animals in an irrigated pasture, which can act as a natural fire break. Sometimes, officials will work with locals to return to their herds temporarily during an evacuation.
The Pacific Crest Trail passes through these fire zones. How are hikers coping?
Fires across California, Oregon and Washington have shut down increasingly larger portions of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail, forcing off thru-hikers attempting to trek the entire route this summer.
Since the Dixie Fire, Plumas and Lassen are seeing “a large contingent” of marooned hikers — at least 100, Johns said — who have abandoned the trail and wound up in small towns, hoping for rides and assistance.
“It hasn’t been necessarily problematic, but it was a concern,” Johns said. “There are still folks being picked up and shipped around this fire.”
Lassen Volcanic National Park was evacuated. How did that work?
The 106,000-acre park, known for its unique geologic features, is composed of 85% wilderness and spans Lassen, Plumas, Tehama and Shasta counties. It draws about 500,000 visitors per year and was on pace for the highest annual visitation before the Dixie Fire caused the park to shut down and evacuate on Aug. 5.