7:13 p.m. PDT August 4, 2021
Reporters in Greenville, California have documented what one of them calls “widespread destruction” after the Dixie Fire ran through the town Wednesday. Much of the damage occurred around 5 p.m.
One scanner report said some law enforcement and fire personnel had to evacuate the area for their own safety.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
We just entered Greenville on Hwy 89 This video was taken from Bidwell & Ann St. I’m so sorry for the town of Greenville. #DixieFire pic.twitter.com/vtAiYpy1Dl
— SoCalFirePhoto (@SoCalFirePhoto) August 5, 2021
2:57 p.m. PDT August 4, 2021
Above: the Dixie Fire seen from four cameras at 2:54 p.m. PDT August 4, 2021.
7:53 a.m. PDT August 4, 2021
The Dixie Fire was very active throughout Tuesday night, with most of the movement during the night occurring on the northwest side. During a mapping flight at 7 a.m. Wednesday two large fingers of fire spread north to within less than a mile of Highway 89. At that time there was a small spot fire three-quarters of a mile north of the highway, more than a mile out in front of the main fire.
In that same general area it was also spreading northeast and at 7 a.m. Wednesday was very close to crossing Highway 89 a third time, in this case about 2.5 miles south of the junction of Highways 89 and 36 approximately 2 miles southwest of the south edge of the Chester Airport. Earlier it crossed Highway 89 and ran to Lake Almanor just south of the golf course at Lake Almanor West. It also crossed north of Greenville.
Tuesday night there was not much additional spread of the fire on the west side of Greenville. Firefighters apparently were effective, at least in the short term, of slowing the fire at the edge of the town. The west flank of that large finger of fire was still active about 4 miles east of Canyondam.
A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the fire area Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening. Winds are expected to be out of the southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph with single-digit relative humidities. These conditions could promote additional spread to the north and northeast, making it very difficult for firefighters to keep the fire south of Highways 36 and 89.
10:33 p.m. PDT August 3, 2021
Strong winds gusting to 20 mph and low relative humidity Tuesday caused the Dixie Fire to grow substantially with extreme fire behavior in two areas, prompting the Plumas County Sheriff’s office to issue a mandatory evacuation of Chester. The town had a population of 2,145 in 2019. Many other areas are also under evacuation orders.
A structure status map and evacuation maps for Tehama County and Butte and Plumas Counties are available.
Tuesday evening the incident management team reported the fire had burned 254,466 acres.
On the northeast side of the fire it made a big run to the north in the Round Valley Reservoir area, crossing Long Valley Road and continued moving north on the west side of Greenville. A 7:30 p.m. mapping flight on Tuesday showed that it crossed Highway 89 about two miles north of the community. Engines, hand crews, dozers, and aircraft worked to keep the fire out of the town.
Fire trains are working to protect railway structures with water and retardant.
The Dixie Fire crossed Highway 89 in a second location nearly reaching the shore of Lake Almanor between the golf course at Lake Almanor West and Prattville.
On the northwest side Monday the fire twice spotted across the burning operation firefighters conducted several days ago along Humboldt Road. On the maps it appeared that the completed burn strip was about 150 to 300 feet wide, but in some areas was not yet tied in with the main fire. The larger of the two spots grew to over 1,000 acres Monday, and on Tuesday increased in size and had spread to within a quarter mile of Highway 36 during the 7:30 p.m. mapping flight.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire area beginning Wednesday afternoon due to gusty winds and low humidity.
The Incident Management Teams reports that 45 structures and 22 minor structures have been destroyed. There have been no reported injuries or fatalities.
Resources assigned to the fire Tuesday evening included 373 engines, 103 water tenders, 20 helicopters, 81 hand crews, and 70 dozers for a total of 4,927 personnel, a reduction of 241 personnel in 24 hours.
My dad along with a couple other teachers buily cabins in Chester when I was very young. We would spend all summer and Christmas vacation there. I was just there 2 years ago. My father had passed and it is break ik ng my heart not knowing if our family cabin has survived.
Renee, maps are available showing the status of structures. I hope your cabin is OK.
hello we lived in the town of Greenville Ca in the 1960s to early 70s. my hubby worked at the mill that has been long gone. we lived across the road from the mill that was located just before you go over the bridge into the town. our children were born at the hospitol in Greenville and the town of Chester, they went to school there. so sad to hear that it is know gone. Helen Oatney.
Chester, CA — I no longer live in Chester, but in the 1940s my parents built one of the major grocery stores (now a sporting goods store) in Chester. After my father and sisters were killed in a robbery, the rest of us ended up moving, although the store continued in the family. Much of who I am today is bound up in an identity linked to Chester. I’m 800 miles away, but feeling horrendously stressed, worrying that the store my parents sacrificed to build, and so lovingly kept repaired, painted, roof cleared of snow … might go end up like the burned out store fronts in Greenville. Father, mother, sisters, brother are all buried near Westwood. Struggling with strong emotions here, and angry with myself for having to cancel a trip out last year, because of Covid. My prayers are with those of you who still live there.
I have history in Chester as well. My family and I shopped at your family store for years and I do remember the horrible story about your family and the robbery. I pray all goes well for you and all Chester and nearby residents that are in danger of the fire again.
Bill
I vividly remember a forest fire in Northern Wisconsin, 1930 – I was 3 years old. And other building fires – lightning struck our barn when I was 6 [It has taken me 80 years to learn how the entire hay barn could be ignited in 2 seconds after the strike; Chimney Fire burned the house down [14 years old ]
I am applying for a patent on a simple chain saw change that allows fie fighters to cut brush 5 to 10 times faster to get to the fire faster and create fire breaks much faster. Also working on a way to grind up the branches.
I would enjoy learning from your years of experience fighting fires!!
Am I anywhere near right with this image?
Trees do not stop firemen from getting to a fire from the nearest road!
Horizontal branches do – a man with a “magic chain saw”, leading a team of say 20 men, half with “magic saws”, cuts just enough branches to get through the brush and around trees as fast as he can. Men behind him widen the path and using hoes and hands, move brush out of the way.
At the fire, they split to right and left using the same procedure to create a fire break.
I am working on a way to get the saws in the hands of firemen; do you have any advice on how to get that done???
Sincerely,
Arthur H Krugler Professional Mechanical & Chemical Engineer.
Do you think that people in the mount Shasta area will have to be prepared to evacuate in the near future? I have a Sister in Montague.
Thanks.
Mount Shasta is a good jump from the dixie fire so I would not have concerns from that fire. There may be other fires closer to the shasta area.
How is the town of Westwood in Lassen Co. We lived there for 15 yrs.
Westwood is on stand-by evacuation. Fire will have to get around Mountain Meadows Reservoir which doesn’t seem to be a problem. Fire hasn’t burned into Lassen County yet. If Westwood burns then Susanville is next and there’s lots of fuel on Fredonyer Pass between Westwood and Susanville. It’s horrible!
Is the town of Chester OK or has it burned?
Not yet, going to be a tough day today.