On Friday a layer of smoke partially shaded the fire, slowing the spread
9:41 a.m. PDT Aug. 7, 2021
Map of the Dixie Fire at 11:50 p.m. PDT Aug. 7, 2021. Other fires that have occurred since 1980 are also shown. To see the names of some of the fires not labeled, click here.
Environmental conditions on Friday and Friday night resulted in the Dixie Fire, 13 miles northeast of Paradise, California, being much more subdued than we had seen in the previous two days. Smoke from this fire and others in Northern California was trapped by an inversion and provided partial shade. It did not rise, disperse, or be transported into other states. Smoke was thick enough to keep temperatures cooler and humidities higher than earlier this week. It persisted into Friday night causing better humidity recovery, rising to 35 to 65 percent.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
The forecast for Saturday calls for similar weather conditions. The fire will still be partially shaded by smoke remaining in the area and the winds are expected to be light.
Satellite photo, smoke in Northern California at 9:11 a.m. PDT Aug. 7, 2021.
The northernmost portion of the Dixie Fire has entered Lassen National Park and is expected to continue burning north through the park. The northeastern section has burned into the 2007 Moonlight Fire and Friday night was very close to the 2020 Sheep Fire and may have burned into it by Saturday morning.
The number of documented destroyed structures has increased to 184, plus another 84 described as minor structures. The Incident Management Teams are still reporting no injuries or fatalities to firefighters or civilians, however some people that were in burned over communities are unaccounted for.
Mapping Friday night determined the fire had burned approximately 446,000 acres, an increase of about 16,000 acres in 24 hours, much less than the growth of 110,000 acres Thursday.
Two Type 1 Incident Management Teams, CAL FIRE Team 1 and California Team 4, are assigned to the fire which has been divided into two zones, East and West.
Resources assigned to the fire Friday evening included 384 fire engines, 124 water tenders, 27 helicopters, 87 hand crews, and 107 dozers for a total of 5,118 personnel. The estimated cost of suppressing the fire so far is $171,000,000.
Threat is modified due to a change in wind direction
7:30 p.m. PDT, Aug 5, 2021
Dixie Fire map, north side, 3:15 p.m. PDT Aug 5, 2021. The yellow shaded areas represent extreme heat; however, not all areas with extreme heat are identified as such.
The spread of the Dixie Fire Thursday was made more complex and unpredictable by the passage of a weather trough. It hit the fire area in the afternoon and brought a significant change in the wind, shifting it from the south or southwest to come out of the west or west-northwest. This may not seem like a huge difference, but wind is the primary factor affecting the direction of spread of a vegetation fire. A 90-degree change in wind direction can turn the flank of a fire into the head. Next to the heel or back of a fire, the flank can sometimes be a somewhat safe place from which to attack a fire, unless it burning in extremely dry vegetation pushed by strong winds. (Which is often the case over the last several years.)
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
Radar that was detecting smoke showed the wind shift in real time Thursday afternoon.
Wind shift occurring now on #DixieFire as trough moves overhead, putting additional towns in danger. Plume shift visible from KDAX radar. pic.twitter.com/BLMlWknblV
Firefighters who were on the right flank of the Dixie Fire today were no doubt warned by their Incident Meteorologist to expect the east flank Thursday afternoon to become the head of the fire, moving east quickly in their direction pushed by strong winds.
Westwood is a community of about 1,600 residents on Highway 36, 11 miles north of Greenville and 11 miles east of Chester. If the fire moves north from Greenville it will be threatened, and, if it moves east from Chester, it will be threatened.
By 3:15 p.m. Thursday the Dixie Fire, after destroying many of the structures in Greenville, had continued to spread 6 miles further north from the town. With long range spotting it reached Mountain Meadows Reservoir. If it finds a way around it, another 5 miles with a south or southwest wind and it could be at Westwood.
Another danger to Westwood is the northwest portion of the fire that burned over the Chester airport Wednesday and continued north during the night and Thursday, chewing through another 14 miles of forests. It looks like those 14 miles of the east flank could become a 14-mile wide head fire at least for a short time if the forecast pans out as expected.
The prediction for the Westwood area Thursday was for the winds to change direction in the afternoon to come out of the west at 13 mph with 21 mph gusts. The good news is the period of strong winds will be brief. At 8 p.m. it should decrease to 6 mph but still be from the west, and by 11 p.m. slow to 2 mph.
Satellite photo showing smoke from six large fires
5:55 p.m. PDT August 4, 2021
Satellite photo, fires in Northern California, 4:21 p.m. PDT Aug 4, 2021.
Wednesday afternoon the GOES 17 satellite could easily photograph smoke from six large wildfires in Northern California:
Monument Fire, on the Shasta-Trinity NF was 15,000 acres Wednesday morning, ½ mile west of Big Bar along Highway 299 and east of Cedar Flat. It is threatening Big Bar, Del Loma, Big Flat, and Burnt Ranch.
McFarland Fire on the Shasta-Trinity NF Wednesday morning was 20,005 acres. Evacuation orders are in place for the community of Wildwood.
River Complex on the Klamath NF consists of approximately 22 fires. Of these, 6 have been contained and are in patrol status. Of those that are active, most are ½ to 20 acres. The largest are Haypress at 5,500 acres, Cronan at 450 acres, and Summer at 2,500 acres, for a total of 8,487 acres.
Antelope Fire, approximately 2,400 acres, Klamath NF, was very active Wednesday afternoon with fire in the upper tree canopy. Spot fires have been observed 1/2 mile ahead of the main fire. Wednesday afternoon air resources could not assist firefighters on the ground due to poor visibility. It is moving north and impacting Tennant and Fish Camp.
Dixie Fire, on the Lassen NF, Plumas NF, and CAL FIRE. It was very active Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon and has burned approximately 274,139 acres, threatening several communities, including Chester and Greenville. It has crossed Highway 89 in multiple locations and Wednesday morning was close to crossing Highway 36.
River Fire near Colfax, California about 40 miles northeast of Sacramento.
Very significant destruction of structures in Greenville, California Wednesday afternoon
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. #DixieFirepic.twitter.com/vtAiYpy1Dl
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
Map of the Dixie Fire at 7 a.m. PDT Aug 4, 2021. The red areas indicate intense heat from the fire.
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.
The blaze south of Chester, California has burned more than 212,000 acres
Dixie Fire map. The white line was the perimeter at 11 p.m. PDT July 27, 2021. The green line was the perimeter about 48 hours earlier. The red dots represent heat detected by a satellite at 2:49 a.m. PDT July 28, 2021.
A mapping flight Tuesday night found that the Dixie Fire south of Chester, California grew by about 14,000 acres in 24 hours, to bring the total up to 212,799 acres. Much of the expansion was on the northwest side where crews are preparing firelines and conducting burning operations when the weather cooperates. There was also movement on the east side north of Bucks Lake where difficult, rocky terrain is a challenge for firefighters, and near Twain and Crescent Mills. Another burning operation has been ongoing on the Mt. Hough road northeast of Quincy.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
The Incident Management Team reports that 34 structures have been destroyed, in addition to another 19 described as minor.
Resources assigned to the fire Tuesday evening included 82 crews, 319 engines, and 34 helicopters, for a total of 5,301 personnel.
The thick layer of smoke over the southern half of the fire lifted Tuesday morning and early afternoon, but smoke settled into the lower elevations in the evening. Air operations were also active Tuesday, including on the south perimeter near Bucks Lake. Trace amounts of rain fell in localized spots of the fire which slowed the progression of the fire and limited firefighters’ tactical firing operations.
Channel 7 KRCR has an interesting story about how firefighters have been applying large amounts of water about two miles northeast of the fire in the community of Taylorsville, in an effort to keep things wet in case of an ember shower.
Dixie Fire map. The white line was the perimeter at 10:30 p.m. PDT July 25, 2021. The red and yellow dots represent heat detected by satellites during the 24-hour period that ended 3:24 a.m. PDT July 26, 2021. Clouds prevented some heat being detected by satellites.
Firefighters on the Dixie Fire south of Chester, California had a better opportunity than they have seen recently to make progress on the blaze that has burned 197,000 acres. Dense smoke and occasional clouds shaded the area Sunday which put a damper on fire activity. The decreased intensity allowed crews to move closer to the fire’s edge to construct dozer and hand lines in some key areas including near Taylorsville, Crescent Mills, Quincy, Bucks Lake, and Greenville.
Similar weather conditions are expected Monday, but if the smoke clears there will be a significant increase in fire behavior. The forecast includes 20-30% chance of thunderstorms Monday night and Tuesday, which will be followed by increased winds and higher temperatures later this week.
To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Dixie Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.
Engines are deployed in Taylorsville, prepping for structure protection in the event the fire reaches the area as it continues moving northeast. Sunday night firefighters began strategic firing operations using the Mount Hough Road to strengthen the fireline north of Quincy.
Poor visibility created by the smoke limited assistance fire personnel could receive from air tankers and helicopters but drones are being to gather intelligence, monitor fire activity at night, watch for spot fires, and assist in igniting tactical burning operations.
With the inability to drop fire retardant from air tankers, on Sunday water tenders filled with the slurry pretreated areas along Humbolt Road and other locations where burning operations took place. The retardant was sprayed on the opposite side of roads from where the ignitions were occurring. Firefighters always have to be cognizant of burning embers being blown across a road in a firing operation, but the report Monday morning was that no spot fires occurred Sunday night on the project where the retardant was used. Most of the tactical firing is occurring at night when weather and fuel conditions are more moderate than in the daylight hours. Air tankers can’t be used at night to drop retardant but water tenders can be operated 24 hours a day.
The fire is extremely large, reaching “megafire” status a number of days ago when it exceeded 100,000 acres. Now it is almost twice as big, with three base camps, and has an outer perimeter of 82 miles all of which has to be secured by firefighters.
Below — fighting the Dixie Fire from a train, and keeping the tracks open.
Sometimes you gotta fight wildfires from a moving train. In this footage, firefighters are using a water cannon to soak the tracks and surrounding areas as protection from the Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 100,000 acres as of July 22. pic.twitter.com/KmJNBuAT8I
Dixie Fire map. The white line was the perimeter at 12:01 a.m. PDT July 25, 2021. The red dots represent heat detected by satellites at 3:42 a.m. PDT July 25, 2021.
Saturday night the Dixie Fire south of Lake Almanor in Northern California merged with the Fly Fire near Highway 89 and the communities of Indian Wells and Paxton. At that time the Fly Fire was approximately 8,000 acres. With the additional growth over the last 24 hours it brings the combined size up to 190,625 acres.
The fire grew significantly Saturday in conditions that were very challenging for firefighters. The Fly Fire spread to the top of Mt. Hough and Crystal Lake and is now expected to back down the mountain to the northeast.
Saturday the east side of the fire burned into the Greenville Wye and across Highways 70 and 89. Firefighters engaged immediately in structure protection in nearby communities, with Paxton and Indian Falls being the most severely impacted. Several strike teams of engines were in the area fighting to protect structures as the fire intensified.
Extreme fire behavior is expected again Sunday, with unstable atmospheric conditions predicted that could lead to the development of large pyrocumulonimbus clouds, increasing the potential for spot fires and rapid fire growth.
This very large fire is being suppressed by two Incident Management Teams, with their areas of responsibility separated by the Highway 70 corridor.
Due to a massive smoke plume the street lights came on Saturday at 4:51 p.m. in Greenville, California, which at the time was about three miles northeast of the fire.
Greenville, CA at 4:51 p.m. PDT July 24, 2021.
The burning operation underway south of Lake Almanor is going well. Crews started from Canyondam working west and are circling around the north and northwest sides of the fire working toward Butte Meadows. As of early Sunday morning crews had progressed approximately 12 miles from Canyondam, burning the fuels along a road system to create a barrier to the main fire to protect the Lake Almanor area. The objective is to tie in the burning operation with crews constructing direct fire line on the southwest side of the fire.
The prescription for the firing calls for it to be done at night, conditions that make it easier for firefighters to control the fire intensity. The ignition and prescription are similar to conducting a prescribed fire. The project can be seen on the map above, appearing as a strip of white lines south of Highway 89, with red dots signifying heat from their burning operation.
