(UPDATE at 7:53 a.m. PT, May 3, 2013)
More accurate mapping as a result of the infrared flight Thursday night produced a reduced acreage, now estimated at 6,393 acres and 10 percent containment.
Resources on the fire include 1,094 personnel, 81 engines, 32 hand crews, 7 helicopters, and 14 dozers.
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(Originally posted at 9:26 p.m. PT, May 2, 2013)
The Panther fire in northeast California, 28 miles east of Red Bluff, has been burning for about 36 hours and has already blackened about 10,000 acres. It is located in Tehama County north of Butte Meadows and is 10 percent contained. It is burning in timber, spotting from clear cut block to clear cut block.
While the wind in southern California has been screaming the last two days, at the Panther Springs weather station 6 miles northwest of the Panther Fire the wind was quite sedate on Thursday, ranging from zero to three mph. However, reports from the fire say the fire has been pushed by strong down canyon winds. The humidity was low on Thursday, in the teens. The fire is in the Mill Creek and Deer Creek drainages. There is no imminent structure or infrastructure threat.
One of the U.S. Forest Service infrared mapping aircraft mapped the fire Thursday evening, so hopefully by Friday morning a detailed map will be available.
