The rain has been very helpful to Northstate firefighters trying to improve containment of the many lightning fires from a week and a half ago. The Forest Service will soon be entering prescribed fire season, which they say will be very active to reduce a huge build up of hazardous fuels.
The Red Bank Fire is fully contained. The fire west of Red Bluff destroyed two structures and burned 8,838 acres.
The South Fire was very active over the weekend, making a run to the west, but the rain has slowed activity. The objective is to confine the fire to the Yolla Bolly Wilderness and apply full suppression where the fire spreads beyond the wilderness. The South Fire is west of the Red Bank Fire 15 miles south of Platina. It’s now 5,190 acres with 53% containment.
The Middle Fire in the East Fork of Canyon Creek in the Trinity River Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has more than doubled in size since it was last surveyed. It’s now 1,328 acres. there’s no containment but indirect fireline continues to be built to protect private property and historic sites. Two firefighters were injured in the initial attack when a boulder rolled down a hill and struck them.
Crews are closing in on the big fire in Plumas National Forest 11 miles east of Taylorsville. The Walker Fire has burned 54,518 acres, now with 96% containment.