Forest Service News Release
Dixie Fire Update for Sunday, August 8, 2021
463,477 Acres 21% Containment 5,137 Total Personnel
Lassen and Plumas National Forests, August 8, 2021 — The Dixie Fire is now the second largest
wildland fire in California’s history. For the last couple of days, more moderate fire activity has allowed
firefighters the opportunity to engage safely along the fireline. However, today starts a drying trend in the
weather forecast, returning to warmer temperatures and gusty, southwest winds throughout the week.
On the East Zone, overnight smoke significantly reduced visibility making driving hazardous for
firefighting crews. However, clearing skies on the northeast perimeter on Moonlight Peak have led to
more dynamic fire behavior with fire backing down the slope. Today, firefighters will be working to
contain fire that spread to China Gulch near Moonlight Valley. Crews are also attacking the fire using
direct firefighting tactics on the fire’s edge. Firefighters continue to scout ahead of the fire to ensure the
contingency lines they have created will hold. Fire managers are shifting personnel to cover priority
areas, including securing the line to protect homes in Crescent Mills, Hunt Canyon, along Keddie Ridge,
Evans Peak, Moonlight Valley, along Diamond Valley Road, as well as east and north along Old Hauns
Road, Dyer Mountain and Westwood. Crews will continue cutting handline, laying water hoses, staging
sprinklers and pumps, using bulldozers to cut fuel breaks and conducting strategic firing operations to
control the fire. The fire footprint has not moved along the southern boundary, but crews did put out
hotspots at Silver Lake.
Dixie Fire West Zone – Fire behavior overnight was moderate due to smoke inversion, warm temperatures, and
poor relative humidity recoveries. Fuel moistures remain critical and historically low. Fire activity is expected
to decrease through the morning hours. Smoke shading from fires in the region will reduce fire intensity,
increasing the potential for crews to make headway on building containment lines. Firefighters continue to
provide structure defense and reinforce containment lines. Damage assessment is ongoing.
Dixie Fire
East Zone: Information: 530-289-6735 (7 am – 9 pm) Media: 530-852-8476 (7 am – 9 pm)
E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7690/
Facebook: Plumas NF: https://www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas
Lassen NF: https://www.facebook.com/LassenNF
Twitter: Plumas NF: https://twitter.com/USFSPlumas; Lassen NF: https://twitter.com/LassenNF
Structure Status Map (CAL FIRE): https://tinyurl.com/2m9en9t4
Forest Closure: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7690/
National Park Closure: https://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm
Road Closures: https://roads.dot.ca.gov/roadscell.php
Evacuations: https://tinyurl.com/4nm69873
Dixie Fire Update
