Containment on the Park fire continues to improve while the active fire in the Northeastern edge remains active and the most challenging terrain for firefighters.
The Lassen National Forest says Firefighters have been aggressively battling the Park Fire since it started on July 24, but as the fire moves into the dense timber of the Lassen National Forest foothills, direct attacks are becoming more dangerous and less effective. The fire has established itself in the challenging Mill Creek drainage, a steep, rugged area that complicates firefighting efforts.
Instead of direct attacks, crews focus on building and widening containment lines around the fire’s perimeter. They are working on the northern and southern rims of Mill Creek, using roads, dozer lines, and hand lines to create barriers. The strategy is to keep the fire within the canyon and gradually push it northeast using controlled tactical burns. Fire crews carefully scout for opportunities to minimize the fire’s spread and attack it directly when it’s safe.
The burn area of the Park Fire now exceeds 401,000 acres with 34% containment.
From CAL FIRE and Lassen National Forest 8/5/2024 6 am update:
CAL FIRE:
Temperatures warmed up and the air cleared over the Park Fire area leading to more fire activity. Single and group tree torching, short range spotting, and short runs persisted throughout Sunday afternoon.
Temperatures will remain warm at night over the next several nights. Early into the coming week the region will experience very warm and dry conditions. Daytime highs will reach the lower 100s and the minimum relative humidity will range from 10 to 20%.
Warm overnight temperatures with below-average humidity will allow heavy fuels to burn actively. Lighter and live fuels may not burn as readily overnight but are expected to rebound quickly during the day.
Firefighters continue building contingency lines in Butte, Shasta, and Tehama counties.
Lassen National Forest:
The Park Fire has burned 401,508 acres total – 95,691 on the Lassen – and is 31% contained.
Fire in the Mill Creek drainage saw minimal growth today despite hotter, drier conditions as air resources worked to moderate fire activity with repeated water drops throughout the day.
With several days of previously favorable weather, firefighters have been able to build and widen lines using a mix of roads, dozerline and handline heading south from Highway 36, across the front of the fire and tied in around McCarthy Creek. They now are turning the corner and connecting to Tamarack Road which parallels the north rim of Mill Creek. On the southern rim, crews are using heavy equipment to improve Forest Roads to prevent the fire from advancing south and east. These lines also are being plumbed with hose lays.
As hot and dry conditions impacted the fire area this afternoon the fire activity increased. The weather is expected to remain dry through the evening. This continued weather pattern brings an expected increase in fire behavior and residents of the Mineral and Mill Creek areas could see an increase in smoke production as conditions change.
Image dated July 24, 2024
