This weekend firefighters on the Plumas National Forest responded to human-caused and lightning fires across the Forest.
The Davis Fire, discovered Friday morning, was contained and controlled by Friday evening at less than 1 acre. This fire resulted from one of 14 lightning strikes on the Beckwourth Ranger District from a storm Thursday night.
Predicted lightning Friday and Saturday was less than expected.
Saturday evening, the Lake Fire was reported at the Snake Lake Shooting Range. The fire was quickly contained and controlled at just over a quarter acre. Firefighters confirm the fire was human caused and is under investigation.
Sunday morning the McClears Fire near Portola was contained and controlled by early afternoon at less than an eighth of an acre. Firefighters confirm it was human caused.
Early Sunday afternoon there was a surge in thunderstorm activity over all three ranger districts on the Plumas National Forest. There was abundant lightning with some rain throughout the area.
Lightning fires started being reported last night and more fires are being discovered this morning. There is an air reconnaissance flight scheduled today over the Forest.
There are currently no structures threatened or any evacuations for the lightning fires. Most of the fires are burning in remote areas.
Mount Hough Ranger District has three lightning fires. The Red Bridge Fire was a single tree lightning strike that was quickly contained last night.
The Highlands Fire was discovered this morning south of Bucks Lake at Bucks Highlands. The fire is approximately a half an acre and progress was stopped by Plumas National Forest Engine 325.
The Wolf Fire was just reported south of Highway 89, northwest of Greenville. Firefighters are responding.
The Feather River Ranger District lightning fires are under the Feather complex, with four fires so far and more expected to be discovered today.
The largest fire in the Feather Complex is the Letter Fire on the Feather River Ranger District. It is burning in the 2020 North Complex burn scar near Grizzly Forebay in heavy snags. Firefighters are working on suppressing the fire with consideration for firefighter safety due to hazardous conditions. The fire was staffed overnight, and line construction was started.
This morning the fire is approximately 10 acres. Numerous ground and air resources are working on the fire this morning. Smoke may be visible from California State Highway 70 and the Bucks Lake area. Area residents and visitors should watch for increased firefighting traffic accessing the fire from Oro-Quincy Highway.
The Table Fire near La Porte Road was contained last night. The Poverty and American Fires were discovered this morning and are both staffed with firefighters. The Poverty Fire is estimated to be approximately 3 acres and the American Fire is approximately a tenth of an acre.
More lightning is in the forecast today over the Plumas National Forest.
Holdover lightning fires can smolder for days and even weeks following a thunderstorm. After a wet thunderstorm like last night, it can take several days of dry and warm weather for these fires to become visible.
Firefighters will continue to monitor conditions and respond to lightning fires as they are discovered in the coming days.
“This weekend was a mix of preventable human-caused fires and lightning fire response,” said Plumas National Forest Fire Management Officer Martin Senter. “While we are early in the season, fuels are drying and we need the public’s help preventing wildfires, especially as we are responding to lightning fires on the Forest.”
Area residents and visitors are asked to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire and to help prevent additional fires. The public can also report suspected wildfires by calling 911.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
The post Weekend Fire Activity and Lightning Fires on Plumas National Forest appeared first on SierraDailyNews.com.
