Small Town News

Canyon fires under control

---

The Forest Service announced the Caribou Complex of wildfires was 95 percent contained Monday, Aug. 16, with full containment expected the next day.

The set of four fires began in bizarre fashion, with a report of two fires around 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, growing to three and then four fires in roughly 15-minute intervals.

The strange pattern of fires led the Mt. Hough Ranger District to request Butte County be notified of a possible arsonist moving in that direction.

The incident began with the Hot and Wood fires being reported between Belden and Woody's Hot Springs on the north side of the highway.

A third blaze, designated the Belden Fire, was reported about 5:30 p.m., near the mouth of Chips Creek, west of the first two.

Responders were already discussing the possibility of a fourth fire at that point. .

The Plumas County Sheriff's Office confirmed a fourth fire at 5:45, later identified as being west of the previous three and designated the Rock Fire.

The PCSO advised residents in the area of Little Haven to evacuate about 7 p.m.

At 7:30, there were 10 or 12 fire engines, four Hotshot

crews, six air tankers and two large helicopters ordered for the complex, with many of those.units already on scene.

By 9 p.m. Caltrans was reporting Highway 70 was closed from Jarbo Gap in Butte County to the junction of highways 70 and 89 at the Greenville Wye in Plumas.

The Wood and Hot fires were considered contained and undergoing mop-up at 9 a.m. the next day, with acreages of 20 and eight respectively.

By noon Saturday, the Forest Service considered the Rock Fire to be the only blaze still actively burning.

Highway 70 was re-opened at 1:45 p.m. to one-way guided traffic with delays of 20 minutes.

The Rock Fire was reported as 80 percent contained at 63 acres by 7 p.m. Sunday.

Monday morning marked the always anxiously anticipated "this will be the last fire update" note on top of a Forest Service press release, which usually indicates authorities are confident the situation is under control.

The release said the first three fires were 100 percent contained, while the Rock Fire was still at 63 acres in size.

Resources for the day were listed as two helicopters, 16 engines, four Hotshot crews, four hand crews and three water tenders, as mop-up and containment efforts

continued on the various fires.

The document also mentioned some resources would

be released that day.

As of Monday morning, the cause of the fires was still under investigation.



Copyright 2010 The Chester Progressive, Chester, California. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Chester Progressive Chester, California. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Chester Progressive