THIS POST IS NOW SUPERCEDED BY A MONDAY EVENING UPDATE. Follow this link for the latest information on the Willard Fire.
UPDATE 3:55p.m. Good afternoon, here is a quick update on the Willard Fire: MANDATORY EVACUATIONS are still in place for Gold Run and Hidden Hills.
According to SIFC spokesperson Jeff Fontana, officials are closely monitoring the fire situation and will immediately let the public know when evacuations have been lifted. We will pass that information along as soon as we know it is safe for people to return to their homes.
WEATHER UPDATE
A strong cell with active lightning has formed over the fire area and will have some effect on the fire activity. Both precipitation and gusty outflow winds are expected to accompany the storm. We are monitoring and tracking the lightning and will run updates in a separate post. Click here for a thunderstorm bulletin.
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Update 10:49a.m.
Cal-Fire is managing the fire today with support from federal, state, and local agencies.
According to SIFC spokesperson Joyce El Kouarti firefighters made good progress last night, completing dozer line along the fire’s northern flank, around the head of the fire, and along sections of the fire’s southern flank.
Incident Commander Lane Caldwell explained this morning that the priorities for today are to complete and connect dozer lines along the fire’s southern flank and head.
The main goals are to keep the fire east of Willard Road, south of the Susan River, west of the Susan Hills subdivision, and north of Gold Run.
The following resources have been assigned to the incident so far:
- 29 hand crews
- 104 engines
- 27 dozers
- 11 helicopters
- 4 air tankers
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7:24a.m. Willard Fire Morning Update
Good morning everyone, welcome to day two of our continuing coverage of the Willard Fire burning southwest of Susanville. Now that the sun is up aircraft can return to fight the blaze which grew to 2,500 acres overnight. Fire officials are estimating the fire to be 5% contained this morning.
According to Jeff Fontana at the Susanville Interagency Fire Center Mandatory Evacuations are still in place for Gold Run and Hidden Hills.
The fire, which started near the Roxie Peconum campground in Willard Valley grew quickly yesterday, moving southeast towards Gold Run and the Susan Hills area before night fell and fire activity quieted down.
Hand crews worked through the night along with dozers to cut lines and begin containment.
- Mandatory evacuations are in place for the Gold Run area and Hidden Hills Drive.
- Mandatory evacuations remain in place in the Cheney Creek drainage east of Devil’s Corral.
- Evacuation advisories are in place for residents of the Susan Hills areas south of Susanville.
- Residents of River Bench Road and Bauer Road in Susanville are encouraged to monitor fire activity very closely.
- The Bizz Johnson and Southside Trails are closed.
An evacuation center is open at the Community Church of Susanville, located on Numa Road near the intersection of Cameron Way.
Large animals can be evacuated after 7:30 p.m. to the Lassen County Fairground, 195 Russell Avenue in Susanville.
No structural damage has been reported yet.
CAL-Fire is managing the fire with support from federal, state, and local agencies. The following resources have been assigned to the incident so far:
- 41 hand crews
- 62 engines
- 11 dozers
- 7 helicopters
- 10 air tankers
- 1 lead plane
- 3 air attack
More than 1,100 resources are actively working on the fire, and many additional resources are arriving to assist.
Today’s Fire Weather Forecast
Forecasters expect to see winds pick-up mid morning. The bad news is that winds will gust up to 35 miles an hour – the good news is that the winds will be pushing the fire to the southwest this morning, away from Gold Run and Hidden Hills areas into more sparsely populated wild land. The winds will be followed by cooler and more humid conditions giving firefighters an advantage in their battle.
The fire will be transitioned to a Cal-Fire team around noon today.
The cause of the Willard Fire is still under investigation. If you have information pertaining to the fire investigation, please contact the Susanville Interagency Fire Center at 530-252-6450.
This is live coverage of a developing story. This post will be updated as new information arrives. We will be running live updates on the Willard Fire whenever conditions warrant.
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