Planes Drop Retardents On Huge Eagle Lake Area Fire
August 6th, 1977
FOUR THOUSAND ACRE BLAZE—In the top photo, smoke billows over uptown Susanville buildings as a 4,000 acre forest fire burns out of control near Eagle Lake. The thick smoke filled the sky over the northwest portion of the city.
The bottom photo shows a bomber dropping a fire retardent on the blaze, which broke out yesterday afternoon. Officials say the fire started from the smoldering remains of a Wednesday afternoon lightning caused fire.
More than 400 men and over 60 pieces of equipment have been called in to fight the fast-moving fire. California Division of Forestry officials anticipate containment late in the weekend with control possibly early next week. The blaze is one of a rash of lightning caused fires burning in Northern California. (Advocate photos).
Fire Blackens Over 4,000 Acres
August 6, 1977
A lightning-caused forest fire, raging out of control about five miles northwest of Susanville, has blackened more than 4,000 acres of timberland. Fire crews from the California Division of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, National Park Service and local fire departments are battling the blaze. The CDF does not expect containment until Sunday, with control anticipated Monday, barring unforeseen difficulties.
The CDF says 450 people are fighting the fire which broke out yesterday afternoon from a smoldering Wednesday fire. Forty-three bulldozers, 17 fire engines and more than 50 hand crews were reported working this morning.
Five aircraft, which had been used yesterday afternoon, have been pulled off due to heavy smoke. Officials say they will be put back to work when the smoke lightens, permitting better visibility.
So far there have been no injuries and no structures have been damaged.
The Eagle Lake Road was closed above Lake Forest when the fire jumped the road late yesterday afternoon.
The blaze has crossed the Paul Bunyan Logging Road and is moving northeast toward Willow Creek. A CDF spokesman says Lake Forest Estates is not presently in danger.
The fast-moving fire has been divided into three sections, with lines established above and below it. Crews are attempting to force it toward an old burn to help in containment.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Department is allowing people to leave Eagle Lake but they are being directed over St. Rt. 139.
About 70 fires which had been reported burning in Lassen and Modoc counties yesterday have been reduced to about 40. Some smaller fires on BLM land have been extinguished but other smaller ones have merged to become large fires.
In Modoc County, a timber and brush fire has scorched 20,000 acres near Scar Face and is still burning out of control, while an out of control blaze in the Mosquito Lake area has consumed more than 7,000 acres. Estimated containment dates were not available.
Meanwhile, in Lassen County, two blazes merged near Crank Springs to form the 8,000 acre Meyers-Gerig fire which is still out of control.
The rash of lightning caused fires has stripped all agencies of manpower. The Bureau of Land Management reports they have only a “skeleton crew” available to handle any additional blazes. CDF officials say they are trying to keep men and equipment on the biggest and most dangerous fires but are running short.
A relatively dry electrical storm which moved through the area Tuesday and Wednesday was responsible for touching off over a hundred small fires. Many of the small one and two acre blazes have been controlled.
The BLM reports their lightning locator, which enables crews to plot lightning strikes, performed well, but crews were overwhelmed by the number of strikes.
