Fire crews assisted by helicopters and air tankers are battling a wildfire that has burned about 9,695 acres of sagebrush and juniper three miles south of the northeast California community of Likely.
The Likely Fire is burning east of U. S. Highway 395 in the Bureau of Land Management Tule Mountain Wilderness Study Area. It has forced evacuations of campers at West Valley Reservoir, and is threatening 12 homes and three outbuildings. No structures have been damaged or destroyed.
The fire is burning near the communities of Madeline and Likely and near a buried natural gas pipeline. There have been no damages in the communities or to the pipeline. The fire is near the Modoc National Forest boundary, but there are no access limitations to the South Warner Wilderness or the Blue Lake Campground. The Jess Valley Road is open.
The blaze is burning in livestock grazing areas and affecting habitat for deer and pronghorn. It is threatening habitat for greater sage-grouse.
Officials at the Susanville Interagency Fire Center said about 300 personnel are fighting the fire which is 35 percent contained by firelines. Crews will work on firelines today and looked for opportunities for direct attack on the fire. Burning operations to remove fuel between firelines are planned and will increase acreage.
Full containment is estimated on Wednesday, Sept. 12
The fire broke out Wednesday, Sept. 5, when a fire in a motorhome on Highway 395 spread onto the highway shoulder and into the brush and trees.
Current information on this fire is available at www.inciweb.org. Click the link for Likely Fire. The website is updated regularly.
