Updated 12:28p.m.
Fire Size: Approximately 18,342 acres with 40% containment. Updated acreages based on data from an overnight infrared flight.
Location: West side of Eagle Lake about 20 miles northwest of Susanville, California.
Road Closures: Portions of County Roads A-1, 21 and 231 are closed in the vicinity of the fire.
Evacuations and Closures: Spalding Tract is evacuated. Christie Campground and day use area, Merrill Campground, West Eagle Campground, Eagle Campground, Aspen Grove Campground, Gallatin Marina and Beach and Camp Ronald McDonald are closed to public use. An evacuation advisory was issued yesterday for Buck’s Bay and Stones Landing.
Evacuation Center: Assembly of God Church on Richmond Road in Susanville, (530) 310-2783.
The incident management team reports that a spot fire occurred yesterday and headed northeast of the Spalding residences to Eagle Lake.
No structures were lost as the crews worked hard to contain the fire.
Air tankers, helicopters and ground forces were aggressively used in the efforts to suppress the fire.
The Spalding homes are surrounded by burned out areas which helps protect the community even further.
Resources Currently Assigned: 712 total personnel, including 18 hand crews; 8 helicopters; 37 engines; 8 bulldozers; 15 water tenders.
Community Meeting
The NorCal Interagency Team and the CalFire LMU will have a fire information update and community meeting Wednesday, August 1st at 6:00p.m. in Jensen Hall at the Lassen County Fairgrounds.
Map of the fire as of 11:23p.m. 07/31/18
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Good morning, here is all of the current information from the Whaleback fire burning at Eagle Lake as of 7:30a.m. Wednesday.
According to the fire management team, “The Whaleback Fire increased in acres overnight as the unburned fuels in the center of the fire continued to burn out. The fire has backed down to Eagle Lake on the eastern edge. The most active area of the fire is to the northwest. Weather today continues to be hot and dry, with increasing afternoon winds from the west-south-west. ”
AÂ Mobile Retardant Base has been ordered, which will be set up in the Spalding area. There are no mobile retardant bases available in the United States, so we are borrowing one from Canada, which will not arrive for a few days.
There will also be more helicopters working over the fire today, flying from helibases in Susanville and Chester. The helicopters are dipping water from Eagle Lake and dropping it on the fire, using buckets suspended on long cables.
A contingency line is being constructed along the 105 Road to the north of the fire. This line could be used to protect the communities of Buck’s Bay and Stones Landing, should the fire spread to the north due to extremely windy, hot and dry weather forecasted through the week.
There are currently 712 firefighters working the 18,342 acre blaze which has forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents from around the lake. Current mapping shows 40% containment with full containment expected August 8th.
Evacuation Warning for Buck’s Bay and Stone’s Landing Area
Due to increased fire activity and spotting on the Whaleback Fire, an Evacuation Warning is being issued at this time for those living in the Buck’s Bay to Stone’s Landing area. Please be prepared to evacuate should conditions worsen in that area.
LMUD Outage Update
At 4:00p.m. Tuesday, LMUD announced that after evaluating the Eagle Lake distribution line, the utility has determined that the line has sustained major damage and is not repairable within a reasonable timeframe.
This information has prompted LMUD to provide temporary power to our Eagle Lake customers by an alternate means.
“We have secured a large generator which will meet the needs of the approximately 800 customers affected by the outage,” explains LMUD Public Relations Manager Theresa Phillips.
“However, due to the unpredictable nature of the fire and the time needed to put the generator and transformer in place, we do not expect to have power restored to Eagle Lake until sometime between 8/6/18 and 8/8/18. Further delays are possible depending on circumstances.”
Long-term plans to rebuild a distribution line that will serve Spaulding, Bucks Bay, Stones and the surrounding communities are underway.
What is expected to happen next on the Whaleback?
According to the fire management team the northwest and northeast area of the fire should continue to grow in the next 24 hours – influenced by gusty southwest winds and dry forest fuels. Minimal fire is expected on the southern and eastern flanks.
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Latest Map as of Tuesday at 3:30p.m.
The Whaleback Fire increased in acres overnight as the unburned fuels in the center of the fire continued to burn out. According to the Fire Management Team’s Tuesday morning update, the Whaleback has reached Eagle Lake on the eastern edge. The most active area of the fire is to the northwest.
As of this morning the fire was mapped at 16,100 acres, with 32% containment. Full containment is expected Wednesday, August 8th.
Currently there are 614 personnel on the fire which continues to burn in timber and brush
Mandatory evacuations are still in place for the community of Spalding, the Gallatin Marina, Ronald McDonald House and the Merrill, Christie, Eagle and Aspen campgrounds.
Monday afternoon Lassen Municipal Utility District announced that crews had restored power to Eagle’s Nest, the Youth Camp, the Marina, Merrill and Christie Campgrounds and Ronald McDonald House. A handful of other customers have also been energized. However, Spaulding, Stones, Bucks Bay and Grasshopper are still without power.
Today firefighters will continue constructing indirect and direct fire lines, preparing for burnout if necessary. They will also be scouting opportunities for contingency lines.
Mop-up and improvement of existing containment lines is also underway.
Fire crews continue to provide structure defense for community of Spalding and developed recreation areas.
Weather today at the fire continues to be hot and dry, with increasing afternoon winds from the west-south-west.
Norcal 1 Type 2 Incident Management Team (Coots) and CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc Unit (Ferguson) are in Unified Command of the incident.
EVACUATIONS
Lassen County’s Health and Social Services Department opened a shelter for evacuees of the Whaleback Fire at Assembly of God Church, 473-465 Richmond Road, Susanville, California 96130. Those affected by the fire can reach the shelter at (530) 310-2783.
It is asked for anyone going to the shelter to bring their medication and medical equipment (walkers, breathing machines, etc.), clothing for three days, and important papers such as insurance cards.
In addition, the shelter is not providing medical care. Any caretakers must accompany you for the duration of your stay.
Please keep in mind weapons, drugs, alcohol and personal bedding are not permitted at the shelter.
