Dry conditions lead to unusual fires, high fire threat in north state
An "unprecedented" dry winter is putting firefighting agencies on alert as several fires have burned throughout the county and north state.
A wildfire was burning Friday northwest of Cohasset in the Ishi Wilderness in Lassen National Forest.
As of deadline Friday, approximately 175 acres had burned, with 30 percent containment, said Esther Miranda, Lassen National Forest public affairs specialist. Full containment is expected on Sunday.
Dubbed the Campbell Fire, the blaze began around 8:15 p.m. Thursday in Deer Creek Canyon. According to Gary Zack, manager of the Susanville Interagency Fire Center, the fire is in rugged terrain a bit over two miles northeast of Pinnacle Point, which is the extreme north end of the Cohasset Ridge. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Approximately 150 personnel from Cal Fire Tehama-Glenn, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management are fighting the fire. There are five helicopters and two air tankers being used.
Miranda is asking the public to stay out of the fire area to not hinder firefighter efforts as crews are coming in and out.
Friday, there were also three escaped controlled burns in Chico, Gridley and Paradise.
The Chico fire scorched less than half an acre at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church on Garner Lane, when a volunteer with the church was cleaning up brush at about 12:30 p.m. The wind changed direction and the flames jumped the line, said Dustin Topp, a fire apparatus engineer with Cal Fire-Butte County.
Topp said anyone who burns this weekend should check the weather report on the Cal Fire-Butte County's website and the Butte County Air Quality Management District's website.
A fire Wednesday that burned 60 acres of dry grass near Honcut blazed like it was summer, said Cal Fire Butte-County Capt. Scott McLean. A little breeze pushed it along.
This is unprecedented, he said. People need to be aware that just because it's winter it doesn't mean they can go out and burn. Temperatures in the mid-50s or lower are not preventing fires this season.
The public should remain informed of current weather conditions and take the same precautions they would as if it was summer, he said. If burning is allowed, people should take extra steps to ensure the proper clearing space, have a water source and not burn on windy days. Anyone using equipment, like mowers, should be cognizant of their surroundings.
Cal Fire-Butte County has staffed an extra engine because there are northwesterly winds predicted, McLean said. The agency will continue to monitor the weather and will hire people back if needed.
For many locations across Northern California, 2013 was the driest calendar year on record, said Tom Dang, meteorologist for the Sacramento office of the National Weather Service.
Usually the area would be getting snow or rain, but it hasn't happened because high pressure has been very stubborn, he said. The area is not in critical fire weather compared to the summer, but there is a lack of moisture dampening fuels like dry vegetation, which is causing these fires.
On average, the region should be seeing a storm system once or twice a week, but it's been about a month since rain, Dang said.
Starting Tuesday, Dang said there might be a pattern change with a weak low-pressure system that brings light precipitation.
Staff writers Almendra Carpizo, Barbara Arrigoni and Dan Reidel contributed to this report.
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