Dixie Fireplace Grows to 40,500 Acres; Blown PG&E Energy Line Fuses Might Have Began Blaze – CBS San Francisco
QUINCY, Plumas County (CBS SF) – Blown fuses on a Pacific gas and power line are being investigated for a possible cause of the Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas counties, which exploded on 40,500 acres Monday night.
Meanwhile, new evacuations were underway in several rural communities as the fire progressed in the rugged terrain near the Bucks Lake Wilderness Area.
During the Cal Fire’s Sunday night briefing, the fire spanned 18,702 acres. After the last update from Cal Fire on Monday evening, the burn zone had grown to 40,500 acres. The fire is contained 15%.
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On Monday, Cal Fire said the Dixie Fire was very active and had created a large column of smoke. Firefighters built control lines to reinforce the perimeter and continued to fight aggressively from the air and the ground.
Authorities said ground crews were working to strengthen the emergency lines from Chips Creek to High Lakes. Air resources, including air tankers, very large air tankers, and medium Type 2 helicopters, and Type 1 heavy helicopters flew over the fire, assisting ground suppression efforts.
On Monday night, Cal Fire anticipates possible isolated thunderstorms in the entire area. The crews will continue to work to expand and strengthen the current direct and indirect control lines.
Dixie fire: Cal Fire Incident Report, evacuation information, road closures
PG&E filed its incident report on the Dixie Fire late Sunday night.
The utility said a mechanic discovered fuse damage on a power line on July 13 after the company’s outage system warned that the Cresta Dam on Highway 70 in Feather River Canyon was losing power.
“The responding PG&E troublemaker was remotely observing what he thought was a blown fuse on the PG&E Bucks Creek 1101 12kV Overhead Distribution Circuit uphill from his location,” the utility said in a report of an electrical incident at California Public Utilities Commission.
Dixie fire: PG&E Dixie Fire Incident Report
“Due to the demanding terrain and the road works that led to the bridge being closed, he was only able to reach the mast with the safety device around 1640 o’clock. There he saw two out of three fuses blown and a healthy green tree leaning into the Bucks Creek 1101 12 kV conductor that was still intact and hanging on the mast. “
“He also observed a fire on the ground near the tree trunk. The interferer manually removed the third fuse and reported the fire. His supervisor called 9-1-1 and the 9-1-1 operator replied that they know the fire and are responding. Air support from Cal Fire arrived on site around 5:30 pm and began to drop fire retardants and water. “
Firefighters near the front lines of Dixie Fire, July 19, 2021. (Butte County Fire Department)
In a statement on KPIX 5, PG&E said it had filed a report with state regulators about the incident.
“Yesterday, PG&E filed an Electric Incident Report (EIR) with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regarding the Dixie Fire in Butte and Plumas Counties. The information provided by PG&E is preliminary and the Company has presented this report with great caution in light of the collection of PG&E facilities from CAL FIRE in connection with its investigation. PG&E is cooperating with the CAL FIRE investigation. “
PG&E equipment has been blamed for a number of major forest fires in the state over the years, and it wasn’t the first time the utility has been investigated as a source of a forest fire in the area. Cal Fire found that the 2018 campfire that killed 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise was caused by PG&E electrical transmission lines in the Pulga area.
Firefighters use the Union Pacific Fire Train to protect the railroad tracks and prevent the Dixie Fire from spreading in the Plumas National Forest. California Fire says about 14% of the area is contained, but access is limited as it burns in a remote area. pic.twitter.com/ZGydRdBtW6
– CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) July 19, 2021
Speaking at the briefing, Tony Brownell, the commander of the Cal Fire incident, said the firefighters faced a major challenge in fighting the northeastern area of the massive fire.
“Today was a very active day by the fire,” he said. “There are three things that really affect a fire: fuel, topography, and weather. All three came into effect today when the fire became very active on two different sides of the fire. “
Brownell said the crews were trying to create a “catcher’s glove” out of lines of fire to keep the fire from moving north. Cal Fire also focused on not letting the fire advance towards Concow and Magalia, two towns in Butte County that were hit by the deadly 2018 bonfire.
The fire was fueled by winds and embers that were kicked up in a massive pyrocumulus cloud that rose thousands of feet above the fire.
“It got very active here, this is where you saw the column of smoke from the valley,” Brownell said, pointing to the eastern part of the fire on the map. “All the overheated air rises in the atmosphere … So it got over the Feather River down to (over) Tobin.”
The embers lit point fires in the dry scrub and in the trees, which accelerated the spread of the fire. The advancing fire forced officers to close Highway 70.
“It (big column of embers) is very common, especially in recent years, because our fuels are so dry from the drought, they kill insects, everything is absorbent. So if a spark falls into the unburned brush, it will most likely start a fire, ”Brownell said.
#DixieFire Update 7:00 p.m. 07/18/2021 Video https://t.co/MiYcqE3id9
– Vanessa Wilson (@NessaBurdette) July 19, 2021
The fire was contained to 15 percent on Sunday night, 1,918 firefighters fought the fire that threatened 810 buildings.
New evacuation orders were issued on Sunday evening for the Jonesville and Philbrook areas of Butte County and High Lakes, and for homes on the Butte / Plumas County line east of Twain, Meadow Valley and Bucks Lake.
