QUINCY, CA — Firefighters are continuing to work on initial attack and suppression of yesterday’s lightning fires ignited on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth Ranger District.  The fires make up the Gold Complex.

The Mill Fire, located near Whitehawk Ranch, is estimated to be more than 1,600 acres this morning and the main fire has merged with one of the smaller Mill fires.  The remaining smaller Mill fire may also merge with the larger fire.  Generally the fires have been moving mostly from the west to the east.

Firefighters made good progress last night on getting some fireline in place.  Work on establishing the fireline is continuing today. 

Fire Updates in the Sierra from The Lookout

The Smith Fire, burning north of California State Highway 70 between Smith Peak and Maybe, is holding at approximately 50 acres.

The fire is lined and has a hoselay around it.  Firefighters are working on further securing the fireline and on mop-up.

For all of the fires, predicted hot and breezy weather today may increase fire behavior and spotting outside of firelines.

There are structures threatened by all four fires, including the communities of Whitehawk Ranch, Clio, Gold Mountain, Delleker, Lake Davis Area and the south and west sides of Portola.  Lake Davis Recreation Area has been evacuated.  The public is asked to stay out of the area in and around the fires for public and firefighter safety. 

Evacuations remain in place and could increase depending on fire growth and behavior.

Plumas County Sheriff is responsible for evacuations and is sharing information on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/plumascountysheriff .

Plumas County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated.  An evacuation shelter is open at Quincy High School.  Animals can be evacuated to the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in East Quincy.

Multiple engines, firefighting crews, dozers and aircraft are fighting the fires with more resources on order, including from Cal Fire and other agencies. 

Cal Fire surged resources to the incident including three night flying helicopters with two making water bucket drops, engines, dozers, firefighting crews and overhead fire leadership.  Local fire departments are also assisting with the fire.

An incident management team is expected to arrive in the area this evening for in-briefing and take command of the fire tomorrow morning.

“We are shifting early this afternoon from initial attack to extended attack, with continued focus on community and structure protection,” said Plumas National Forest Division Chief Martin Senter.  “Wildland firefighters are making some great progress, but there is a lot of work needed to fully contain and control these fires.  We appreciate the work of not only the firefighters, but the emergency responders and partner agencies supporting this incident and our local communities.”

Residents in the affected communities are asked to help by being aware, complying with evacuation orders and allowing firefighters to focus on fire suppression and community protection.

A thunderstorm around 2 p.m. yesterday resulted in four dry lightning strikes outside the rain core of the storm.  The first fire was reported around 2:45 p.m.  All four fires grew rapidly due to winds, terrain and dry fuel conditions that carried fire quickly.

For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.