HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.14.2020 Sang Kim - North Complex Situation Status Report 9-14-2020 AT0
NORTH COMPLEX FIRE Situation Status Report (2020-09-14; 1200 HRS)
BUTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
Preliminary Incident Information
North Complex West Zone fire is part of the overall North Complex Fire burning in Butte and Plumas counties.
Additional incident information is available at the following sites:
https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREButteCo/photos/pcb.1892010750940632/1892010020940705/
https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREButteCo/photos/pcb.1891164597691914/1891164364358604/?type
=3&theater
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6997/
Fatalities: 14
Estimate of Threatened Structures: 23,356
Assessed Structures Destroyed or Damaged 576
(Field damage inspection is still ongoing and data is subject to change as information is gathered and verified)
Actual Structures Destroyed: 536
Actual Structures Damaged: 40
Estimated Acres Burned in the North Complex West Zone: 74,400 acres (in SRA) with 20% containment. Note that
the North Complex West Zone is based on operational boundaries, not Butte County boundary lines. In Butte County
specifically, the total acreage burned is estimated at 85,760. Total acres burned in the overall North Complex Fire
covering Butte and Plumas counties is 264,374 acres with 38% containment.
Butte County EOC – North Complex Fire Situation Status Report 2020-09-14, 1200 hrs
Map link:
https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREButteCo/photos/pcb.1895006180641089/1895006050641102/?type=3&theat
er
Resources:
Engines – 128; Water Tenders – 68; Helicopters – 16; Hand Crews – 68; Dozers – 65; Masticators – 6; Total
Personnel – 2057.
Cooperating Agencies:
Butte, Plumas, and Yuba County Sheriff’s Offices, Sierra Pacific Industries, W.M. Beaty, PG&E, California
Conservation Corps, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, North Valley animal Disaster Group,
Out of State Resources include Michigan, Utah, New Mexico and Canada.
Current Situation:
On the afternoon of September 8th, 2020 the North Complex fire entered Butte County with a vengeance, driven
by extreme winds, heavy dry fuels, and steep terrain. The fire remains very active and now more than ever we
need to remain vigilant.
An extended period of gusty southwest winds and low humidity with periods of near critical fire weather
conditions will be possible through midweek as a low pressure system moves into the west coast. A Fire Weather
Watch remains in effect over the incident for Monday afternoon with wind gusts of 25-35 mph possible with low
humidities.
Firefighters have been successful in strengthening several existing containment lines, developing new containment
lines and extinguishing several interior hot spots to prevent further spread. They will continue to fight to get into
those areas of difficult access to make sure those areas of the fire are contained. Several contingency fire lines are
being developed as well.
Last night, firefighters continued to prepare areas of the fire that will be impacted by the predicted Red Flag
Warning with south west winds coming in on Monday, late morning, over the fire area.
Cal Fire Damage Assessment Teams continue the documentation of destroyed and damaged structures within the
fire area.
Weather:
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 11a.m. to 8p.m. due to a combination of gusty southwest winds up to
35 mph with humidity in the teens. Significant smoke with remain in the region, but may decrease throughout the
afternoon.
Today: Widespread haze and smoke. Mostly clear skies, with a high near 87. Tonight: Widespread haze and smoke.
Clear skies we will have a low of 59, winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday: Widespread haze and smoke. Mostly
sunny, with a high near 89, winds SSW 5 to 10 mph. For specific smoke impacts to your area, visit
https://www.airnow.gov/
Fire Incident Briefing
This will be held at 6 pm and will be a Virtual Community Meeting broadcast tonight on CALFIREButteCo Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREButteCo
Information Board Locations:
Holiday Market – 6848 Lower Skyway, Paradise
Savemart – 6636 Clark Road, Paradise
Save-Mor Foods – 14001 Lakeridge Circle, Paradise
Stirling City Volunteer Co. 12 – 17084 Skyway, Stirling City
Fire Assessment
CalFire has started the damage assessment for the West Zone of the North Complex Fire and has released the
information to the public. Evacuees can enter their address intothe search bar to find information. Field damage
inspection is still ongoing and data is subject to change as information is gathered and verified. The icons on the
map indicate the current known status of the structure. If a structure is not identified by an icon, it has not yet
been identified.
Here is a link to the Structure Damage Map: https://tinyurl.com/y3jmzxnj
The EOC Damage Assessment Unit is participating in daily repopulation team meetingsand will be sending three
teams of in-house inspectors to some priority areas today. Staff is also working with County IS to further develop
and test the arc-GIS collector application and planning ahead for the safety inspection process.
Law Enforcement
Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies, staff and mutual aid continue to patrol evacuated areas and support
road blocks to inhibit people from entering the burned areas. BCSO has responded to 181 welfare check requests
for persons. Of those requests, 160 have been located, 7 are remaining to be found and there are 14 fatalities. The
Law Enforcement Staging Area is at the Oroville Forebay. Law enforcement is also working with the staff on animal
evacuation situations.
Evacuation Orders
Evacuation orders remain in effect for:
Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Big Bend, and Feather Falls communities
Cherokee community including Cherokee Rd. from Thompson Flat Rd. north to Highway 70 and all areas
east of Cherokee Rd. to Lake Oroville
Upper Stringtown Rd., north of Mountain Oak Rd.
Evacuation Warnings
Butte County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following Evacuation Warnings:
Kelly Ridge area
Cherokee Community, which includes all areas west of Cherokee R. to Highway 70
Area enclosed by Highway 162 from Foothill Blvd. to Forbestown Rd. to the Butte County line on the
north. Butte County line on the south. Foothill Blvd. to Or Bangor Highway to Los Verjeles on the west
perimeter. This includes the Old Olive Highway, Swedes Flat, Bangor and Robinson Mill Areas.
Areas north of Forbestown Rd. to Lumpkin Rd. including Lake Haven Way and Faye Mar Rd. and
Stringtown Rd. just north of Mountain Oak Rd.
Evacuation orders and warnings can be found on the Butte County web page.
https://www.buttecounty.net/
Map link:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1UU7WvAOESDgfIGHz_y_W670LmrbMxVn-
&ll=39.62578533493976%2C-121.3742693421462&z=11
Road Closures
SR-162 @ Forbestown Rd.
Stringtown Rd. @ Mountain Oak Rd.
Lumpkin Rd. North of Faye Mar Dr.
Cherokee Rd. @ Thompson Flat Rd.
SR-70 @ Cherokee Rd.
SR-70 @ Big Bend Rd./Deton Rd.
SR-70 @ Four Trees Rd.
Forbestown Rd @ Lower Forbestown Rd.
Forbestown Rd. @ Westar Court
This information is posted at: http://www.buttecounty.net/
Local Assistance Center (LAC)
Staff is pre-planning for an LAC location in the Oroville area. Staff is estimating opening the LAC early next week,
pending procurement of real estate. More information to follow.
Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP)
The Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley is still operational and providing
services to approximately 6 families. Currently there are 681 individuals in hotel rooms, equating to 362 rooms.
Case workers are contacting evacuees to assess transition back to their home.
Hoping to close TEP within a week, pending weather event.
Working on opening call center for evacuees who will continue to need or extend hotel stays.
Public Health
Public Health has submitted a health declaration to the Board for ratification at tomorrow’s Board meeting.
Animal Evacuation Centers
Small Animals – There are now two shelters for small animals. The original one at the Old County Hospital
located at 2279 Del Oro in Oroville is at capacity. On Saturday, the County EOC secured a second facility at
521 Cal Oaks in Oroville. This shelter is currently accepting small, domestic animals between 8:00am and
8:00pm.
Large Animals – Camelot Equestrian Park, 1985 Clark Road, Paradise. The site has been very active with
large animals. This facility has available capacity.
Total Animals in Shelters: 500
Total Animals in Shelter in place: 300
Staff is working to complete veterinarian contract today, continuing field inspections and working with owners
to identify pets.
Currently, the stray animals picked up from the evacuations areas are included in the Lost Pet section of the
Northwest SPCA website. However, staff is working on a dedicated page for the Northwest Complex Fire stray
animals to make it easier to search for lost pets. Staff is also working with the County PIO to promote positive
stories about the animal recovery efforts.
Here is a link to the Northwest SPCA Lost Pet database: https://northwestspca.org/index.php/lost-pets
Donations
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no physical donations are being accepted. North Valley Community Foundation has
set up a fund.
USFS Forest Closures
A USFS order prohibits the use of any ignition (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) and the closure of all developed
campgrounds and day-use sites on National Forests in California. No overnight camping of any kind, including
dispersed camping, is allowed on the Plumas National Forest except within the wilderness area and alongside the
Pacific Crest Trail. An earlier order remains in effect closing all trails, roads, and campgrounds around the North
Complex Fire.
Plumas NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/plumas/alerts-notices
Lassen NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices
FEMA Public Assistant Status
Designated Areas: Disaster 5363; Public Assistance, Category B (PA-B). This is the Emergency Work, Category B:
Emergency protective measures https://www.fema.gov/disaster/5363/designated-areas . More info on categories
can be found at this FEMA Fact Sheet: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_public-assistance-
fact-sheet_10-2019_0.pdf
END OF REPORT