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All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, hometown and telephone number or they will not be printed. At a writer's request, we will print the letter unsigned in the newspaper, although we discourage this. We welcome letters from
our readers but none can be acknowledged or returned. Short letters are urged. We do reserve the right to edit letters for space. Letters should be addressed to The Intermountain News, P.O. Box 1030, Burney, CA 96013 or e-mail by Clicking Here. Opinions expressed by the authors are strictly their own.

ABOUT THE NEWS
The Intermountain News is published every Wednesday morning for the communities of Burney, Fall River Mills, McArthur, Round Mountain, Big Bend, Montgomery Creek, Johnson Park, Old Station, Hat Creek, Glenburn, Cassel,
Nubieber, Bieber, Lookout, Adin, Dana, Little Valley, Pittville, Cayton Valley, and Pondosa. The newspaper is published by Cright Incorporated, 37095 Main St., Suite C, P.O. Box 1030, Burney, California 96013. Craig Harrington, president and publisher. This newspaper is judged a newspaper of general circulation under court decree #24204, filed April 27, 1959, and can accept legal advertising. USPS No. 266-560. Second class postage paid at Burney, California 96013.

2009 LIGHTNING FIRES

TOTAL ACRES BURNED FOR ALL INTERMOUNTAIN AREA FIRES TO DATE 28,892

Students from the Burney High School athletic department were busy Monday and again today, Aug. 18, washing CAL FIRE engines in front of the former Burney Market parking lot as a fund-raiser for the athletic programs at the high school. The fire captains driving each of the rigs donated money out of their own pockets, and not at state expense, to have the equipment cleaned as they were reassigned to other fires in the south state. The base camp at Burney HIgh School was reduced to 900 firefighting personnel and is expected to close on Wednesday, Aug. 19. A good number of firefighters will still remain to continue mop-up of the fires, but they will be housed at north state CAL FIRE stations and area motels. CLICK HERE for SHU Lightning Complex update. Photos by Aubrey Wehrly

Final Fires Report

With the SHU Lightning Complex of fires 95 percent contained, CAL FIRE has indicated this Monday morning report will be its final written one issued. Although they continue to reduce the number of fire personnel, as of this morning, there are still more than 1,000 persons working out of the Burney base camp. CLICK HERE to read more

Sunday Evening Fires Report

The 6,923-acre Chalk Fire near Big Bend is 90 percent contained. Interior islands continue to burn out. Potential for spot fires still exist. All lines expected to be contained in 12 hours. Mandatory evacuations lifted for Skunk Ridge Road. Threat to PG&E facilities mitigated. Mop-up and fireline suppression repair continue. Total fire personnel under the command of CAL FIRE reduced to 1,233. CLICK HERE to read more

Click on Sumday statewide map above to view larger version

Sit in on the Friday, Aug. 14, 6 p.m. CAL FIRE planning meeting at Burney High School that addresses SHU Lightning Complex fires, including the Chalk, Goose and Cassel. Meeting lasts 16 minutes.

Two helicopters fill up with water Friday on the reservoir below Pit 5 Dam while fighting Chalk Fire near Big Bend. The three major fires still burning in the Intermountain area, Chalk, Goose and Cassel, combined are 80 percent contained. Read Saturday's update by CLICKING HERE. Photo by Katie Harrington

CAL FIRE's Edy Ullman in Friday, Aug. 14, 7 a.m. briefing at Burney High School, notes the Chalk Fire at 6,923 acres and 70 percent containment is still posing problems. "We continue to have a very stubborn fire." She presents the current situation for the Chalk and other fires under the command of the state agency.

Richard Hathaway, right, of Packway Materials in Cassel is among those given their assignments Friday morning, Aug. 14, for suppressing the Goose Fire northwest of Burney. Below is a map of the Goose and Chalk fires. CLICK HERE or on the map to view larger 2.7 MB version. CLICK HERE for Friday morning, Aug. 14, CAL FIRE update on the SHU Lightning Complex. Fire personnel and resources at the Burney High School base camp have been reduced the past few days due to six other major fires burning in the state, including the La Brea Fire in Santa Barbara County at 67,092 aces and 10 percent containment. Total fire personnel here stands at 1,629 (1,353 CAL FIRE), 103 fire engines, 35 water tenders, 17 bulldozers, 14 helicopters, 8 airtankers and 52 fire crews. Photo by Craig Harrington

Thursday Evening Fires Update

CLICK HERE for CAL FIRE Thursday evening report.Firing operations expected to be completed in 12 hours on the Chalk Fire. Some spotting on northwest side within the contingency lines. Mandatory evacuations for 10 residences on Skunk Ridge road still in effect with PG&E facilities threatened.  Aggressive mop-up efforts continue where containment lines have held. Total fire personnel have been reduced to 1,645 tonight.

A map of the planning area for the Fairfield Fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park is shown above. The area highlighted in yellow is where the fire will be allowed to burn, totalling 1,800 acres. Firefighters began to fire the north line which lies in a dry volcanic wash just south of the Nobles Trail. The fire is located on the north slope of Fairfield Peak northeast of Lower Twin and Rainbow Lakes. Fire crews are using natural barriers such as lake shores and lava fields as well as the Pacific Crest Trail, the Nobles Emigrant Trail and a trail which runs between Rainbow Lake and Cinder Cone to confine this fire. Fire officials said that to date, no significant problems have occurred with this operation. CLICK ON THE MAP to view a larger version. For a higher resolution map of 4.5 MB, CLICK HERE

Thursday Fires Update

CLICK HERE for CAL FIRE Thursday morning report. Not much has changed the past 24 hours. Some resources at the Burney base camp have been sent to the Coffin Fire southwest of Lewiston in Trinity County. A suspect has been caught and is slated to be charged with "recklessly causing a fire," according to Mike Chuchel, Shasta-Trinity Unit chief. The 1,200-acre fire is estimated to be contained by Friday.

A firefighter views an information board Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the CAL FIRE base camp at Burney High School. Some 2,024 fire personnel were still based at the camp Aug. 12.

Wednesday Evening Update

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12 | 8:25 P.M. - Do to more accurate mapping, CAL FIRE has made some revisions in acreage burned in the Cassel, Goose and Chalk fires. The Cassel Fire now stands at 6,089 acres, up from 5,000 acres. The Goose Fire has been reduced from 6,000 to 3,349 acres. The Chalk Fire has grown to 6,189 acres, up from 5,500 acres. The terrain and access still hinder fire supression. With the revisions, the overall acreage burned for the SHU and Hat Creek complexes has been reduced 273 acres tonight to 28,150. CLICK HERE for CAL FIRE evening report. Some resources at the Burney base camp have been sent to the Coffin Fire southwest of Lewiston in Trinity County. The fire now stands at 1,200 acres and is expected to grow to at least 3,000 acres; a fire of unknown cause that began about 2 p.m. today.

Wednesday Morning Updates

For Wednesday, CAL FIRE notes an additional 500 acres burned the last 24 hours on the Chalk Fire about 10 miles northwest of Burney. The fire was moving in a westerly direction towards Big Bend Road with 67 percent containment. Primary dozer line completed and firing operations continue. Secondary line construction is continuing. Mandatory evacuations for 10 residences on Skunk Ridge Road. Containment lines reinforced and final firing operations expected to be completed within the next 72 hours. Mop-up efforts continue where containment lines have held. Terrain and access continue to hinder fire suppression. CLICK HERE to read CAL FIRE report. CLICK HERE to read the U.S. Forest Service Wednesday report.

Lassen Park Fairfield Fire

The lightning storms of Aug. 1-2 hit Lassen Volcanic National Park as well, which ignited the Fairfield Fire. The fire has grown to approximately 260 acres and is being actively managed for multiple objectives, park officials say. CLICK HERE to read more

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Burney resident Alison Wallace from the roof of her house on Carberry Street when the engines come in for early morning briefing at Burney High School. The picture was taken on Sunday morning, Aug. 9. The inmate crew camp is in the background. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More reader photos are posted HERE.

Tuesday CAL FIRE Update

For Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, update on fires under the management of the state agency CAL FIRE, including the 5,000-acre Chalk and 6,000-acre Goose fires, CLICK HERE. Primary dozer line from Pit 5 Dam to Yellow Slide is completed on the Chalk Fire. Secondary line being established on Skunk Ridge. Mandatory evacuations for 10 structures on Skunk Ridge road. Containment lines reinforced and final firing operations expected to be completed within the next 72 hours. Mop-up efforts continue where containment lines have held. Terrain and access continue to hinder fire suppression. 

Tuesday Forest Service Update

Today, firefighters will continue to mop-up hot spots and strengthen containment lines.  Additionally, fire suppression repair will continue on the Brown and Sugarloaf Fires along with patrol and mop-up of the 34 smaller fires, all under command of the U.S. Forest Service. CLICK HERE for U.S. FOREST SERVICE Tuesday morning, Aug. 11, update information.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Big Bend resident Amanda Stetler of the Chalk Fire near Big Bend Monday, Aug. 10, about 5:40 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More reader photos are posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Royce Hetzel of Burney of the Goose and Chalf fires taken at the corner or Superior Avenue and Mackinac Street in Burney. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More reader photos are posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Big Bend resident John Carrasco of the Chalk Fire on west side of Chalk Mountain near Big Bend Monday, Aug. 10, in the late afternoon. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More reader photos are posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Norma Zell of the control burn at the Cassel Fire on Aug. 6 at about 2 a.m. It's taken from the west side of Hogback Ridge. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More reader photos are posted HERE.

Cassel Fall River Road To Open

UPDATED MONDAY, AUG. 10 | 6:03 P.M. - The Cassel Fall River Road from the "Y" in Cassel to Big Eddy Estates is scheduled to reopen at 8 p.m. The road has been closed for more than a week as firefighters have been battling the Cassel Fire.

All Campgrounds Now Open

UPDATED MONDAY, AUG. 10 | 3:19 P.M. - The Lassen National Forest staff completed fire damage repair on all the campgrounds in the Hat Creek Recreation Area today.  All campgrounds through the Hat Creek Fire Complex along Highway 89 are open. CLICK HERE to read more

Immediate Evacuations

UPDATED MONDAY, AUG. 10 | 1:56 P.M. - The Chalk Fire is presently burning in the area between Lake Britton and Big Bend in the Pit River drainage. The eastern edge of the fire is contained. Personnel are now mopping up within the containment lines. Due to the continued westerly movement of the fire, firefighters are currently establishing containment lines above the Pit 4 Powerhouse; contingency lines are being built in the Skunk Ridge area. Any persons camping or residing in the Skunk Ridge area are being asked to leave. The River Road is now closed at the Pit 5 dam.

Chalk Fire On The Move

UPDATED MONDAY, AUG. 10 | 12:25 P.M. - The Chalk Fire burning on the north side of the Pit River is moving to the west and CAL FIRE is making contingency plans to move any residents out of the area of Skunk Ridge Road off of Big Bend Road. CAL FIRE public information officer Shane Lauderdale said it isn't known if anyone is living there so Shasta County sheriff's deputies have been asked to search the area. Click on satellite photo above for larger version. Satellite photo courtesy of ENPLAN WILDFIRE VIEWER AND GOOGLE MAPS

Monday Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for U.S. FOREST SERVICE Monday morning, Aug. 10, update information.

Monday CAL FIRE Update

For Monday morning, Aug. 10, update on fires under the management of the state agency CAL FIRE, including the Cassel and Goose fires, CLICK HERE.

Interior firing operations were deemed successful the past two days as fire crews Sunday continued mop-up of the 5,000-acre Cassel Fire. CAL FIRE is working to reopen the Cassel Fall River Road, which has been closed since Aug. 2 at the "Y" in Cassel to Big Eddy Estates. The Cassel Fire was among the more than 77 Intermountain fires that began burning following a lightning storm that passed through the region Aug. 1-2.

From left, Division Chief Jim O'Camb and Battalion Chief Brad Ballenger, both of El Dorado Hills Fire Department, and Jason Weber, training battalion chief of Marin County Fire Department, unload 10,000 feet of fire hose gathered up on the Cassel Fire late afternoon Sunday, Aug. 9. The hose will be brought back to base camp at Burney High School to be cleaned and used again. Mop-up and patrol of the 5,000-acre fire continues with 80 percent containment achieved. Photo by Craig Harrington

Most residents who left Old Station as the Sugarloaf Fire grew larger have returned to their homes. The two fawns above were photographed from Circle Drive Friday afternoon, Aug. 7. The Sugarloaf Fire Sunday had consumed 9,356 acres and is 80 percent contained. The Brown Fire in Hat Creek burned 1,865 acres and is 100 percent contained. Resources on both these fires are being reduced. Photo by Katie Harrington

Sunday Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for U.S. FOREST SERVICE Sunday morning, Aug. 9, update information. For Sunday morning, Aug. 9, update on fires under the management of the state agency CAL FIRE, including the Cassel and Goose fires, CLICK HERE.

Above is an Aug. 4 satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showing the smoke from fires in the Intermountain area. Click on the photo to view larger version

Work continued Saturday, Aug. 8, on the 6,000-acre Goose Fire about 8 miles northwest of Burney. Firefighters moped up portions of the fire in preparation for a helicopter drip-torch plan to better secure the fire lines. The fire was 45 percent contained this morning. Fire crews from Mt. Bullion near Mariposa and St. Helena in Napa County worked the eastern side of the fire.

Goose Fire

Above is a video by an unknown cameraman we found on YouTube of the Goose Fire. We suspect he/she is not from the area since the video incorrectly lists the Goose Fire as being in Lassen County rather than Shasta County.

Some Campgrounds Open Again

UPDATE SATURDAY, AUG. 8 | 11:26 a.m. - The Lassen National Forest staff has opened Honn and Big Pine campgrounds, plus other areas for public use, including Subway Cave and fishing sites. CLICK HERE to read more. McArthur Burney Falls Memorial State Park has remained open throughout the week, only some federal recreation sites within and near the fires were closed.

SATURDAY, AUG. 8, UPDATE | 8:18 a.m. - With a second day of mild temperatures on Friday, firefighters were able to make good progress on Intermountain-area fires. The SHU Lightning Complex, which includes the Goose and Chalk fires northwest of Burney and the Cassel Fire between Fall River Mills and Cassel, benefited from additional equipment and personnel. On Friday, two additional crews were added, bringing the total to 58, plus two more air tankers for a total of eight. By Saturday morning, four more water tenders joined the firefighting efforts, bringing the total to 42. Total fire personnel peaked at 2,153 Saturday morning in and around the base camp at Burney High School. There are plans to reopen the Cassel Fall River Road with no restrictions within the next 48 hours. The Chalk Fire was the only Burney-area fire to grow, having consumed 3,150 acres. Total acreage burned from all 40 fires in the complex stands at 14,804. CLICK HERE to read the Saturday morning CAL FIRE report on the SHU Lightning Complex of fires. Photos above by Katie Harrington

Saturday Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for Saturday morning update information.

Reporter Bill Campbell interviews Hat Creek Complex Fires public information officer Richard Hadley early Friday evening on the status of both the Sugarloaf Fire in Old Station and the Brown Fire in Hat Creek.

Cassel, Goose Fires Evening Update

CLICK HERE for a Friday, Aug. 7, CAL FIRE evening update on Cassel, Gomez, Cave, Backbone, Goose and Chalk fires.

Firefighters continue with mop-up Friday afternoon, Aug. 7, of the 8,184-acre Sugarloaf Fire that started following lightning strikes on Aug. 1-2.

Galen Young of the U.S. Forest Service, foreground, on Friday afternoon, Aug. 7, shows Jeff Currier, State of Maine Forest Service ranger, areas of the Hat Creek Valley that burned in the past. The two are standing at the Hat Creek Rim Scenic Overlook that sustained damage to some of the interpretive displays in the Sugarloaf Fire burning near Old Station. Photos above by Craig Harrington

Lassen National Forest Closes PCT

Click on the map above for larger version of the Pacific Crest Trail closure order from the Lassen National Forest. CLICK HERE for news release on the topic.

CAL FIRE's Edy Ullman presents the current situation for all Intermountain area fires under the management of the state agency at Friday morning briefing at Burney High School.

CAL FIRE's Jeff Tonkin presents weather forecast briefing Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at the CAL FIRE base camp at Burney High School.

Friday Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for Friday morning update information.

Nearly 22 years ago some 118 fires were burning in the Intermountain area. About 100 firefighters were battling a 4,000-acre lightning-caused fire about 20 miles north of Bieber in the Modoc National Forest on Sunday, Aug. 30, 1987. Called the Crank Fire, the blaze began about 2 p.m. and trapped three fire engines, other equipment and 30 firefighters from Adin and the Intermountain Conservation Camp in Bieber. Eighteen of the firefighters were taken to hospitals in Alturas and Mayers Memorial Hospital in Fall River Mills and two were transferred to the burn unit in Chico. Injuries ranged from smoke inhalation to first and second degree burns.

Bret Gouvea presents CAL FIRE Division Assignment Briefing Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Burney High School base camp.

Cassel, Goose Fires Morning Update

CLICK HERE for a 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, update on Cassel, Gomez, Cave, Backbone, Goose and Chalk fires update.

Jared Koos, left, of San Mateo - Santa Cruz CAL FIRE receives staging orders assignment for Highway 299 and Black Ranch Road Friday morning, Aug. 7, from Ralph Gladwin of Santa Clara.

An area to the west of the locker rooms at Burney High School being used for feeding the more than 2,000 fire personnel at the CAL FIRE base camp. A similar base camp run by the U.S. Forest Service is at the Inter-Mountain fairgrounds in McArthur.

Friday, Aug. 7, 7 a.m. briefing session on the lawn area to the east of the main office at Burney High School. Video from this morning's CAL FIRE briefing will begin posting here shortly after 9:30 a.m.

Fire engines head out to the fire lines Friday, Aug. 7, about 8 a.m. The tents at left are next to the Burney High School baseball field and are sleeping quarters for the inmate crews fighting the more than 40 lightning-caused fires. Photos above by Craig Harrington

The map above was presented Friday morning at the CAL FIRE briefing held at Burney High School. CLICK HERE to view a larger version

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by John Rodman from the Soldier Mountain Fire Lookout and shows the Cassel and Sugarloaf fires in the background on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. More of his and other readers' photos are posted HERE.

Cassel, Brown, Sugarloaf Fires Evening Update

CLICK HERE for a 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, update on fires as reported by Bill Campbell of the fires in Cassel, Hat Creek and Old Station.

Residents of Northern California continued to hear the sounds of thunder long after 885 lightning strikes pounded the area in the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. today. As of 8 p.m. this evening, 12 small fires were located on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. READ MORE

CCC Assigned To Burney

Ten California Conservation Corps crews have been dispatched to wildfires in Monterey, Shasta and Tuolumne counties, with more crews available to respond as needed. The CCC crews -- 142 corpsmembers -- are from Corps facilities in Chico, Fortuna, Redding, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Stockton and Yreka. The crews are providing logistical support and frontline attack for state and federal fire agencies. Corpsmembers are currently assigned to the Ponderosa Fire in Monterey County; the Brown Fire and SHU Lightning Fire in Shasta County; and the Knight Fire in Tuolumne County. Additional crews may be dispatched as the need arises. In 2008, more than 800 corpsmembers, the largest number in the CCC’s history, responded to wildfires throughout California. The Redding crew, trained in frontline attack, is assigned to the SHU Lightning Fire. It has also been involved in numerous fuel reduction projects for the U.S. Forest Service, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The California Conservation Corps is a state agency hiring young women and men ages 18 to 25 for a year of natural resource work and emergency response. For more information on the Corps, visit www.ccc.ca.gov.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Chelsea Olney of the Goose and Chalk fires on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 5 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Fred Schelling of the Brown Fire in Hat Creek on Sunday, Aug. 2. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Strike team supervisor Larry Ochoa, left, of the Truckee Fire Department briefs Woody Bouska, CAL FIRE captain from Ventura, about one area of the 4,100-acre Cassel Fire during a Thursday, Aug. 6, 8 a.m. shift change. Photo by Bill Campbell

Thursday Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for Thursday morning update information.

Edy Ullman presents current situation portion of Aug. 6, 7 a.m., CAL FIRE briefing at the Burney High School base camp.

Firefighters are looking to make advances on fires with today's predicted cooler temperatures. Although the area is in a Red Flag Warning, CAL FIRE forecaster Jeff Tonkin predicts no dry lightning and possibly some precipitation with highs only in the 60s, 50s at the higher elevations. Seasonably warmer temperatures are expected to resume Friday.

Bay Area fire crews prepare to head to the fire line following Thursday, Aug. 6, 7 a.m., briefing at Burney High School. Shown here are fire engines lining Toronto Avenue between the high school and Burney Elementary School. Briefing videos will begin posting here at 9:30 a.m. We recommend using Firefox as your web browser. If you do use Internet Explorer as your browser, better success has been demonstrated using Windows Vista as your operating system. Photo above by Craig Harrington

CAL FIRE MAP

Map presented at the Thursday, Aug. 6, 7 a.m., briefing. CLICK HERE to view larger version. Click on these links for closeup maps of CHALK & GOOSE FIRES and CASSEL FIRE

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by John Carrasco of the Chalk Fire northwest of Burney Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Cassel Fire as viewed from the Inter-Mountain fairgrounds Wednesday, Aug. 5, 6 p.m.

Mike Beckett, planning operations battalion chief for the Hat Creek Complex of fires, gives details about the Brown, Sugarloaf and Butte fires to U.S. Forest Service personnel and contractors. The El Dorado National Forest supervisor briefed the crew at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. Photos above by Bill Campbell

Forest Service Evening Update

CLICK HERE for the update on fires managed by the U.S. Forest Service federal agency with a base camp at the Inter-Mountain fairgrounds.

CAL FIRE Evening Update

CLICK HERE for the update on fires managed by the CAL FIRE state agency with a base camp at Burney High School.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Carol Forster looking south from Hat Creek at the Sugarloaf Fire near Old Station Wednesday, Aug. 5, about 5 p.m. with Lassen Peak in the background. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Mike Babajan from his backyard looking north, northwest at the Goose and Chalk fires Wednesday, Aug. 5, about 4 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Terry Reeve of Cassel about 8 miles from the Goose and Chalk fires northwest of Burney on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 5:30 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Mary Lou Schmierer of Burney from Hudson and Main streets in Burney looking towards the Goose and Chalk fires northwest of Burney on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 4:25 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Shasta County Undersheriff Greg Wrigley of the Sugarloaf Fire along Highway 89 in Old Station Tuesday afternoon. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Pacific Crest Trail Detour

CLICK HERE for a larger view of map showing a detour for those planning on hiking a section of the Pacific Crest Trail near Cassel.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above was taken by Phillip Beaudet of Burney from the north end of Goose Valley looking towards the Goose and Chalk fires northwest of Burney on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 5 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Another Reader Photo

The photograph above is from Crickett Paull in Round Mountain and looking east towards the Goose and Chalk fires northwest of Burney, taken Wednesday, Aug. 5, 4:25 p.m. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Highways 89 & 44 Closure Update

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5 | 4:22 P.M. - State Route 44 currently closed from 5 miles west of junction SR 89 in Shasta County to junction State Route 36 in Lassen County due to fire. No estimated time to open, no detour. State Route 89 still closed from junction SR 44 to junction SR 299. The highway has been opened and closed at various times since it was first closed at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Alex Lujan presents air operations summary at CAL FIRE briefing Aug. 5 at Burney High School, followed by Brian Bennion in Redding, CAL FIRE firefighter 1, explaining air operation procedures at the Redding Air Attack Base.

Jeff Tonkin presents weather forecast portion of Aug. 5, 7 a.m., CAL FIRE briefing at the Burney High School base camp.

U.S. Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for Wednesday morning update information.

Edy Ullman presents current situation portion of Aug. 5, 7 a.m., CAL FIRE briefing at the Burney High School base camp.

Highways 89 & 44 Closure Update

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5 | 10:41 A.M. - State Route 44 clear and open to normal traffic. Motorist advised to use caution due to smoke and emergency vehicles in area. State Route 89 still closed from junction SR 44 to junction SR 299. The highway has been opened and closed at various times since it was first closed at 7 p.m. Sunday.

CAL FIRE MAP

Map presented at the Wednesday, Aug. 5, 7 a.m., briefing. CLICK HERE to view larger version.

Another Reader Photo

This one by Betsy Milligan. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Bret Gouvea presents division assignment portion of Aug. 5, 7 a.m., CAL FIRE briefing at the Burney High School base camp.

CAL FIRE 7 a.m. Briefing

UPDATED WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5 | 8:28 A.M. - The morning briefing has concluded at Burney High School and crews are on their way back to the fires. Some quick points - thunderstorms which had been predicted for later today may not happen. Winds, however are expected to be stronger than the ones experienced Tuesday. Great progress has been made on all fires, but especially the Backbone, Cave and Gomez. Aircraft will be increased to 18 today, up from 14 on Tuesday, pilots begin flying about 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Videos from the briefing will begin posting here at 9:30 a.m. Photo above by Craig Harrington

From National Weather Service

UPDATED TUESDAY, AUG. 4 | 11:20 P.M. - A fire weather watch remains in effect from Wednesday evening Through Thursday evening. A very unusual strong low-pressure area off the coast of northern California will begin to move close to the northern California coastline on Wednesday. As the low begins to shift inland Wednesday night the atmosphere will destabilize bringing with it the potential for numerous lightning strikes to occur late Wednesday evening through Thursday. The middle and lower elevations are expected to have a higher potential for dry lightning strikes than the higher elevations. Precautionary/preparedness actions... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this watch. A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are possible.

Evacuation of RV Park

UPDATED TUESDAY, AUG. 4 | 5:45 P.M. - Evacuation of the Rancheria RV Park in Hat Creek on the west side of Highway 89 has just been ordered.

Highways 89 & 44 Closure Update

UPDATED TUESDAY, AUG. 4 | 4:44 P.M. - State Route 44 currently closed from 5 miles west of junction SR 89 in Shasta County to junction State Route 36 in Lassen County due to fire. No estimated time to open, no detour. State Route 89 still closed from junction SR 44 to junction SR 299. No estimated time to open, no detour. The highway has been opened and closed at various times since it was first closed at 7 p.m. Sunday.

CURRENT ISSUE OF NEWS

The current issue of The News is now available at the Current Issue link above right. We urge you to "refresh" or "reload" pages for the most updated info.

CAL FIRE Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the state agency CAL FIRE. The map shows approximate locations of the 41 fires under the command of the agency.

U.S. Forest Service Map

Click on the map above for larger version of the fires under command of the U.S. Forest Service in Hat Creek and Old Station. CLICK HERE for Tuesday, 9 a.m. update information.

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 8 a.m. audio update on the Brown Fire in Hat Creek and the Sugarloaf Fire in Old Station from Jeff Fontana of the Susanville Interagency Fire Center. Both fires are under command of the U.S. Forest Service. Photography is by Bill Campbell of The Intermountain News and taken early Monday evening of the Brown Fire.

CAL FIRE Audio

The audio above is from Shane Lauderdale, CAL FIRE information officer stationed at the base camp at Burney High School. This audio was recorded at 4 p.m. Monday and he details the fires under the command of CAL FIRE, including the Cassel Fire south of Fall River Mills, the Gomez Fire in Glenburn, Chalk Mountain fires and the fire on Backbone Ridge. Two other major fires, the Brown Fire in Hat Creek and the Sugarloaf Fire in Old Station are under the command of the U.S. Forest Service and are not addressed in this audio.

More News Of Area Fires

For information on the SHU Lightning Complex northeast of Cassel, Brown Fire in Hat Creek and Dodge Complex near Madeline, CLICK HERE

Fire Maps

• Statewide Lightning Map CLICK HERE

• Statewide Fire Map CLICK HERE

• Active Fire Detection Map CLICK HERE

Small Fires Contained

MONDAY, AUG. 3 | 5:45 P.M. - Firefighters contain fires spread out across the Shasta Lake and the Mount Shasta and McCloud Ranger Districts. CLICK HERE to read more.

Another Reader Photo

This one by Mary Thomas of Burney. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Frontier Experiencing Service Interruption In Burney Area Due To Brown Fire

MONDAY, AUG. 3 | 5:10 P.M. - Frontier Communications is experiencing a major service interruption in Burney. Some customers may be experiencing telephone and high speed internet services interruptions. The cause of the interruption is due to a fiber being burned as a result of the Brown Fire. Replacement of the fiber will be made as soon as the area is safe for repair. Technicians are working with CAL FIRE to access the area as soon as possible to make the repair. The next update will be provided when service is restored or more information is available.

Evacuations In Old Station

MONDAY, AUG. 3 | 4:55 P.M. - Evacuations of about 10 residences on Circle Drive in Old Station were made this afternoon, along with all U.S. Forest Service campgrounds from Circle Drive to the Lassen National Forest Hat Creek Work Center in Hat Creek. The Sugarloaf Fire is actually about a dozen fires burning in the Old Station area, all believed to have been started by lightning.

Highway 89 Closure Update

UPDATED MONDAY, AUG. 3 | 4:30 P.M. - Highway 89 is under a "soft closure" order. Soft closure (area residents only) is in effect from Jct SR 299 to Jct SR 44 at this time due to fire burning close to the roadway. The highway had been open again earlier today with the exception of a 3-mile, one-way traffic control with pilot car in effect from 12 to 15 miles north of the junction of Highway 44 in Old Station. The highway was first closed at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Another Reader Photo

This one by Mary Lou Schmierer of Burney. Send us your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Reader photos will be posted HERE.

Firefighters Sent Home

MONDAY, AUG. 3 | 9:50 a.m. - Due to cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels, firefighters offering structure protection at Big Eddy Estates were sent home just before 9:30 a.m. today.

Send Us Your Photos, Video

The photograph above was taken by LeRoy Bernal in Glenburn Sunday afternoon. Reader photos will be posted HERE. More than 35 fires in the Intermountain area were started by Saturday night and Sunday morning lightning. A firefighting command post has been set up at Burney High School. Send The News your photos by clicking on the Email Us link at left. Denise R. Winn created a YouTube video of the Saturday night's lightning storm filmed from the Fall River golf course subdivision. Click on the Current Issue link above to view the last 24 hours taken from Vedder Road north of downtown Burney and looking towards Burney Mountain. The moon passing over Burney Mountain is visible during the nighttime hours.

Fire crews were battling 35 blazes in the Intermountain area ranging in size from a quarter-acre to more than 600 acres. Residents evacuated from Big Eddy Estates near Fall River Mills and along VN Lane in Hat Creek. The Susanville Interagency Fire Center (SIFC) is dispatching ground forces and aircraft to nearly 100 reported fires in the wake of widespread thunderstorms over the past two days. Lightning detecting equipment showed nearly 1,800 lightning strikes in northeast California over the past 24 hours, with 96 fires reported by mid morning, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. Saturday evening lightning activity was concentrated in a swath extending northwest from Susanville, but strikes were recorded across the SIFC region. There were 43 reported fires on the Lassen National Forest, 40 reported blazes on lands protected by the CAL FIRE Lassen-Modoc-Plumas Unit, 14 fires on Bureau of Land Management public lands, and two reported fires in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The largest incident is the Dodge Complex, two fires burning about 60 miles northeast of Susanville, about five miles from the community of Madeline. The fires, dubbed Mendiboure and Dodge, have burned about 1,500 acres of grass, brush, juniper and mountain mahogany on public lands managed by the BLM. Some ranch structures were threatened; none were damaged. By early Monday morning, humidity levels reached between 40-70 percent, aiding firefighting efforts. CLICK HERE for a YouTube version

1,800 Lightning Strikes

The Susanville Interagency Fire Center (SIFC) is dispatching ground forces and aircraft to nearly 100 reported fires in the wake of widespread thunderstorms Aug. 1 and 2. CLICK HERE to read more. Photo above by Craig Harrington

The communities we serve

Burney, Fall River Mills, McArthur, Cassel, Hat Creek, Old Station, Bieber, Nubieber, Adin, Lookout, Pondosa, Little Valley, Round Mountain, Montgomery Creek, Dana, Big Bend, Johnson Park, Glenburn, Pittville, and Cayton Valley. Also providing news and information for surrounding areas of Alturas, Mt. Shasta, McCloud, Canby, Cedarville, Ft. Bidwell, Ravendale, Likely, Madeline, and the counties of Shasta, Lassen, Modoc, Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Plumas and Siskiyou counties.

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