Plumas County Sheriff’s Office Expands Chips Evacuation Orders

From the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department“>

The Chips fire chewing its way through electric transmission lines - photo by Magic Mike

From the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department

During the afternoon and evening hours of 8/10/12 the Chips Fire produced “spot fires” up to two miles ahead of the fire line. This fire behavior has caused the necessary changes to the below listed Evacuation Area to help ensure the safety of the public and the fire personnel in the area.

With the evacuations, only two families required assistance with local sheltering. Should members of the public find themselves in need of shelter, contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office at 530-283-6300 and they will assist the public with contact the local OES Director for Emergency Shelter.

The Saturday Afternoon Chips Fire Boundary Map - Click on the map for a bigger image

Due to current weather conditions and fire behavior the following Road Closures, Evacuation Orders and Sheriff’s Advisement are in effect.

Highway Closures

• -Highway 70 at Caribou Road “Hard Closure”- Hwy 70 to Butt Lake Dam
• - Highway 70 at Rush Creek “Hard Closure”
• -Highway 70 “Soft Closures” on all additional secondary roads North of Highway 70 between Rock Creek Dam and Twain.
• -Highway 89 at Seneca Road “Hard Closure”
• -Highway 89 “Soft Closure” Butt Lake Dam, Ohio Valley Road, Butt Lake Road, Humbug/Humbolt Road and all additional secondary roads South of Highway 89 between Canyon Dam and the Humbug/Humbolt Road

Evacuation Orders

• -Sheriff’s Mandatory Evacuation- Hwy 70 at Caribou Road to the Butt Lake Dam
• -Sheriff’s Mandatory Evacuation- Rush Creek Road and Seneca Road
• -Sheriff’s Voluntary Evacuation- Butt Lake Area, Ohio Valley, Humbug and Humbolt Area, and Yellow Creek Area
• -Sheriff’s Advisement- Hwy 70 from Tobin to Twain.

Definitions

Sheriff’s Advisement- Will be sent to all local radio and news stations, Public Information Officer Plumas County, Local OES Director, Fire Departments in the affected area, and the Chips Incident Command Team. Due to the Chips Fire and it’s behavior the above listed communities are under a Sheriff’s Advisement.

Residents are encouraged to make an evacuation plan, to include the gathering of photos, important documents and priceless keepsakes. Please discuss with your family a location you will travel to, should the need arise to evacuate. Ensure you have also made arrangements for the care and safekeeping of your pets.

Sheriff’s Voluntary Evacuation- Due to the potential threat to life and property by a wild land fire, residents are encouraged to leave the area. The area will be staffed by Law Enforcement and residents will be advised of the threat, but no road closures for residents living in the area. The general public will not be allowed in the area “Soft Closure”.

Sheriff’s Mandatory Evacuation- Due to fire behavior and/or proximity to the wild land fire residents are in imminent danger or the potential for imminent danger exists. Residents are encouraged to leave the area and road closures will be in effect for all roads around the evacuated area. These closures are “hard closures” residents and the general public will not be allowed back and/or escorted into the area until the evacuation is lifted “Hard Closures” to the local highways could also be established for the safety of fire personnel in the area. If “hard closures” are established it is a “Sheriff’s Mandatory Evacuation”, due to the fact that the general public will not be allowed free access and therefore can not adequately maintain food, supplies, medicine, etc.

Greg Hagwood
Sheriff/ Coroner

By Gerry Hendrick
Assistant Sheriff

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