Here is your Sunday morning report on conditions from the Rush Fire burning north of Wendel.
According to this morning’s report firefighters successfully held fire lines yesterday in the northeast part of the Rush fire in spite of gusting winds. Large dust devils were common and firefighters remained very busy fighting fire.
The threat from dust devils has led firefighters to go to the unusual length of mopping up for 500 to 1000 feet from fire lines into the burned area. This tough work involves finding each and every hot spot and cooling them off.
In spite of the winds on Saturday, firefighters were able to hold the existing fire perimeter for the fourth day in a row.
The northeast flank is where the fire is most active. This part of the Rush fire is in Nevada, about 25 miles northeast and east of Ravendale, Calif., near SOB, Garden and Burnt lakes, the Buffalo Hills, Antelope Basin, and Cottonwood Creek.
Helicopters with buckets dropped water on hot spots in the Cottonwood Creek area on Saturday. In the southern and southwestern flanks of the fire on Saturday, firefighters continued repairing damage from fire-fighting activities.
The National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. because of low humidity and gusting winds. The winds have the potential of fanning any remaining embers and hot spots. Winds can also form dust devils that could carry hot material over containment lines into extremely dry unburned vegetation.
Today firefighters will continue their efforts to hold the fire to its current perimeter, to mop up and to make repairs on the western side of the fire.
Area and Road Closures in Effect: Public lands bounded by Highway 395 on the west, the Sand Pass road and Nevada 447 on the east, the Wendel Road on the south, and Juniper Ridge road to Buckhorn road on the north are closed. The Buffalo Meadows road in Washoe Co., Nev., is also closed. The Ramhorn Springs and Dodge Reservoir campgrounds remain closed.
A note for our readers who are LMUD customers – Due to the unstable nature of PG&E’s Caribou transmission line LMUD will be operating off of Honey Lake Power for the duration of the Plumas County Chips Fire. LMUD is asking that all customers conserve energy by unplugging or turning off all non-essential household equipment and appliances.
Rush Fire, Lassen County
