Crews continue to contain Dixie Fire, winds could intensify smoldering material within perimeter of the fire
This afternoon sees a shift to light northeasterly winds, which — coupled with sunny skies and low humidity — could intensify existing smoldering material and give life to burning logs and stumps within the perimeter of the fire.
As of Thursday morning, Sept. 23, the fire has burned 963,276 acres and remains at 94 percent containment.
Yesterday, firefighters worked toward containment in the Devil’s Punchbowl area southeast of Taylorsville with limited smoke and heat still lingering in inaccessible areas along the steep slopes. Crews have already constructed the final mile of containment line there and they continue monitoring what few hot spots they find to ensure they are not compromised. Firefighting efforts here continue but traditional gridding and cold trailing along the sheer cliffs are slow going due to the numerous risks to the safety of firefighters.
Crews throughout the remainder of the fire area continue to patrol for smoke and heat that might threaten lines and investigate any reports from the public, as well as backhaul equipment and supplies that are no longer needed. Mop up and patrol continues across the East Zone while suppression repair is ongoing in Horton, Dixie Valley, Janesville, Bucks Lake, Meadow Valley and south of Taylorsville. Fire suppression repair is action taken to mitigate damage and minimize potential soil erosion. Overnight crews responded to one service call. The public is reminded to report smoke or visible flames, bearing in mind that the area in question might be deep within containment lines and poses no threat. In these cases, the concern is noted but no action is taken because the risk to firefighters is greater than the threat to containment.
Today, priorities remain focused on the steep and rugged terrain of the Devil’s Punchbowl area, continued mop up and patrol, and responding to service calls.
Yesterday in the West Zone, fire crews completed 6.5 miles of suppression repair on the fire’s northern perimeter, along Highway 44 near Bogard Rest Area. For example, heavy-equipment operators are using machinery to pull vegetation and ground cover onto dozer and hand line and constructing water bars to prevent erosion. This process is a collaborative effort between firefighters, equipment operators, and resource advisors. They walk the fireline together to identify repair needs and develop strategies to protect infrastructure and natural and cultural resources from further damage.
California Interagency Incident Management Team 1 (CIIMT1) has been managing the Dixie Fire since Sept., 11, 2021. That team transitions management to Southern Area Gold Team (SAGT) tomorrow. CIIMT is a Type 1 Team led by Incident Commander Jerry McGowan and SAGT is a Type 2 Team led by Incient Commander Debbie Beard.
