Crews increase Dixie Fire containment, 844,081 acres burned
Yesterday, crews worked to establish lines to hold the Highway 44 corridor and the fire crept closer to Highway 395 as it moved about 2 miles east along the Walker Fire scar aided by wind.
As of Wednesday morning, Sept. 1, the fire has burned 844,081 acres and containment increased to 52 percent.
In the West Zone, crews continue to establish direct and indirect containment lines south of Old Station. Resources continue to establish containment lines to hold the Highway 44 during corridor.
According to Operations Section Chief Mike Wink, noted crews did a “phenomenal job” in the area over the past few days during Red Flag conditions. He said there were some spots, but crews were holding them and were working to continue holding them.
This morning, Highway 44 reopened to traffic from Old Station to Highway 36.
Additionally, today, crews will continue to complete contingency lines both north and south of Janesville and Milford respectively.
Wink continued to advise firefighting crews about the typical winds in the Escarpment area above Janesville and Milford down to Highway 395. He said crews were continuing the dozer lines around Milford and heading south towards Doyle.
The Union Pacific Fire Train continues to protect critical infrastructure, and aircraft will continue to provide support as conditions allow.
Today, weather will continue to be warm and dry with high winds. Temperatures will be 72 to 84 degrees during the day. The red flag warning has expired; however, conditions and fuels can still create fire conditions resistant to control.
Winds will continue to be strong enough to keep the primary direction of the fire progressing towards the northeast. Diminishing winds could produce column development if the fire becomes established. Due to limited humidity recovery, dry fuels will continue to be extremely receptive to embers
In the Dixie Fire East Zone, fire is continuing its southeast progression in the Grizzly Ridge/Ward Creek area between East Quincy and the 2019 Walker Fire scar as well as northerly to the east of the Walker Fire scar. Yesterday, firefighters actively engaged the fire along Queens Creek Road with air and ground resources that checked the spread but did not completely halt forward movement.
Spot fires across the road and rough conditions made operations difficult for firefighters. The fire moved about 2 miles to the east and north in alignment with the wind, terrain, and fuel. Fire behavior predictions indicate a continued push towards Highway 395 to the east aided by southwest winds.
Crews will work today to keep fire south and west of Last Chance drainage in cooperation with Cal Fire Team 1. Efforts also continue to focus on extending dozer line down Grizzly Ridge and tie into the shore of Lake Davis to direct the fire away from Highway 70 corridor as well as from Lake Davis to Clover Valley to keep fire from spreading south.
Structure protection remains in place within Genesee, Taylorsville, Greenhorn, and Cromberg.
