Fire conditions continue to prompt road closures
Fire activity in the region continues to prompt various road closures around Lassen County.
According to a noon Thursday statement from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, fire conditions on Hamilton Mountain near Fredonyer Pass has precipitated the closure of Highway 36 as well as the termination of power to the Westwood area making it unsafe to reduce evacuations to that area at this time.
Highway 36 will remain closed between the 36/44 junction and County Road A13 (near the Lake Almanor Peninsula). Highway 147 is closed to eastbound traffic at the Lassen/Plumas County Line.
Highway 395 remains closed at varying locations south of County Road A3 as fire conditions change through that area.
In an effort to provide safe passage to residents who evacuated south but who wish to return closer to home or work in the Susanville area, CHP and Caltrans are working to provide limited shuttle service to residents and essential services only.
Residents who wish to travel through the closure should be prepared to provide proof of residence at traffic control points and must be aware that the roadway may close at any time due to fire activity.
The communities of Janesville and Milford are still mostly under mandatory evacuation orders and entry is prohibited.
“The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office along with mutual aid partners from several partner agencies are providing 24-hour patrols to evacuated areas. We would like to remind the public that it is unlawful to enter an area under mandatory evacuation order. When we ask people to leave their homes we take our responsibility to protect the property very seriously. While we respect a person’s right to shelter in place in an evacuated area, legally, you are restricted to your own property. People found loitering outside of their own property in an area under mandatory evacuation order are subject to arrest or citation,” continued the statement.
“We would like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience and will keep you updated as circumstances change.”