QUINCY — The past week has been stressful for many of the communities in and around the Plumas National Forest as wildfire activity increases on and near the Forest.

For the past two years, due to cooler, wetter summers and considerable snowpack, the Plumas National Forest saw a substantial reduction in wildfires following more than three years of devastating large wildfires. During the 2022 and 2023 fire seasons, most fires were less than an acre and none exceeded 100 acres.

The 2024 fire season so far has included numerous agency assists and mutual aids working with Cal Fire and other departments to help fight wildland fires to protect communities near the Plumas National Forest. On the Forest, while there have been more fires, they were kept small with none burning more than an acre until last week’s lightning fires that formed the Gold Complex.

“The combination of dry lightning, already dry fuels, wind and slope resulted in the Mill and Smith fires growing very rapidly Monday afternoon,” said Acting Plumas National Forest Fire Management Officer Ryan Bauer. “The interagency resources that responded to the fire and the shared focus on public safety and community protection by all emergency responders on the incident helped tremendously in keeping the Gold Complex fires away from communities and quickly gaining control of the fires.”

Even with smaller, single-tree fires, area residents and visitors have expressed concerns and stress when there is smoke or an emergency wildland firefighter response.

“Forest employees know and share with the communities the trauma that followed the recent large wildfires that started with the Camp fire in 2018,” Bauer said. “The Gold Complex and the Park Fire burning near Chico bring back those memories for many of us.”

Smoke from the Park Fire is highly visible in the area and the movement of the fire is raising concerns, especially as the 2021 Dixie Fire is remembered. Last night, there were numerous 911 calls as smoke from the Park Fire settled in the Indian Valley area during the evening.

“We can’t speak for the management of the Park Fire,” Bauer said. “However, we have multiple local resources assigned to the fire and are closely monitoring the situation.”

Bauer notes that he expects the area burned by the somewhat recent Dixie Fire will help slow the Park fire if it moves into the burn scar.

“Even though there are many dead trees in the burned area, the brush is young and green and surface fuels are relatively light,” Bauer said. “So even though there are challenges to fighting fire in recently burned areas, it should be a space where fire behavior is moderated enough to help suppress the fire.”

Despite this reassurance, there is awareness that for many people the past week has been overwhelming and affecting physical and mental health.

“As we navigate this fire season, it’s important to take care of each other, check in on your friends and neighbors, and take some time to ensure that you, your family and pets, and your home are prepared for wildfire,” Bauer said.

There are a number of resources available through Plumas County for wildfire preparedness, including the Office of Emergency Services at www.plumascounty.us/88/Office-of-Emergency-Services, as well as through Plumas County Fire Safe Council at www.plumasfiresafe.org, and your local FireWise Community group: NFPA - Firewise USA®.

Area residents and visitors should be aware of their surroundings and, if needed, evacuation information through local county sheriff’s. It’s also recommended to know your zone and sign up for alerts. More information is available for residents on local county websites.

Area residents and visitors are also reminded that the Plumas National Forest is currently in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are only allowed in specific designated recreation sites with a campground host, in established campfire rings. Sites are listed in Exhibit A of the closure order. Even in the hosted campgrounds, campfires should never be left unattended and be dead out and cold to the touch before leaving.

Possession of a valid California Campfire Permit is not an exemption from the prohibitions. However, they can use portable campfire pits, stoves or lanterns that use gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel as long as it has a working shut-off valve and is used in an area that is at least 3 feet from any flammable materials.

California Campfire Permits are free and available at Forest Service and CAL Fire offices or online at https://permit.preventwildfiresca.org/.

Fuels conditions are being monitored to determine if fire restrictions need to be increased. Additionally, firefighters continue to watch for holdover fires from recent lightning storms.

Even with slightly cooler temperatures through early this week, area residents and visitors are asked to be careful with anything that can spark a wildfire and to report suspected wildfires by calling 911.

“Wildland firefighting resources locally, regionally and nationally are working on numerous large fires,” Bauer said. “To help protect our local communities and the Plumas National Forest, area residents and visitors need to stay vigilant and do what they can to help prevent wildfires.”

For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.