Bar, Plumas NF. Three miles west of Rich Bar, CA. Timber, brush and slash. Creeping and smoldering.
Saturday, 9:25 am The 1,040 acre Bar Fire is 75% contained and growth potential is low but fire officials have pushed the total containment date until Wednesday, August 11. This is primarily due to occasional flare-ups and some remaining hotspots in the interior part of the fire perimeter. The change in the acreage estimate is due to a more accurate assessment following an over-flight of the area yesterday afternoon.
All roads and recreation sites are open in the area and most visitors will not notice any evidence of the burn other than occasional flare-ups such as one visible from Highway 70 yesterday afternoon. There is very little visible smoke although occasional puffs from flare-ups may occur.
One hundred and thirty firefighters remain on the fire including four Hotshot crews, 7 engines, 3 helicopters and a watertender. Helicopters are instrumental in the firefighting effort because of their ability to maneuver, precisely target their water drops, and quickly reload and return.
The fire will continue to be monitored for the next 2-3 weeks.
The fire, reported on July 31, is located north of CA State Highway 70, approximately 4 miles east of Belden, Plumas County. The cause is under investigation.
Saturday, 7:54 am Smoke will be hazy with occasional stronger puffs. Four hotshot crews remain in addition to seven engines, three helicopters (light, medium and heavyweight), and a watertender. Acreage changed due to more accurate mapping.
Friday, 9:22 am The Bar Fire is now 70% contained and growth potential is low but fire officials have pushed the total containment date until Wednesday, August 11.
“The sheer rocky slopes are natural barriers and while they have almost completely limited the spread in the southeastern corner of the fire, they have also limited our ability to create control lines on the ground,” said Randy Jennings, Mt. Hough Ranger District Battalian Chief. Jennings indicated the location would continue to be managed by air.
The fire will continue to smolder and creep around rocks in the central and southeastern portions of the fire area with occasional flare-ups from pockets of vegetation in the interior of the burn within control lines. The smoke resulting from this pattern of burn will be hazy with occasional stronger puffs.
One hundred and twenty-five firefighters remain on the burn including four Hotshot crews, 7 engines, 3 helicopters and a watertender. Aaron Shuh has taken over as the Incident Commander.
All roads and recreation sites are open in the area and most visiters will not notice any evidence of the burn.
Acreage estimates will be revised today following a flight of the burn area.
The fire, reported on July 31, is located north of CA State Highway 70, approximately 4 miles east of Belden, Plumas County. The cause is under investigation.
Thursday, 10:32 am Cooler weather and well-executed firefighting tactics have helped firefighters turn the corner on the Bar Fire in the Plumas National Forest. While the percent contained (60%) and acreage (992) have not changed since yesterday, the fire's growth potential is low.
General fire behavior includes smoldering and creeping around rocks in the central and southeastern portions of the fire area with occasional flare-ups from interior pockets of vegetation.
The majority of yesterday's smoke was due to creeping fire in a patch of timber on the northern perimeter of the fire. Hazy smoke will continue in the canyon and nearby areas.
All control lines have held and firefighters are mopping up and expanding lines to 100 feet. Some crews and helicopters are being released.
CA State Highway 70 and all campgrounds and trails are open in the Feather River Canyon.
Acreage and containment estimates will be revised later in the day or tomorrow.
The fire, reported on July 31, is located north of Highway 70, approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden, Plumas County. The cause is under investigation.
Wednesday, 9:42 am The Bar Fire, burning in the Plumas National Forest, is now 60% contained. All control lines are holding while more accurate mapping pegs the acreage at 992 acres. Full containment is projected for Friday, August 6.
CA State Highway 70 will be single lane, controlled traffic for several hours later this morning into the early afternoon as firefighters secure line on parts of the eastern flank of the fire. In addition, firefighters will be working to mop-up 50 feet from the control lines that surround most of the fire.
Smoke will be considerably less than the previous two days as fire behavior will be characterized by a backing, surface fire although isolated pockets of vegetation may occasionally flare-up.
All campgrounds and trails remain open in the Feather River Canyon, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
The fire was reported on July 31, is located north of Highway 70, approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden, Plumas County. The cause is under investigation.
Three hundred people are assigned to the fire assisted by helicopters, engines, dozers and watertenders.
Wednesday, 6:12 am Excellent progress has been made on the Bar Fire as firefighters utilized helicopters and an aerial ignition process to burn out an inaccessible chunk in the center of the fire area. Along with continued work to mop-up the northern perimeter of the fire and hose-lays on portions of the east and west flanks of the fire, the strategic burn-out has given fire managers increased confidence that the Feather River Canyon fire will be successfully contained this week.
The approximately 900 acre fire, reported on July 31, is located north of CA State Highway 70, approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden, Plumas County. The cause is under investigation.
Three hundred people are assigned to the fire along with helicopters, engines, dozers, and water tenders.
Highway 70 and all recreation sites in the Feather River Canyon are open including campgrounds and trails.
Tuesday, 8:48 am A Monday afternoon burnout operation was very successful in securing the northern perimeter of the 900 acre Bar Fire, located north of Highway 70 in the Feather River Canyon, Plumas County, CA. Today, firefighters, aided by numerous helicopters and occasional air tankers, will continue to secure the northern line. Islands of unburned brush and some timber will continue to flare up and heavy smoke will drift northward in the afternoon impacting communities far away from the fire.
Tuesday, 6:20 am The Bar Fire is now 900 acres due to planned burnout operations to secure the northwest corner of the fire perimeter. Seasonal winds out of the south/southwest is pushing smoke into the surrounding communities to the north/northeast including the Lake Almanor Basin, Westwood, and Susanville.
Located in the Feather River Canyon near Rich Bar, the fire is approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden and burning on the north side of Highway 70 in very steep, rocky terrain.
The fire has bumped into portions of the old Rich Fire area (2008) which is acting as a very effective fire break. Some continued growth may occur before full containment as projected for August 5.
Three hundred people are assigned to fight the fire including numerous Type 1 “Hotshot” crews, helicopters and aerial tankers.
Highway 70 is open. A one-mile section near the fire may be under a one-way traffic control with a pilot car. Drivers can expect minimal delays.
Recreation sites in the Feather River Canyon remain open: campgrounds, trails, and the popular Pacific Crest Trail.
The fire was reported mid-afternoon Saturday, July 31 and the cause remains under investigation.
Monday, 3:03 pm Bar Fire size has grown to 500 acres due to burn-out operations and will grow more by the end of today. We're trying to box it in. The west flank is contained with hand-line, fire is tied in at bottom at Hwy 70. North flank has a dozer line (from the 2008 Rich Fire) and fire road, east flank is tying in with the 2008 Rich Fire. So some burn-out operations are occurring on north and east which is adding to the acreage.
Monday, 12:07 pm Short runs through sparse timber and continued eastward creep towards an old burn accounted for slight growth in the now 200 acre acre Bar Fire burning on the Plumas National Forest. Located in the Feather River Canyon near Rich Bar, the fire is approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden and burning on the north side of Highway 70 in very steep, rocky terrain.
The fire has started to bump into portions of the old Rich Fire area and will continue a similar pattern of spread today. The old burn area is acting as a very effective fire break. Residents in Feather River Canyon, Quincy, Meadow Valley, Indian Valley, Lake Almanor Baisn, Westwood, Susanville, will see smoke in the afternoon as the fire burns into pockets of vegetation on the rocky hillsides. The fire is expected to grow another 200 acres before it is contained; containment is projected for August 5.
Two hundred and twenty five people are assigned to fight the fire including numerous Type 1 “Hotshot” crews, helicopters and aerial tankers.
Highway 70 is open. A one-mile section near the fire may be under a one-way traffic control with a pilot car. Drivers can expect minimal delays.
The fire was reported mid-afternoon Saturday, July 31 and the cause remains under investigation.
The Bar fire as seen from Saddleback lookout, 30 minutes after start. Picture courtesy Mike Gates at Saddleback.
Sunday, 11:11 pm The Bar Fire is now 150 acres. Aided by helicopter water drops, firefighters continued to hit the fire aggressively. A spot occurred on the eastern flank but progress has been made. Helicopters will continue working the fire until 7:30pm tonight.
A one-mile stretch of Hwy 70 is under traffic control with a pilot car near the fire area until 7:30pm.
Sunday, 12:11 pm Multiple fire crews continue to aggressively fight the 120 acre Bar Fire on the Plumas National Forest. Located in the Feather River Canyon, near Rich Bar, the fire is approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden and burning on the north side of Highway 70 in very steep terrain. This is a correction from yesterday’s initial report.
Crews worked throughout the night and maintained the size of the fire. Today, temperatures will remain in the 90’s with winds out of the southwest; residents in Indian Valley, Westwood, and Susanville may see smoke in the afternoon.
The fire was reported at approximately 2 PM on Saturday, July 31. Multiple resources have been assigned to the fire including 3 engines, 6 Hotshot Crews, 4 Helitak crews and multiple aircraft.
Highway 70 is open. A one-mile stretch near the fire is under one-way traffic with a pilot car. Drivers should expect minimal delays.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is currently under investigation.
Saturday, 8:28 pm Highway 70 is closed from the intersection of Highway 70 and Highway 89 (Greenville "Wye) west to Jarbo Gap.
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At 2 PM today, Plumas National Forest fire crews were dispatched to the Bar Fire. The fire is located down the Feather River Canyon, near Rich Bar, approximately 4 miles east of the town of Belden. The fire is estimated to be around 100 acres and is burning in steep terrain.
Multiple resources have been assigned to the fire including 9 engines, 10 Smoke Jumpers and multiple aircraft. Highway 70 from the junction of Highway 89 (Greenville "Wye") has been closed to non-emergency traffic. The cause of the fire is unknown and is currently under investigation.
Many thanks to the Fire Information services for their updates.
