On 8/19/12 the Chips Fire proceeded up the Clear Creek Drainage and headed towards Ohio Valley. Due to extreme conditions, this caused the fire to spread to the top of the ridge South of Ohio Valley. There were also spot fires located on the South side of the North Fork of the Feather River below Seneca Road. This fire behavior has caused new changes to the below listed Evacuation Area. There is a Mandatory Evacuation for Canyon Dam and Big Meadows area. A Voluntary Evacuation is in place for Prattville and Almanor area. An Advisory is in affect to all West Almanor and East Shore residents (Hwy. 147) advising of the potential threat of the fire to the areas. The Evacuation Center will be located at the Memorial Hall Center in Chester on Gay Street. Stay tuned to media advisements and monitor the Plumas County website for updated information.
Due to current weather conditions and fire behavior the following Road Closures, Evacuation Orders and Sheriff's Advisement are in effect.
Highway Closures
-Caribou Road to Butt Lake Dam from Highway 70- "Hard Closure"
- Rush Creek Road from Highway 70 - Open to residents only.
- All additional secondary roads North of Highway 70 between Rock Creek Dam and Twain from Highway 70- "Soft Closures"
- Seneca Road from Highway 89 - "Hard Closure"
- Butt Lake Dam, Ohio Valley Road, Butt Lake Road, Humbug/Humboldt Road and all additional secondary roads West of Highway 89 between Canyon Dam and the Humbug/Humboldt Road from Highway 89- "Hard Closure"
-Hwy 89 between Butt Lake Road and Old Hauns Road North of Greenville.
-Hwy 147 closed to traffic, open to residents only.
-Old Hauns Road closed
Evacuation Orders
-Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Caribou Road from Hwy 70 to the Butt Lake Dam
-Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Butt Lake Area, Ohio Valley, Humbug and Humboldt Area, and Yellow Creek Area.
-Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuations-Seneca
-Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Canyon Dam and Big Meadows.
Sheriff's Voluntary Evacuation
-Prattville
-Almanor
-Rush Creek Road evacuation has been lifted to Voluntary status.
Sheriff's Advisement
-Hwy 70 from Tobin to Twain.
-Almanor West
Definitions
Sheriff's Advisement- Will be sent to all local radio and news stations, Public Information Officer Plumas County, Local OES Director, Fire Departments in the affected area, and the Chips Incident Command Team. Due to the Chips Fire and its behavior the above listed communities are under a Sheriff's Advisement. Residents are encouraged to make an evacuation plan, to include the gathering of photos, important documents and priceless keepsakes. Please discuss with your family a location you will travel to, should the need arise to evacuate. Ensure you have also made arrangements for the care and safekeeping of your pets.
Sheriff's Voluntary Evacuation- Due to the potential threat to life and property by a wild land fire, residents are encouraged to leave the area. The area will be staffed by Law Enforcement and residents will be advised of the threat, but no road closures for residents living in the area. The general public will not be allowed in the area "Soft Closure".
Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Due to fire behavior and/or proximity to the wild land fire, residents are in imminent danger or the potential for imminent danger exists. Residents are encouraged to leave the area and road closures will be in effect for all roads around the evacuated area. These closures are "hard closures" residents and the general public will not be allowed back and/or escorted into the area until the evacuation is lifted "Hard Closures" to the local highways could also be established for the safety of fire personnel in the area. If "hard closures" are established it is a "Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation", due to the fact that the general public will not be allowed free access and therefore can not adequately maintain food, supplies, medicine, etc.
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