Buck, Shasta-Trinity NF

Buck, Shasta – Trinity NF. Twelve miles southwest of Platina, CA. Timber. Moderate fire behavior with isolated torching, flanking and creeping. Road, trail and area closures in effect.

October 21, 2017 at 10:58 AM

Fire is threatening three separate pieces of private land, with one structure on the most westerly piece.

Fire is threatening Northern Spotted owl habitat, commercial timberland, forest plantations, private in holdings and range land.

Fire is burning in heavy dead and down timber. Areas across the fire are inaccessible due to steep terrain. Lower portions of the fire area oak and grass under story. This area has no recent fire history.

The fire will not be staffed overnight, fire spread is expected to be minimal. Crews will continue to construct line directly on the burned edge to contain the fire as conditions permit. Early next week, a warming and drying pattern is expected to develop as high pressure rebuilds.

October 16, 2017 at 8:45 PM

Fire continues to burn actively on the west and east sides of the fire.

Evacuation notice in place for a small amount of residences on some private lands.

Threats to historical cabin, commercial timberlands, private lands, forest plantations, old growth timber, and active owl nests.

Buck Fire is 1 to 2 miles north of the Mendocino National Forest boundary

Federal ground resources committed

October 5, 2017 at 9:16 AM

The fire will not be staffed overnight. No spread is expected as fire has burned into our containment lines. The fire will continue to consume interior islands within the fire perimeter.

September 30, 2017 at 10:07 AM

Firefighting crews continue to conduct tactical firing operations in order to strengthen containment lines around the southwestern flank of the fires perimeter by eliminating fuels in advance of the fire. Within the active fire, dead and down fuels continue to be consumed and some tree torching has been observed. Overall throughout the fire, flame lengths continue to be less than one foot.

Along the northern and eastern portion of the fire, firefighters are mopping up any remaining hot spots that may threaten the containment lines. The fire remains contained on the southern edge. Firefighting crews will continue to monitor containment and confinement lines and mop up hotspots as necessary.

September 24, 2017 at 8:57 AM

With yesterday’s northeast winds the fire has seen an increase in active fire behavior. Fire has active backing and single tree torching. Heavy fuels are fully consuming. Higher elevations of the fire are still under a cloud cover with light precipitation, however, lower elevations are drying out and beginning to readily consume.

The fire will continue to spread and is expected to increase in activity with the predicted winds. Crews will be focusing on finishing prep work on hand and dozer lines on ridges and roads closer to the fire perimeter. Crews are planning tactical firing operations and holding points as the fire moves toward containment lines. Crews will be chipping on the 10 road and some suppression repair work is being scouted out.

Northeast winds are predicted to surface producing critical fire weather with winds upwards of 19 mph. continuing to drop RHs to critical levels.

September 23, 2017 at 9:51 AM

Fire behavior increased today with the lack of cloud cover and moisture in the area. 1-ft to 2-ft flame length and isolated torching was observed. Areas of torching occurred in isolated areas of the fire as the fuels dried from solor heating . 100-hr and 1,000 hour fuels continue to fully consume. 1hr fuels have become receptive once again in and are readily carrying fire where sunlight has warmed the ground.

September 21, 2017 at 9:57 AM

The Buck fire continues to burn in a mosaic pattern with most of the growth towards the northern and eastern edges of the fire. Despite receiving precipitation and the recent cooler damp weather, the fire is actively burning in the dry fuels on the forest floor with flame heights about one foot in height. The area’s thick understory and large snags are the largest contributors to the low intensity fire growth.

The northern edge of the fire has reached Forest Service (FS) 28N44 Road and continues to burn towards White Rock Trailhead. The eastern edge continues to increase in size as spot fires burn towards the main body of fire. Fire crews continue to prepare for expanded fire growth by strengthening the northern edge along exiting forest roads and trails. To the southeastern and western fire edges, fire crews are implanting a fire line perimeter along natural and manmade features near Stuart Springs towards Murphy Glade, as well as trails and roads near West Low Gap. Crews continue to construct aggressive direct fire line construction as well as identify landing zones for Helicopters along FS 27N17 to provide support to firefighters.

September 15, 2017 at 9:09 AM

The Buck Fire began at approximately 6:42 p.m. on September 12, 2017 as the result of a lightning strike near Black Rock Mountain, close to the Yolla-Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness.

An infrared flight was flown over the fire area and this mapping capability resulted in a decrease in fire acreage. The mapping also identified a spot fire on the eastern front of the fire approximately 0.5 mile from the Buck Fire perimeter. The spot fire is east of the East Fork of the South Fork Trinity River and is within planned containment lines.

The Buck Fire has reached Black Rock Mountain and the historic Black Rock Mountain Lookout is being closely monitored and protected from the fire. Yesterday, helicopters assisting in dropping water and cooling the fire edge on Black Rock Mountain and elsewhere on the fire as needed.

The Buck Fire continues to grow at a moderate rate. Firefighters are scouting and building indirect line and keeping firefighter and public safety as their top priority. Crews are working along the 35 Road and 40 Road to Rat Trap Ridge. All fire lines will continue to be monitored by aircraft.

Fire managers are aware of cattle within the Buck Fire perimeter and are worked with ranchers to relocate the herds.