Graham, Ishi Wilderness

Graham, Lassen NF, USFS. Seventeen miles east of Los Molinos, CA. Chaparral and timber. Minimal fire activity.

June 13, 2022 at 6:01 PM

Minimal fire behavior observed overnight. There is a threat to tribal cultural sites and critical wildlife habitat. Fire is burning in steep rugged terrain within the ISHI Wilderness. Fire is being managed by a local Type 3 IMT.

June 13, 2022 at 8:20 AM

Observed fire behavior is primarily smoldering, creeping, isolated torching and short duration brush crown fires runs in unburned interior islands or unlined portions of the fire. Flame lengths in grass and brush are 2-4 feet and rates of spread are 15-25 chains per hour. Short-range spotting up to 0.15 miles were observed.

June 12, 2022 at 6:36 PM

Minimal fire behavior observed today with some precipitation occurring over the area. Fire is burning in steep rugged terrain within the ISHI Wilderness. Type 2 CAIIMT 14 is assigned.

June 11, 2022 at 7:28 PM

Minimal fire behavior observed today with no growth since the previous IR mapping mission. Type 2 CAIIMT 14 has been assigned with a tentative transition to command tomorrow morning.

June 11, 2022 at 12:09 PM

Overnight fire behavior was reported as creeping and flanking as fire continued to burn within the Ishi Wilderness.  Type 2 CAIIMT 14 has been assigned and will in-brief today.

June 10, 2022 at 9:24 PM

Active fire behavior with flanking observed. Fire is burning in steep rugged terrain.  A Type 2 CAIIMT 14 is assigned.

Potential threats include: With the NW wind the wind will align with Deer Creek drainage and move SE and be aligned with slope. High Temp expected with high winds will cause rapid rate of spread of the fire.

Potential spread could spread past Cohassett Ridge and impact HWY 32 and get established in Chico Creek. This would impact Chico Forest Ranch and the town of Cohassett. If it spreads north it will get into Deer Creek and with alignment will be run up to the Dixie fire and effect communities along Hwy36 all the way to Mineral and along the Mill Creek drainage.

June 10, 2022 at 12:15 PM

A wildfire was reported Thursday evening around 6:30 p.m. in the Ishi Wilderness of Lassen National Forest. The fire is located north of Cohasset, CA, in the Graham Pinery area near Wildcat Creek. As of this morning the fire is estimated to be between 50 to 75 acres and continues to burn in heavy timber and steep terrain.

“We are using a full suppression strategy to try and contain the fire as quickly as possible,” said William Miller, Lassen’s Chief Forest Fire Management Officer. “The Forest dispatched Smokejumpers out of Redding, CA, to assist with the initial attack. We have received clearance for use of chainsaws and repellant drops in the wilderness area.”

Due to Ishi’s wilderness status, mechanical equipment is normally not allowed within its boundaries. Special permission is needed to use chainsaws and to fly in retardant and Smokejumpers. Multiple resources from CalFire and the Forest Service are on scene under the command of Battalion Chief, Robert Rice, of the Almanor Ranger District. The fire is currently lead by a Lassen Incident Command Team (ICT) and will transition to a Type II ICT in a few days.

Retardant was dropped Thursday evening before dark. Smokejumpers have been working on containment overnight as conditions and safety allow. Nighttime firefighting is inherently dangerous, especially in extremely steep terrain and dense fuels.

Weather forecasts through Saturday show a pattern of hot and dry weather conditions with winds up to 20 miles per hour. Sunday has a 50% chance of thundershowers with winds up to 24 miles per hour. With this forecast in mind, crews are aggressively fighting this fire.

Currently, no buildings are under threat and there are no closures or evacuations. If travelling through Cohasset and Campbellville, expect to see smoke and have some delays as equipment is moved through the area.