Sheep, Lassen NF

Sheep, Plumas NF, USFS. IMT 2 (CA Team 10). Thirteen miles east of Westwood, CA. Timber, short grass and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior with smoldering, backing and creeping. Sage-grouse habitat threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.

September 6, 2020 at 10:38 AM

Fire crews continue to reinforce containment lines along the perimeter of the Sheep Fire. They are working further into the interior of the fire to extinguish heat in stumps and vegetation that are prone to flare and blow with the high winds.

Weather
The fire area remains under a heat advisory – 10 degrees above normal. Hot temperatures, high winds, and low relative humidity are forecast through Monday.

Smoke
Smoke conditions depend on fire activity in the area, air quality information is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

September 5, 2020 at 8:18 PM

Crews will continue to strengthen containment lines, mop-up and secure areas around structures. Crews will also continue mop-up to reinforce containment lines in all divisions. Fire suppression repair has started and will expand as equipment arrives. Unfavorable fire weather conditions will continue throught the holiday weekend and a Fire Weather Watch is forecasted early next week.

September 3, 2020 at 7:57 AM

Command of the Sheep Fire was transferred to California Interagency Incident Management Team 10 as of 6 a.m. this morning.  

The Sheep Fire stayed well within its containment lines overnight. Crews continued to work on mopping up on the southwest corner of the fire toward Indicator Peak, making sure that containment lines are cold and black, and there’s no vegetation close enough to the perimeter for burning material to get over the lines. Mop up also continued in the Roxy Peconom area, and all lines are holding well around the western flank of the fire. While the fire is looking good west of Susanville, there is still some scattered heat visible, and crews are staying in the area and watching diligently for any flare ups. Pockets of vegetation inside containment lines continue to ignite and burn. Most of these pockets are located within the rock escarpment above Susanville, and pose little threat to the lines. However, crews will be working with air support today to extinguish any of those that are close to the lines. 

Weather: 

Temperatures today are expected to be similar to yesterday with light wind and low relative humidity. A warming trend is predicted over the weekend; with many areas reaching temperatures well above average. Winds are also expected to pick up by Sunday.   

Smoke from the Claremont and Bear Fires was very visible in Susanville yesterday evening. Information about smoke in the area can be found on either the California Smoke Information website (found here) or on the daily air quality map (here.) 

Closures/Evacuation: Lassen County – The dirt portion of Gold Run Road remains closed and the dirt portion of Wingfield Road is open to residents only. 

Lassen National Forest: Forest Service Road 29N03, Roxie Peconom and Goumaz campgrounds are closed. For further information on closures, including Forest Closures in relation to the Sheep Fire, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices 

September 2, 2020 at 9:15 AM

Minimal growth occurred yesterday on the Sheep Fire, but crews continue to strengthen line patrol for hotspots.

The crews kept up their efforts yesterday on the northwest and western edges of the fire to bolster containment lines and reduce any potential for spread. Crews are working to wrap up the fire near Williams Creek along the northwest side of the fire and out toward the Roxie Peconom area and Willard Creek Road along the western edge. The remaining portions of the fire are being patrolled and mop up is being executed where firefighters find any remaining heat. A majority of the smoke visible to the residents in the area is coming from pockets of unburned fuel far within the fire’s perimeter and does not pose a threat to containment.

Even though all evacuation orders related to the Sheep Fire in Lassen County have been lifted, it’s of utmost importance for residents to remember the fire is not out and to remain vigilant.

Please use caution, reduce your speed, drive with your headlights on and yield to emergency personnel and fire equipment.

Remember, just because the flames are out doesn’t mean the danger is over. Damaged trees, structural damage, and flash flooding are just some of the dangers that exist after a wildfire. Do not put yourself or your loved ones in danger by exploring. Expect to see hot spots and smoke for some time. Do not call 911 unless there is an immediate threat to life or property.

Weather: The sheep fire experienced warm/dry weather conditions and light north/ easterly winds that settled down this morning. Southwest flow is expected to return. The weather outlook includes the possibility of a heat wave starting today. There is a strong chance of record breaking temperatures this weekend with near 100 on mid-slope elevations.

Air Quality: Southwest winds will return this afternoon, bringing widespread light to moderate smoke back to the area. Smoke will settle into valleys at night and dissipate Thursday morning. Continued SW winds tomorrow may bring in additional smoke from other fires west of the Central Valley.

August 31, 2020 at 7:29 AM

The Sheep Fire is burning in 6 foot tall brush, snags, plantation and decadent timber with minimal fire history. The southern end is burning into 2007 Moonlight Fire Scar.

Conditions are expected to remain hot, dry, and smoky with little drought relief expected. Afternoon temperatures up to 98, humidity as low as 12% in some places. A very hot (perhaps record-breaking), dry, stagnant weather pattern begins to develop midweek and will continue through the weekend, providing little relief to firefighting efforts.