Whaleback, Eagle Lake

Whaleback, Lassen NF. IMT 2 (Coots). Six miles southwest of Spaulding, CA. Timber, brush and closed timber litter.

August 6, 2018 at 9:10 AM

Spalding residents were allowed to return home yesterday, as the evacuation order was lifted. Only residents will be allowed in, and they must show proof of residency. The A1 Road remains closed through the fire area until 7pm tonight, so access into Spalding for today is from Highway 139 to Eagle Lake Road.

Lassen Municipal Utility District (LMUD) will begin restoring power to Spalding, Bucks Bay, Stones, and all their customers at the north end of Eagle Lake at 9 am this morning. It will take 6-8 hours for the process to be complete. LMUD personnel and firefighters will be in the vicinity to assist should there be any issues with power restoration.

Command Teams: Northern California Interagency Incident Management Team 1, Curtis Coots IC will be transitioning to a local Type 3 Management Team with ICs Albert Savage and trainee Pete Martens as of 6pm tonight. The fire camp at the fairgrounds will be closed by tomorrow afternoon.

Fire Situation: Crews continue to mop up where necessary. Suppression repair work also continues across the fire. Firefighters are being demobilized and sent to higher priority fires across the state and elsewhere.

August 5, 2018 at 10:52 AM

A public meeting will be held on Sunday August 5, 2018 at 1 pm in Jensen Hall at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, in Susanville, Ca. The purpose will be to provide the Spalding residents information about the conditions they will face once they are allowed to return to their homes.

Fire Situation: Crews continue to mop up and secure the fires edge. Suppression repair work will continue today over areas of the fire. With continued breezy conditions hazard trees will remain a safety concern as several fire weakened trees fell yesterday. Main continued concerns are firefighter and public safety as the crews work to secure the area around Spalding and to keep the fire within the containment lines.

Fire Start: Friday, July 27, 1:30 pm. Cause is under investigation.

Fire Size: Approximately 18,726 acres with 90% containment.

Location: The Whaleback fire is located on Whaleback Mountain and in the Brockman Flat Lava Beds on the west side of Eagle Lake about 20 miles northwest of Susanville, Ca.

Road Closures: County Road A1 is closed to the north at Lakeside Dr. near Buck’s Bay and to the south at Alta Dr. in Lake Forest. County Rd 105 is closed at HWY 44, and County Rd 231 remains closed.

Evacuations and Closures: There is significant damage to LMUD power lines that provide power to Buck’s Bay, Stones Landing and Spalding communities. A generator has been delivered to Spalding and will be operational as soon as possible. As assessments of infrastructure continue, Spalding remains under evacuation order and the evacuation warning for Buck’s Bay and Stones Landing has been rescinded as of 8:00 a.m. Friday, August 03, 2018. Campgrounds and day use areas remain closed to public use. Public lands have been temporarily closed in the fire area to provide for public safety. The closure orders and accompanying maps can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/lassen/alerts-notices and www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions.

Evacuation Center: Assembly of God Church on Richmond Road in Susanville, (530) 310-2783.

Fire Behavior: Interior islands will continue to burn and produce smoke in the area. The Red Flag Warning has been rescinded but hot and dry weather will continue into the week. Winds will be from the southwest today 15-20mph with gusts to 25mph. Any new spot fires or new fires could grow rapidly. Fire crews continue to aggressively mop up and are engaged in suppression repair.

August 3, 2018 at 11:34 AM

Today at 8am we will be rescinding the evacuation warning for Buck’s Bay and Stones Landing that was implemented on July 31st. The evacuation order for the Spalding Community remains in effect.

We are assessing the repopulation of the Spalding Community on a daily basis. Once the repopulation criteria are met, the Incident Commanders, Lassen County Sheriff, and the Agency Administrators will make the decision on the timing of the repopulation.

Road Closures: County Road A1 is closed to the north at Lakeside Dr. near Buck’s Bay and to the south at Alta Dr. in Lake Forest. County Rd 105 is closed at HWY 44, and County Rd 231 remains closed at this time.

Evacuations and Closures: There is significant damage to LMUD power lines that provide power to Buck’s Bay, Stones Landing and Spalding communities. As assessments of infrastructure continue, Spalding remains under evacuation order and the evacuation warning for Buck’s Bay and Stones Landing has been rescinded as of 8:00 a.m. Friday, August 03, 2018. Campgrounds and day use areas remain closed to public use. Public lands have been temporary closed in the fire area to provide for public safety.

August 1, 2018 at 8:15 AM

A Fire Weather Watch for low humidity and gusty winds has been issued with the possibility of being upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. Hot and dry conditions are forecasted into next week with potential for critical fire weather. Poor humidity recovery will occur over the mid slopes and ridges for the next few nights as a dry slot moves into the region.

The northwest and northeast area of the fire should continue to grow influenced by gusty southwest winds and dry forest fuels. Minimal fire is expected on the southern and eastern flanks.

July 31, 2018 at 8:06 AM

The west flank of the should continue spreading up to 1/2 west north west influenced by dry weather, topography, and dry forest fuels. Fire could also spread south-west upslope towards Antelope Mountain up to 1/4 mile. Minimal fire spread expected along north-eastern flank.

Hot and dry conditions are forecasted into next week with potential for critical fire weather. Poor humidity recovery will occur over the mid slopes and ridges for the next few nights as a dry slot moves into the region.

Mandatory evacuations in place for the community of Spalding, the Gallatin Marina, Ronald McDonald House and the Merrill, Christie, Eagle and Aspen campgrounds. Active, isolated torching and wind driven runs.

July 30, 2018 at 10:05 PM

The Whaleback Fire increased in acres overnight as the unburned fuels in the center of the fire continued to burn out. The fire has backed down to Eagle Lake on the eastern edge. The most active area of the fire is to the northwest. Weather today continues to be hot and dry, with increasing afternoon winds from the west-south-west.

The west flank of the should continue spreading up to 1/4 west north west influenced by dry weather, topography, and dry forest fuels. Fire could also spread south-west upslope towards Antelope Mountain up to 1/4 mile. Minimal fire spread expected along north-eastern flank.

LMUD crews have restored power to Eagle’s Nest, the Youth Camp, the Marina, Merrill and Christie Campgrounds and Ronald McDonald House. A handful of other customers have also been energized. However, Spaulding, Stones, Bucks Bay and Grasshopper are still without power. We will continue to update you as information becomes available.

July 30, 2018 at 8:31 AM

Evacuation order remains for the community of Spaulding and numerous campgrounds in the area. Road closures remain for portions of County Roads A21, A1 and USFS Road 231. Threats continue to private timberlands, Osprey Managment Area and cultural resources, Antelope Lookout, LMUD utility lines.

July 29, 2018 at 8:38 PM

Wind driven runs with short range spotting and group torching. Evacuation orders in place for the community of Spalding and numerous campgrounds and marinas. Threats include Private timberlands, Osprey Management Area, cultural resources and Antelope Lookout. Numerous road closures in place for the fire area. USFS NORCAL Team 1 and CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc Unit (LMU) are managing the fire under unified command.

July 29, 2018 at 11:24 AM

A public meeting will be held this afternoon (Sunday) with fire officials at Jensen Hall in Susanville at the Lassen County Fairgrounds at 4pm.

July 29, 2018 at 11:04 AM

Whaleback Fire Update—Spalding Residents May Visit Their Homes This Afternoon

Spalding residents who were evacuated due to the Whaleback Fire, will be allowed to return to their homes briefly this afternoon (Sunday July 29) between 1 and 3 pm to pick up necessary items and to prepare their homes for multi-day power outage.

Residents must have ID and sign in at a checkpoint before entering the area. They must leave the area by 3pm.

Access to Spalding will be north on Highway 139 to Eagle Lake Road

July 29, 2018 at 10:39 AM

Hot and dry conditions are forecasted into next week with potential for critical fire weather. Poor humidity recovery will occur over the mid slopes and ridges for the next few nights as a dry slot moves into the region.

Planned Actions : Continue identifying containment lines. Continue constructing indirect and direct fire lines. Continue providing structure protection for the community of Spalding and developed recreation areas.

LNF transfer command to Norcal 1 Type 2 Incident Management Team (Coots) today at 0600 hrs. Norcal 1 Type 2 Incident Management Team is in Unified Command with the Cal Fire Lassen Modoc Unit.

July 28, 2018 at 8:45 PM

Wind driven runs with short range spotting and group torching. Evacuation orders in place for the community of Spaulding and numerous campgrounds and marinas threatened. Threats include Private timberlands, Osprey Management Area and cultural resources. Numerous road closures in place for the fire areas. Type 2 IMT (Coots) will assume command of the fire at 0800 tomorrow morning.

July 28, 2018 at 2:33 PM

Wind driven runs with short range spotting and group torching observed. Structures are currently threatened, with the community of Spalding, numerous campgrounds under mandatory evacuation orders.

County Rd. A1 is closed in the fire area. A Type 2 IMT has been ordered to manage the incident.

Mandatory evacuations in place for the community of Spalding, the Gallatin Marina, Ronald McDonald House and the Merrill, Christie, Eagle and Aspen campgrounds. 400 homes and 1,000 people have been evacuated. Extreme fire behavior.