Murphy, Plumas NF

Murphy, Plumas NF. Two miles west of Belden, CA. Timber and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior.

August 13, 2018 at 8:12 AM

The Murphy Fire has not grown in four days. Resources are being demobolized. Suppression repair will continue today. Highway 70 is open.

August 11, 2018 at 8:33 AM

Firefighters will work to mop up and improve lines today. They will stay overnight on the line one more night tonight.

August 10, 2018 at 7:27 PM

Today, firefighters got line all the way around the Murphy Fire. Firefighters will monitor the fire overnight, then work to improve lines and mop up tomorrow.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento has extended the Red Flag Warning until 11 PM Saturday. Infrastructure currently threatened includes the Hwy 70 corridor, major PG&E transmission lines for Northeastern CA, powerhouses, railroad infrastructure, and commercial businesses along the river corridor.

Highway 70 is open to controlled traffic.

August 10, 2018 at 8:08 AM

The fire showed minimal growth overnight. Firefighters will continue direct line construction along the fire’s active edge today, mopping up and checking for hot spots that could threaten containment. The area remains under a red flag warning until 11 p.m. on Saturday due to hot, dry, breezy conditions.

Highway 70 is open to one-way controlled traffic, and all Feather River Canyon campgrounds and local businesses are open as well. Please be cautious while driving the highway due to increased fire equipment traffic, and expect delays. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Belden to Hwy 36. There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire.

The Murphy Fire is burning in 2000 Storrie Fire scar in an area that reburned in 2008 and most recently in 2012 (Chips Fire).

August 9, 2018 at 10:28 PM

Firefighters made good progress today on direct line along Murphy Creek to the west and Pauls Creek to the east. They are also working on contingency lines ahead of the fire’s edge. Crews will stay on the fire overnight, carefully monitoring for spots across Highway 70 and around structures.

Highway 70 is open to one-way controlled traffic, and all Feather River Canyon campgrounds and local businesses are open as well. Please be cautious while driving the highway due to increased fire equipment traffic, and expect delays. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Belden to Hwy 36. There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire.

August 9, 2018 at 11:09 AM

After a quiet night, the priority for firefighters today is to work on constructing fireline directly on the active fire’s edge. Structure protection will be in place along Hwy 70, and crews will also continue work on contingency lines from Little Haven north.

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect 2:00 p.m. today through 11:00 p.m. Saturday for gusty SW winds up to 35 mph and low humidity over higher terrain and ridges. Above normal temperatures with low daytime humidity and moderate poor overnight recoveries are expected over the next few days. Humidity today is predicted to be 14-19%, and temperatures ranging from 99-104 degrees.

Hwy 70 is open, as well as all Feather River Canyon campgrounds and local businesses. Please be cautious while driving the highway due to increased fire equipment traffic and expect delays. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Belden to Hwy 36. There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire.

August 9, 2018 at 8:58 AM

Last night’s fire behavior was mostly creeping, and flanking. High downslope winds were offset by higher relative humidity.  Previous fires in area (Storrie 2000, 2008, Chips 2012) generated numerous snags that pose a safety and potential spotting problems.

The National Weather Service in Sacramento has issued a Red Flag Warning in effect until 11 PM Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

Precautionary evacuation advisory for Belden, Maggie Place, and Little Haven was lifted as of 1800 yesterday.

Infrastructure currently threatened includes the Hwy 70 corridor, major PG&E transmission lines for Northeastern CA, powerhouses, railroad infrastructure, and commercial businesses along the river corridor.

Highway 70 is open to controlled traffic.