The Green Fire is concerning.. it is on a ridge top which is helping but the influence of the Pit River drainage could move it out. The Pit is one of the only rivers which can rival Jarbo Gap for down canyon winds, the other being the Chetco.
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Anyone know if this is a Fed fire or Calfire?
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SHF is Fed, SHU would be state.
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North side of the lake Federal DPA, South Side of the lake State DPA
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Half acre spot. Main fire is 15 acres I believe nice helco requested.
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I worked on the Shasta Lake District some years ago. Even though the fire is visible on camera and seems close by air miles, it is really in country described as ‘you can’t get there from here". There are some old logging roads but no telling what shape they are in these days and they are a long slog away from civilization. Hopefully this was caused by a wet lightning storm and will hang up high until adequate help arrives. PS. There are some real and I mean REAL big stands of old growth poison oak in the area. Just sayin’.
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SHF Green extended freqs assigned today
Air Tactics 167.8125
A/G 166.6125
Victor 132.575
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Hard to tell if this is the Green or the Bridge? However, a different view.
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Green incident
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Bridge was contained at 1/4 acre.
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96 acres per mapping.
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@norcal74 what are the larger-scale weather conditions that set up the Pit River for stronger than usual downcanyon winds. How are these set up for the next few days?
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I think the flow is tied to the differential between the Big Valley area of Bieber and the Sacramento Valley. The diurnal flow pattern is very much tied to differential heating of the valley and the slopes. All canyons experience those types of wind regimes. I think that a few places see enhanced conditions. The Feather being the best example. The Pit River drains all of the NE plateau of water.. and air. As the valley warms and a thermal trough forms air sinks to that area of low pressure. Any air movement down the canyon will be enhanced by that thermal trough formation. I think the Pit is steep enough and large enough to capture and funnel all that falling, cooling and descending air and feed it down into the lake. I do think the lake could certainly play a role as a heat sink as well.. it may very well contribute to the differential heating as water retains heat much better than land.
For the future.. we can see the daily battle on the cameras. I used to tell people that when you fight a fire in the Feather River Canyon.. you really fight two fires.. the one during the day and the other at night.
I have been to a few fires in the Pit and it can experience some strong winds at night and in the am. I know there are some folks on here with more experience there than me..
IMHO.. the warming trend next week will increase the gradient differential. When we would see temps reach 100 in the valley( under high pressure and no trough moving into the GB) we would see winds of up to 25 mph in the FRC.
Looking at the long range the pattern looks to reach triple digits by early next week, so an increase would be expected. What we have seen this year( to date) is a lack of strong and long lived HP cells over the 4 corners. That has led to a very comfortable summer especially at night. That can obviously change.. but we are reaching a peak of summer for heat(climatically).
Having been on the Chalk complex in 2009.. that is some really steep country…..
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Lot of BIG hot deserty type topography to the east & HDRL to the west w/ another BIG flat valley to the west of that = Diurnal wind regime you can basically set your clock to. Its a 290 lesson in wind regimes, temp profiles & fuel types driving from the big valley OR fall river valley up/over hatchet and then down to RDD. Really neat-o stuff. Your explanations and examples are very tasty, Sir! HDRL = heavily dissected rolling landform!
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Looking at the 12-hr camera loop, it looks like the fire never really got the downcanyons, last night.
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My guess.. the persistent cloud cover and disruption of the atmosphere by the storms yesterday inhibited the differential heating.. probably shut down the down canyon or at least reduced it. It was present the last two days.. and will most likely come back as things warm up.
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Is the Green fire burning in the footprint of the 2018 Hirz Fire?
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Negative it’s in country that’s escaped burning in the last 20 ish years
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