MINERAL PARK FIRE NEWS

• 8/28/2024 Mineral California News August 2024 Issue published with latest news and images from the Park Fire, plus more. Access the Printable PDF of the Latest Issue.

• 8/27/2024 TCFD Published the Task Force 1 Video on YouTube

• 8/26/2024 8:54 PM, the Park Fire is 85% Contained. 429,603 Acres have burned and 2,158 Personnel are still assigned to the Park Fire. Resources assigned also include 4 Helicopters, 54 Engines, 72 Dozers, 104 Water Tenders, 46 Crews, and 169 Other Assigned. Today's Incident Report states: "Today crews on the ground experienced a warmer and drier weather pattern. No fire activity was observed across the incident. Vegetation began to dry throughout the day making it susceptible to ignition. Humidity recovery will continue to decline.  All areas of the incident are in recovery phase. Crews are responding to service calls, increasing mop-up depth, and removing hazardous trees. A safety risk still remains in the fire area associated with heavy equipment operating near personnel for fire suppression repair." Thanks to the Unified Command with CAL FIRE and the Lassen National Forest, who are managing the Park Fire Incident at this time, as well as all of the support services and agencies involved “Tehama County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, California Conservation Corps, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Sierra Pacific Industries, Collins Pine Company, California Office of Emergency Services, California National Guard, California Department of Transportation.” Included is an important note: "As you return home from evacuations, please remember to keep an evacuation plan with your family. For more information on emergency readiness, please visit www.ready.gov.” Highways in Mineral are open. 

• 8/25/2024 5:58 AM 78% Contained 429,603 Acres Currently 2,374 Personnel 5 Helicopters 61 Engines 72 Dozers 109 Water Tenders 55 Crews 167 Other Assigned

• 8/25/2024 Operational Briefing shows a calm night; weather should heat up by Tuesday. 36-48 hours until fire fuels dry out; dozers tackling heat that could still be buried. Firefighters being asked to not send any more mail to Base Camp since they're wrapping up!  121,000 meals served at Base Camp! 

• 8/24/2024 It's still raining!

• 8/23/2024 It's raining and 47 degrees in the morning!

• 8/21/2024 Crews aim to tackle fire hot spots still near perimeter before winds tomorrow, as hot spots still burn in interior.

• 8/20/24 Evacuation warning lifted for Mineral, but residents should be on alert due to fire activity still nearby.

• 8/20/24 A United Way Specialist reached out to share that 211 is an information hotline community members can call to receive additional resources in Tehama County. Here is the website in case you would like more information! https://211norcal.org/tehama/ https://211norcal.org/park-fire-tehama/ 

• 8/19/24 TCFU in today's Operational Update says line is holding, but heat and smokes still in interior.

• 8/19/24 Veterans who need support can contact Nation's Finest, who sent over their flier.

• 8/18/24 Breakfast Club will be at Mineral Lodge! They open at 8 AM and Breakfast Club starts at 10:30 AM and beyond.

• 8//18/24 8 AM Park Incident Operational Update Video

• 8/18/24 Mineral Community News Team has been growing thanks to all of the stories and photos sent during the past few weeks, from community members in different roles and places. (Be on the lookout for t-shirts!) The August newsletter is being prepared. Drafts will be available for review at the Breakfast Club at Mineral Lodge.

• 8/17/24 6 PM Boil Water Notice Lifted - After receiving favorable test results from Basic Lab in Redding, General Manager John Frehse lifted the order, and blue flags are flying once again in Mineral!

• 8/17/24 Action News Now - Park Fire 50% Contained

• 8/17/24 6:15 PM Large moving cloud across Mineral appears to drop raindrops, but no water seems to land.

• 8/17/24 3:30 PM It's windy in Mineral and raining in Red Bluff! The 36 is still blocked off, but can be driven through, if you look carefully to see the road among the large various white blocks. Media still reporting this is open. No personnel stationed there and no clear signage of what is expected. 172 closed. 36 at 89 closed. 

• 8/17/24 Morgan Summit Cam shows lots of smoke? It's very windy in Mineral. Warning for 2-6 PM today especially for wind, erratic weather and lightning. Stay vigilent.

• 8/17/24 Water still being tested before the Boil Order can be released; continue to boil water before drinking. Refer to your boil water order posted on each home or linked on the home page. Remember to BOIL WATER until the order has been lifted from the Water District. Testing is underway to return normal water usage to the residents and visitors. 

• 8/17/24 Noon - Road Block moved from in front of the Lodge.

• 8/16/24 36 HWY blocked, although incident report says 172 closed. Appears residents need to drive through the variety of guard rails through the middle and stop to talk to a member of CalFIRE and law enforcement. All public instructions seen have said 36 is open at this location. One said that this was because trucks were going through so quickly, which would mean that trucks allowed in evacuation zones are returning to Base Camps at accelerated speeds. Fast trucks through Mineral has long been a problem, so this is a bit of a mystery all around.

• 8/15/24, BOIL WATER order continues. Once the Order has been lifted, Mineral Lodge is planning to prepare to reopen. Mineral Lodge has experience tremendous financial losses due to the loss of business during this time and will appreciate the community's support once we can return.

• 8/15/24 Sherifff threatens residents returning with tickets, but doesn't tell them what they are to do and doesn't ask for identification. Residents who can help resolve this issue and get proper instructions are encouraged to do so and share it with others.

• 8/13/24 Evacuation downgraded to Warning, but stay vigilent as fire is still near. Beware of potentially falling trees. As re-entering, you may have a Sheriff or CHP escorting you.

• 8/10/24 6:30 PM - ALL Houses in Mineral, Stringtown and Mill Creek are reported fine. Mill Creek has a lot of snags / hazard trees. Luckily, one of these 4' Fir trees fell in between the propane tanks and old redwood tanks. Snags are a significant danger at the moment, which may delay returns from residents. In Mill Creek, a large cedar fell near Terry's house. Firefighters defended right up to the walking trail above the homes. Mineral's water tank is now at 16' due to significant efforts to add potable water to the tank, after creek water was added for firefighters, taking it to 3', which was severly low. Currently, active firefighting is happening at the next curve past Nanny Creek.

• 8/7/24 - Water support essential in Mineral - Creek water being added to tank for firefighting; boil water order remains.

• 8/6/24 3:58 PM - View from Mineral of fire passing behind gas station and live video from Morgan Summit with view of fire

• 8/6/24 1:30 PM - Defensive fires around Mill Creek Resort: "Cal Fire's latest #ParkFire mapping shows a major firing operation off of roads and dozer lines (black) adjacent to Mill Creek Resort and cabin area, and along Highway 172 toward Childs Meadows. 2021 Dixie Fire burn in blue. - 8/6/2024  am. More at http://the-lookout.org"

• 8/6/2024 1:08 PM - 34% Contained, 414,042 Acres "

• 8/6/2024 7:35 AM - 34% Contained, 414,042 Acres -  "The Park Fire continues to burn actively in some areas. The overnight humidity recovery was very poor.  The fire is well-established in the Mill and Antelope Creek drainages where it will continue to build heat and be resistant to control... Temperatures will continue to be hot and dry throughout the day, with primary growth aligning with the topography to the north and east."

• The fire is expected to continue to challenge crews until more favorable conditions arrive later in the week.88 Personnel, 40 Helicopters, 525 Engines, 192 Dozers, 153 Water Tenders, 134 Crews, 128 Other Assigned "The fire is well-established in the Mill and Antelope Creek drainages where it will continue to build heat and be resistant to control... Critically low fuel moistures, steep canyons, long drive times and daily spot fires have caused difficulty in suppressing the fire spread... Temperatures will continue to be hot and dry throughout the day, with primary growth aligning with the topography to the north and east."

• 8/6/24 5:47 AM - Fire by 172 between Mineral and Mill Creek; Hotspot reports it as a defensive measure and so does Furrie Chief: "The  fire  at  the  North  near  Hwy  36  &  172  is  a  firing  operation to  protect  Mineral."

• 8/6/24 - Angels reported over Mineral

• Assistance Center in Chico Open; Assistance Center in Red Bluff on Jackson Street Opening August 15th

• 8/5/24 11 PM - Evacuation reminders went out to Mineral and Mill Creek, as well as new evacuation orders for areas to the East of the fire.

• 8/5/24 - Blow Up in Mill Creek Drainage creates significant growth throughout the day and night to approximately 13,000 acres.

• 8/4/24 - Lots of progress during rain, but fire continues.

• 8/3/24 7:00 AM - It's drizzling in Mineral!

• 8/3/2024 6:00 AM - 27% Contained, 400,956 Acres

• 8/2/24 Evening - Phones in Mineral are working!

• 8/1/24 4:35 PM - 18% Contained, 393,013 Acres

• 7/30/2024 6:00 AM - 14% Contained, 383,619 Acres

• 7/29/24 2:21 PM - KRCR News Channel 7 - POST OFFICES CLOSE: As a result of the #ParkFire, and subsequent #evacuations, the United States Postal Service announced a temporary closure to their #Manton and #Mineral post office. Alternative pick up sites have been announced. #update. "Customers who normally pick up their mail from the Mineral Post Office can pick up their mail at the Chester Post Office, located at 218 Laurel Lane in Chester. Pickup hours are Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The USPS instructs customers to bring a photo ID for all mail pick up."

• 7/29/24 5:59 AM - 12% Contained 368,256 Acres 4,742 Personnel 33 Helicopters 406 Engines 163 Dozers 113 Water Tenders 98 Crews 59 Other Assigned; ABC 7 Says Fire is Predicted to Last At Least a Month

• 7/28/24 - The Lookout Evening Update on YouTube from Person Who Studies Wildfies from Chico / Lassen County

• 7/28/24 - Photo from George Johnston of Mineral Lodge https://twitter.com/GeorgesJohnston/status/1817665371794731480/photo/3 

• 7/28/24 - Hoses were dropped off at the gas station and we heard some were being laid along Mineral Avenue on Sunday night. Around a dozen local heroes are working to defend our town.

• 7/27/24 - "Lassen Volcanic NP is closed due to the encroaching #ParkFire. Campgrounds have been evacuated & reservations canceled. All park employees have been evacuated. The fire has potential to reach both Manzanita Lake & Mineral HQ. Hwy 89 through the park is open only for evacuation."

• 7/27/24 9 AM - CAL FIRE Park Fire Operational Briefing 7/27/24 - "We expect Mineral to be impacted today.... there's a good plan up there, we have a lot of resources. Please continue with that process." 307,268 Acres total, 2484 Personnel.

• 7/27/24 4 AM - 307,368 Acres Burned; Overview of growth overnight in time lapse. Fire activity starting to slow around Paynes Creek.

• 7/27/24 - 2:28 AM  2:28 AM - "Fire activity has slowed down in the area around Paynes Creek. I came in from Manton on Lanes Valley Road, and the fire still is only 1.5-2 miles north of Paynes Creek. #ParkFire" 

• 7/26/24 7:33 PM - Crossed Hwy 36 at Payne's Creek

• 7/26/2024 6:22 PM - 239,152 Acres - 1,633 Personnel, 6 Helicopters, 142 Engines, 54 Dozers, 17 Water Tenders, 45 Crews

• 7/26/24 12:34 PM - 178,090 Acres Burned; Up to East of Dairyville

• 7/26/24 - Mineral Under Evacuation Warning; Park Fire More than 140,000 Acres

• 7/25/24 10 AM Chico Enterprise Record - Park Fire reaches 45,549 acres overnight; evacuation orders reach Chico city limits

• The Park Fire blew up to more than 45,000 acres overnight, reaching Deer Creek to the north and coming to within 100 feet of Upper Park Road to the south...

• 7/25/24 6:02 AM - 45,5500 Acres (From 1500 over night)

• Video - Fire larger than the city of Stockton.

• Video - 3,000 acres per hour are burning.

• Video - Chico Airport shut down; being used as staging area. 

• Video - Evacuation routes blocked quickly; be alert.

• "We hope it stays out of the drainages..." - Mineral Resident

• Action News Now - Park Fire: 1,500 acres & 3% containment "The fire is burning burning near Upper Park Road, just past Alligator Hole."

• 7/24/24 6:49 PM - 1,500 Acres - Smells of Distant Fire Are Strong in Mineral

• Park Fire: Evacuation orders in place as flames burn near Chico

• "The fire broke out near Upper Park Road in Bidwell Park just before 3 p.m. Initially reported as five acres, the blaze — pushed by a south wind with gusts up to 24 miles per hour — had spread to 1,000 acres by 5:54 p.m. and was quickly reported at 1,500 acres within the hour. 

• Started 07/24/24 2:52 PM; Evacuations Started