Plumas County Press Release and Evacuation Order Update
Incident: Chips Wildfire
Released: 8/4/2012
UPDATE #4 8/4/12 2305 HOURS
Plumas County Sheriffs' Office
Press Release and Evacuation Order
"Chips Fire "Incident
Date :8/4/12 Time 2305 Hours
Incident: Wild Land Fire in the Feather River Canyon
Error- On the original Evacuation Order- Highway 89 and Seneca/ Dixie Canyon Road to Butt Lake Dam. Dixie Canyon should not have been listed and is removed from the closure order. (See below listed Highway Closures).
Due to current weather conditions and fire behavior the following Road Closures, Evacuation Orders and Sheriff's Advisement are in effect.
Highway Closures
-Highway 70 at Caribou Road "Hard Closure"- Hwy 70 to Butt Lake Dam
-Highway 89 "Soft Closure"- Hwy 89 and Seneca Road to Butt Lake Dam.
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Evacuation Orders
-Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Hwy 70 at Caribou Road to the Butt Lake Dam
-Sheriff's Advisement- Hwy 70 from Tobin to Rush Creek, Butt Lake Area, Humbug Valley and Yellow Creek Area
Definitions
Sheriff's Advisement- Will be sent to all local radio and news stations, Public Information Officer Plumas County, Local OES Director, Fire Departments in the affected area, and the Chips Incident Command Team. Due to the Chips Fire and it's behavior the above listed communities are under a Sheriff's Advisement. Residents are encouraged to make an evacuation plan, to include the gathering of photos, important documents and priceless keepsakes. Please discuss with your family a location you will travel to, should the need arise to evacuate. Ensure you have also made arrangements for the care and safekeeping of your pets.
Sheriff's Voluntary Evacuation- Due to the potential threat to life and property by a wild land fire, residents are encouraged to leave the area. The area will be staffed by Law Enforcement and residents will be advised of the threat, but no road closures for residents living in the area. The general public will not be allowed in the area "Soft Closure".
Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation- Due to fire behavior and/or proximity to the wild land fire residents are in imminent danger or the potential for imminent danger exists. Residents are encouraged to leave the area and road closures will be in effect for all roads around the evacuated area. These closures are "hard closures" residents and the general public will not be allowed back and/or escorted into the area until the evacuation is lifted "Hard Closures" to the local highways could also be established for the safety of fire personnel in the area. If "hard closures" are established it is a "Sheriff's Mandatory Evacuation", due to the fact that the general public will not be allowed free access and therefore can not adequately maintain food, supplies, medicine, etc.
Greg Hagwood
Sheriff/ Coroner
By Gerry Hendrick
Assistant Sheriff
