For the fourth day in a row, firefighters were able to contain the Park Fire to its 429,263 acres and increase fire containment to 49%.
According to Cal-Fire, the fire that started in Chico’s Upper Bidwell Park on July 24 “had limited spread and smoldered” overnight. The minimal fire behavior was due to good recovery of humidity overnight.
In a briefing on Friday morning, firefighters were informed that the favorable weather conditions would change on Saturday.
Cal-Fire Chief of Operations Scott Corn noted that the 20th briefing was held at the Tehama County Fairgrounds on Friday and warned against complacency.
“Yeah, there’s no roar of a fire. There’s no shadow of a column of smoke. You guys are out there doing the dirty, hard work and it could get monotonous,” he said. “Then we have to do our best. It would be a shame if we had a serious injury now.”
Improved containment also prompted the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office to make some changes to evacuation orders and warning zones.
The TCSO reduced the evacuation orders in zones 696-F, 696-E, 720-B, 720-C and 720-G to a warning and lifted the warnings in zones 696-C, 720-D, 726-A, 726-B, 728, 730 and 724.
New team takes over on Monday
The fire is being fought under the joint command of CAL FIRE and Lassen National Forest after CAL FIRE IMT 3 aborted the Park Fire operation Friday morning.
Cal Fire also announced that its IMT 4 team will hand over firefighting operations to its IMT 6 team, which will officially take over at 10 a.m. Monday.
Cal-Fire said the planned rotation is to ensure the well-being of team members. The new team will continue to handle containment, firefighting and repairs, as well as public safety.
There are currently 4,640 firefighters on duty for the park fire, compared to 6,800 about ten days ago.
Road closures
In Tehama County: Highway 36 between Mineral and Mill Creek, Highway 36 at Little Giant Mill Road, Plum Creek Road at Little Giant Mill Road and Highway 172
Shasta County
Highway 89 through Lassen National Park is closed
Mineral post office reopens
Retail and postal delivery have resumed
The Mineral Post Office has resumed regular retail and delivery services following the lifting of mandatory evacuations.
Customers normally served by the Mineral Post Office, 38450 CA-36, Mineral, CA 96063, may pick up mailboxes during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
