JUNCTION FIRE

UPDATED INFO

1230Hrs- Saturday- Still Working on Exact Location of Fire...Best information from SCANNER Traffic: in drainage near Riffle Range Road in Junction City.

1300hrs- Saturday- EVACUATION ORDERS- TCSO has contacted residents of Riffle Range Road, Slattery's Pond.

1305hrs- Saturday- TC ARES (Ham Radio Emergency Group)- Monitoring Situation on REPEATER 146.73 and HF 3997kc LSB

1346hrs- Saturday- WIND SPEED- Calm at Weaverville.

1355hrs- Saturday- CDF Air Activity: Helicopters , Mutual Aid and CDF Support coming to area, Air Tankers in Air over Fire

1356hrs- Saturday- CLICK HERE TRINITYCAM VIDEO IMAGE: Shows Smoke in Weaverville Basin...If fire makes it to Weaverville, it will be in the field of view of TrinityCam main camera.

1416- Saturday- WIND INCREASE IN WEAVERVILLE: Blowing from SOUTH to NORTH at about 1OMPH..(personal observation)

1418- Saturday- CHP TO CLOSE HWY 299 in FIRE AREA ...more details when availiable

1446hrs- Saturday- CHP GUIDING TRAFFIC through FIRE AREA

1447hrs- Saturday- Drone of TANKERS and HELICOPTERS audible in air over Weaverville Basin

1451hrs- Saturday- TC PUD "On Duty Lineman" PAGED re: FIRE IN JUNCTION CITY

1456hrs- Saturday- WIND SPEED- Calm again at Weaverville

1506hrs- Saturday- PHOTOS POSTED

1509hrs- Saturday- HWY 299- CHP Closing HWY 299 at MEMORIAL DRIVE in Weaverville

1519hrs- Saturday- RADIO TRAFFIC MONITORED IN WEAVERVILLE very encouraging..tankers w/retardant, choppers water drops going well, less smoke in area visible from WEAVERVILLE.. encouraging!

1532hrs- Saturday- TrinityCam Webcam UPDATED IMAGE- less smoke in sky in Weaverville Area

1612Hrs- Saturday- CDF AIR SUPPORT- Tankers 94,95,96 & 97 with retardant are working fire, Tanker 07 out of service at Redding. Helicopters also working fire. Air Attack 1 is handing AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL for the Aircraft. 151.295 FM Guiding in Tankers, and advising of Helicopter and CDF/VFD fire personnel in area.

1614Hrs- Saturday- It appears that the CDF is laying down retardant in front of the fire too. Handcrews are also working fire.

1628hrs- Saturday- WIND from southwest Estimated 5-12mph

1629Hrs- Saturday- Helicopters refuling at Weaverville Airport and Redding

1630Hrs- Saturday- Fire burning near structures, AC POWER OUTAGES in JC Area caused by JC Fire

1730Hrs- Saturday- CALTRANS OREGON MOUNTAIN CAMERA REPOSITIONED INTO PROJECTED PATH OF FIRE...No fire in field of view now.

1820Hrs- Saturday- Heavy Smoke making aviation activity more difficult. Helicopters making drops on fire and emerging from smoke, visible coming out of smoke into Weaverville Valley.

1826Hrs- Saturday- CDF says will run out of daylight before run out of work for tankers. More Air Tanker Drop on order.

1628Hrs- Saturday- CALTRANS CAMERA - Oregon Mountain, Fire in View

1830Hrs- Saturday- EVACUATIONS on Oregon Mountain- more info soon!

1840Hrs- Saturday- STRUCTURE FIRE WEAVERVILLE- La Grange Restaurant HWY299 MIDDLE OF OLD TOWN WEAVERVILLE more details (Update: Business Destroyed)soon

1855Hrs- Saturday- PHOTO UPDATES this page

1856Hrs- Saturday- TC ARES working on Ham Radio Communications Plan Adjustment for JUNCTION CITY FIRE- More info to follow.. (future Evacuation Center Comms) Possible use of FRS frequencies too. Monitor 146.73 / 146.925

1923hrs- Saturday- Fire is GROWING... discussions about evacuations in parts of Weaverville... MORE INFO SOON

1927Hrs- Saturday- AIRCRAFT: 2 National Guard Helicopters (blackhawks) on loan with buckets on fire now (see photo)

1930Hrs- Saturday- Local resident Dennis Rees providing pictures of La Grange Structure fire in Weaverville. Will have picture file ready to load later tonight.

2126hrs-Saturday- BACK FROM WALK TO DOWNTOWN WEAVERVILLE - La Grange Restaurant will not be open anytime soon, The Diggins Cocktail Lounge will be open soon if it ever closed...These businesses are on 299 in Downtown Weaverville. Their fires started at ground level at common wall to building. Olson Stoneware- Water Damage. NO OTHER DETAILS AT THIS TIME.

2129HRs-Saturday- at about 2030 voluntary evacuation of TIMBER RIDGE AREA, AREAS AT END OF OREGON STREET strongly suggested. ODDFELLOWS Lane (above Cemetery) Evacuations encouraged.

2200Hrs- Saturday- MORE INFO SOON.. I am going to make snack, drink some water and work on load list for potential evacuation later...I have an existing list, but a smaller truck now..ha ha... I will stay till they drag me out, still updating website and maning the two way radios for TC ARES RED CROSS, etc.

2237Hrs- Saturday- La Grange Fire photo added (Thanks to Dennis Rees of Weaverville for photo), Monitoring local area Scanner Traffic, mostly evacuation notifications, adivisories NOT MANDATORY YET, many people are voluntarily leaving Oregon St. Oddfellows, Timber Ridge, etc.

2239Hrs- Saturday- Webmaster is getting some boxes together and making load list... not leaving anytime soon, but will be listening to portable hand-held scanner as I get ready, and will go to computer-radio room to update as required.- I am located on Washington Street near Lowden Park.

0010 Sunday- Saturday- I'm still here, scanner pretty quiet, meetings at fire and local government about variouis evacuation strategies if needed planned for Lewiston Community Center in AM. I got $50 worth of Gasoline and am adding to my load list on clipboard. Hopefully I will not have to evacuate, it was alot smokier in 2001 and I was able to stay. Many Fire strike teams are headed this way, I have even heard some are updated from info from TrinityCam indirectly. Time to fix another ham and cheese on wholewheat...Greg

0047Hrs- Sunday- Nothing New.. still monitoring scanner, not alot of radio traffic , waiting for dawn. I will set volume high, and squelch tight and try for some rest after 0200. Estimated Fire Acreage at 1,000 at nightfall- Greg

0132Hrs Sunday- Local VFD fire activity at the location of the earlier structure fire- La Grange Restaurant,smoke in area, checking out OLSON STONEWARE BUILDING, LaGrange Restaurant and Diggins Cocktail Lounge. La Grange Building- Olson Stoneware- Diggins

0300Hrs- Sunday- Going to bed!..alarm set for 0800.. unless helicopters wake me earlier...Smoke is heavy in air this morning...I stepped out to check ridgeline.. -Greg

0630Hrs Sunday- Awake and monitoring...Public Safety, Fire and Ham Radio frequencies quiet so far. About 250 page hits over-night according to the page hit counter I put on fire page. I will contact CDF and see what they have to say about fire. NO ANSWER from CDF Public Information at 0650Hrs, will try again later. CALLED TCSO at 0655Hrs, they had no new statements, suggested I try after 0830 or later.

0700Hrs Sunday- Reminder: HWY 299 is still closed at area of Riffle Range/Skyranch Road in Junction City, and Memorial Drive in Weaverville.

0840Hrs Sunday- INFO FROM CDF INFO CENTER (530) 225-2510 in Redding- FIRE IS NOW 2000 Acres "0" CONTAINMENT 1100 personnel. Thanks "Mike" from CDF PIO 1012Hrs Sunday- Still NO NEW INFO- Meeting taking place this morning at Lewiston Community Center with government agencies,etc. No useful radio traffic or other events to report. TCSO has no new info either. Will post info as available.- Greg

1215HRS- Sunday- NO NEW INFO TO POST... nothing from CDF, little to any local radio traffic. Clean-up on 299 going OK, (UNCONFIRMED) possible escorted one-way traffic soon (UNCONFIRMED)

1334Hrs- Sunday- Still awaiting "official" info...FYI.. wind is gusting to 25mph in weaverville, lots of smoke, wind is making fire fighting with bulldozers difficult, water drops from helicopters taking place. Sorry wish I had more that I could post.- Greg

1338HRS- Sunday- North end of Democrat Ridge has fire activity (observed and reported by Ham Radio 13:38hrs KD6RKJ)

1340Hrs- Sunday- HWY 299 OPEN- CALTRANS is using pilot cars to escourt one way traffic on HWY 299 between Junction City and Weaverville.

1400Hrs- Sunday- CDF announces "20%" containment.

1500Hrs- Sunday-NO INFO TO REPORT FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES....SORRY

1620Hrs Sunday= CDF POSTED INFO: JUNCTION FIRE- Personnel on fire- 1110 (700 CDF), Fire Crews: 36 CDF, Engines: 134 (65 CDF), Helicopters: 2- CDF, Dozers: 30 (14 CDF), Water Tenders: 25,

1620Hrs- Sunday- Weaverville Hospital evacuated (posted on CDF SITE) - emergency medical treatment still availiable at Hospital- CALL Mountain Community Medical Services (Trinity Hospital) for INFO (530) 623-5541

1651Hrs Sunday- OREGON STREET, ODFELLOWS ST. OPEN to TRAFFIC- Round Table Pizza Deliverd there about 1600. This street was closed to traffic and/or closed to all but residents Saturday, 7/29.

1700Hrs to 1900Hrs- Fell asleep at the switch so to speak...short nap..ready to go.

1900Hrs Sunday- CDF Website UPDATE: 3,100 acres of burn, ONE STRUCTURE LOST, FIRE ENGINES: 145 (101 CDF) , VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS: West Side of Weaverville, INJURIES: 3, CONTAINMENT: 30%

2030Hrs Sunday- CLARIFICATION re: Oregon Street. It appears that the "official" version is that Oregon street is CLOSED (people evacuated) AT THE FAR END OF THE street(INTERSECTION OF DEMOCRAT GULCH)- from the HWY 299 side near the junction with 299 at the JOSS HOUSE. People seem to be going in and out from reports I get functionally. This is the best info I can provide at present. The current situation is like last night... wind has been going all afternoon, with speed up and down (0-25 mph) on the Weaverville Valley floor. Via Ham Radio operator at middle of Democrat Gulch Ridge, he reports wind from South/West and clear sky on this part of Oregon Mountain area.

2031Hrs Sunday- Wish I had more news and more informative statements, but just not much info coming out of any official source. I am very careful to provide the most accurate info I can. There is just not much "official information" to provide. Keep checking the CDF website too. I contact the CDF Official information number (530) 225-2510, you are ofcourse welcome to call them too!

2139Hrs Sunday- STILL TRYING TO PROVIDE UPDATED FIRE MAP!-

0647Hrs Monday- Weaverville: WIND: CALM, TEMPERATURE: 50F, HWY 299: OPEN- Controlled- Pilot car JC to WVL, CONTAINMENT: 30%

0800Hrs-Monday- CDF WEBSITE UPDATE- Click Link to see report- EXTRACTS: CONTAINMENT: 50%, EVACUATIONS: ALL LIFTED. PREDICTED CONTAINMENT: AUGUST 1st at 8PM

0920Hrs-Monday- UPDATED FIRE MAP- 7/31/06- PDF READER REQUIRED- (Thanks Michele Bergren)

1000Hrs-Monday- OREGON ST UPDATE: Ham Radio Operator 2/3rds of way Up Oregon St. from HWY299 and JOSS HOUSE reports that fire fighters are cleaning up "hotspots" around his home, and PGE/TPUD linemen are working on AC power restoration. It appears that the street is OPEN to traffic to residents and those that belong there.

1030Hrs Monday- AC POWER RESTORAL TO FIRE AREA- TPUD (530) 623-5536 - TPUD advises AC power in the Burn Area may be restored as early as this 8PM evening. PG&E and TPUD workers are manually digging holes for the power poles by hand in rough terrain prior to their being lowered into them by helicopter.

1212Hrs Monday- AC POWER RESTORAL to FIRE AREA- REVISED INFO- TPUD (530) 623-5536 - Advises that time of restoral has been pushed-back to late on Tuesday, August 1st or Wednesday the 2nd.

1220Hrs Monday- HELICOPTERS are again heard in sky above Weaverville today, WIND: 3-15mph from S/W.

1600Hrs Monday- WAITING FOR MORE INFO TO POST.

1500Hrs MOnday- HIGHWAY 299 OPEN-

1900Hrs Monday- CDF WEBSITE UPDATE- HIGHLIGHTS- 75% contained, 1500 people, 3126 Acres burned, HWY 299 open.

0700Hrs Tuesday- WIND: Calm at Weaverville, TEMP: 52F, SKY: Smokey Haze NEXT CDF Website Update scheduled for 0700Hrs. Continuing to monitor events.

0702HRS - CDF WEBSITE UPDATED GO TO CDF JUNCTION FIRE WEBSITE- HIGHLIGHTS- CONTAINMENT:90%, PERSONNEL: 1510, INJURIES: 4, ACRES:3,126

1947HRS- AC POWER RESTORED- to Junction City Area- Info Contributed by "Doug"- Thanks!

0800HRS - FIRE 100% CONTAINED!... CLICK HERE...GO TO CDF JUNCTION FIRE WEBSITE- For Details!

THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS for SAVING OUR TOWN...again!

NOTE: This page will continue to be updated, as required. In a few days there will be a PHOTO PAGE linked to it with some fire photos.

MANY THANKS FROM GREG GREENWOOD, the volunteer Webmaster. Your helpful and heartfelt comments about the reporting and the value to you all of this page was appreciated.

I am satisfied that the UPDATE PAGE is doing what I wanted, and reaching those that I was trying to help.

THANKS ALSO TO THOSE FOLKS THAT SENT INFORMATION that contributed to posting information to create the best possible "picture" of the fire. It is often difficult to gather information, especially in a timely way and great care and certainty has to be used when posting it.

I certainly will continue to provide this service in the future, but lets not do it again anytime soon!

THANK YOU! TO ALL THE FIRE FIGHTERS, SUPPORT STAFF, and ALL THAT MAKE FIGHTING FIRES WORK. A safe trip home or to the next firecamp ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES OF WEAVERVILLE AND JUNCTION CITY!

Special thanks to the Trinity County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, TCARC, STARES and Northsate Ham Radio Community in general. Your observations and service to your community is valued greatly.

JUNCTION FIRE LINKS & PHONE#
CDF JUNCTION INCIDENT FIRE INFO - FIRE WEATHER TRINITY-NOAA - Trinity Journal Newspaper - SF Gate Chronicle Article -

CDF FIRE INFO CENTER- (530) 225-2510 -- TRINITY COUNTY SHERIFF- (530) 623-2611 -- NOTE: On actual UPDATE PAGE during FIRE, there are lots of LINKS and INFORMATION, This update extract does not have all these links.

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Last Updated: August 6, 2006

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NOTE: The first 3 days of the fire resulted in about 20,000 hits for the original page.