NF Feather release 8/25-36 ... Threatened by CHIPS FIRE or NOT??

[shaunotter]

It's over two weeks away, but does anybody know what the current situation is for the Tobin/ Lobin/ Rock Creek area on the NF Feather as far as closures and air quality at the moment?
The scheduled weekend release wouldn't get cancelled if the air quality was iffy or ?? would it? Not sure how these things affect releases ... And I hope they have it better contained before then.

Good fire info and updates on inciweb:
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3052/

[fcpnorman]

The Inciweb site will give you a current status on the fire every day. The projected "containment date" is 8/21. I will be honest- I think that may be optimistic. Based on fire history in the canyon; Bucks( 1999), Storrie (2000), Pit ( 2008) Belden(2008) (and others) fires are very hard to tie into the canyon. The fire is seated in the Chips Creek drainage and will probably move up that drainage all the way to near the High Lakes, above Stirling City. The section from SR70 to the top will be very difficult to get line to hold. Tobin is one of the narrowest points in the canyon, so let's hope it does not make it that far west. The weather pattern that we are entering will not be good for this fire. High pressure means strong down canyon winds, and that could push the western edge of the fire down slope and down canyon. I will post any intel that I get. I wish I could give a more accurate idea, perhaps by next week.

[fcpnorman]

The USFS has pushed the containment date back to 8/31/12. They anticipate the fire reaching SR70 today, so that is good, provided it holds the fire. The plan appears to have them holding the fire near the Rogers Flat PG&E facility and taking the line up towards the Tobin Ridge and into the upper reaches of Rock Creek. Not sure if this helps- but it is not looking great for the release.

[shaunotter]

THANKS! ... Nice to hear from someone obviously knowledgeable about the area and previous local fires :) ... For my newspaper photog job, I got to visit the local NWS office for a story on quick-response fire meteorologists, and I saw that the most recent wind pattern was pushing the smoke to the north-northeast :) It'd be awesome if that also happens to be true for the release weekend and if they hold the southern boundaries as they hope and expect to.

Still, we might camp further south than the Tobin area -- Any suggestions?

[paul martzen]

I just saw a note that the August releases will be cancelled and instead there will be some releases in October. The entire Feather River hydro system is shut down. The new dates are: October 27th and 28th.

Paul

[sarakayleen]

I just saw a note that the August releases will be cancelled and instead there will be some releases in October. The entire Feather River hydro system is shut down. The new dates are: October 27th and 28th.

Paul

Paul -

Do you know where you came across this "note"? I'm trying to find more info and can't seem to find anything...

Thanks,
Sara

[jon meyerson]

It sounds like the release may be postponed. Even if there is water, as of now the canyon is socked in with smoke and there is no place to camp because all camgrounds are closed. There are boulders and logs rolling into the road up caribou rd and hwy 70 is open with delays. The fire is moving north east away from the canyon so hopefully we will be able to get in there soon. I have been tempted to head up there but it is a mess up there. Lets hope the fire guys can shed some light on this stubborn fire.
Jon

[matthewr]

Release is rescheduled to October 27 and 28:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/co...ticleid/31472/