California Wildfire Affected Areas: North Complex Fire
Bear Fire + Claremont Fire
2020 North Complex Fire
Butte County & Plumas County
318,935 Acres burned
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| Curtain Falls on Middle Feather River |
The Bear Fire and the Claremont Fire were lightning strike forest fires that began in mid August - located in the remote, steep drainage of the Middle Feather River, between Lake Oroville and Quincy, CA.
The two small fires were under managed in a granite canyon for 3 weeks, while numerous other lightning 'complex' fires raged throughout California. USFS Plumas fire managers decided it was best to merge these two fires - right before a big wind event. And then, all hell broke loose.
On Tuesday Sept 8, the northeasterly winds (blowing 60+ mph) pushed the combination fire westward, down canyon and like a funnel, it began spilling over into neighboring hills, forests and residential areas near Lake Oroville. Ancient forests, sacred sites, residential homes and historic cabins were torched in a matter of hours.
Total Escape founder, DanaMite, has personal, first hand experience and knowledge of this particular event; We are still living through it.
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| Our Front Yard View, Berry Creek, CA |
Brush Creek, CA
Junction House
Lumpkin Ridge
Merrimac
Mountain House
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| Baby Buck - Lone Survivor |
While the Claremont Fire was bearing down on the town of Quincy and vacation land at Bucks Lake, the Santa Cruz mountains and Redwood State Parks were burning at the coast. Few people paid much attention to the smaller Bear Fire, while it was smoldering in a deep, steep, inaccessible canyon.
Firefighters managed to keep the Claremont Fire out of Quincy and Bucks Lake. However when the Bear Fire was merged with the Claremont - strong winds pushed flames down canyon in a matter of hours.
The community of Berry Creek had no evacuation warnings, and also had no electric power (due to the power safety shutoff by PG&E) Losses were extreme: 2500 buildings were destroyed and 16 lives were lost in this wildfire.
CA State Route 162
Oro-Quincy Highway
Forest Road #119
Bucks Lake Road
La Porte Road
PCT - Pacific Crest Trail
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| Dome Hiking Trail, Berry Creek, CA |
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| Green Suspension Bridge @ Bidwell Bar, Lake Oroville CA |
Bald Rock Road
Bidwell Bar Bridge
Bloomer Hill
Camel Peak
Canyon Creek
China Grade Road
Cromberg
East Quincy
Feather Falls Trailhead
Four Trees
French Plantation Hotel
Galen Ridge
Granite Basin
Hartman Bar Ridge
Indian Cemetery Road
Junction House
Lumpkin Road
Meadow Vista
Merrimac
Mount Ararat
Quartz Hill
Spring Valley
Stephens Ridge
Walker Plains
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| Big Bald Rock View BEFORE BEAR FIRE |
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| Big Bald Rock View AFTER FIRE |
Plumas Campgrounds affected by this fire:
Feather Falls Campground
Golden Trout Campground
Lost Lake Camp
Red Bridge Campground
Silver Lake Campground @ Bucks
Sly Creek Campground
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| Choking on fire smoke for 3 weeks prior to wind event. |
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| Plumas Forest Road #23N18 |
Plumas Forest Routes affected by this wildfire:
Oro-Quincy Highway
Forest Road #119
Bucks Lake Road
Forest Rte #23N18
Forest Rte #23N60 Little North Fork
Forest Rte #23N52
French Creek Road
Stephens Ridge
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| Plumas Forest Rd #23N60 |
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| French Creek Detour - Autumn 2018 |