#CAL FIRE MAP 2021 DIXIE FIRE WINDOWS#

I think that people are going to be very leery to, you know, migrate back to the mountain towns when we're seeing so many fires. RICE: The cleanup process - I can foresee that that's going to be a couple years. She says, the Dixie Fire could be one of the hardest challenges the town has ever faced. RODD: Rice has lived in Chester for over 20 years. It was our entire bread aisle and a lot of produce. She's boxing up food that the store will donate to evacuation centers housing people from across the region.ĮMILY RICE: Probably $8,000 worth on the first truck - it was a ton of dairy. RODD: At the Holiday Market, store manager Emily Rice is sorting through produce, one squash, potato and pepper at a time. So residents in Chester, he says, should also focus on helping more badly damaged neighboring towns. RODD: And, Hydrick says, the town's ability to recover will depend on the entire fire-scorched region's comeback. But I see the town of Chester certainly bouncing back. HYDRICK: But in their loss, we may see others rise. RODD: Plumas County Administrator, Gabriel Hydrick. GABRIEL HYDRICK: Ultimately, we'll lose some businesses. But the miles of blackened forest around Chester will be a challenge for this natural tourism destination. Mainly, it's been just making sure there weren't any spot fires within our community, that we could take care of that. They were having some issues trying to figure out where to put dozer line in. WATERMAN: I helped them locate a dozer line. He's seen his share of wildland blazes, so he stayed to assist fire crews in spite of the evacuation order. RODD: Waterman retired after a four-decade career with Cal Fire, the state department that responds to wildfires. And I've lost six pounds so far through this, so (laughter). WATERMAN: I'm cooking for myself since I sent my wife off. RODD: Residents, including Joe Waterman, stuck around. JOE WATERMAN: I am getting coffee, some milk and maybe a few frozen dinners. RODD: The Holiday Market opens a few hours each night. But the lights are out, an indication of how quickly this town evacuated.

#CAL FIRE MAP 2021 DIXIE FIRE WINDOWS#

Some open signs hang in the windows of Chester businesses. Looking at a fire map, the burn zone stops along a distinct curve, tracing the outskirts of Chester and continuing north toward the foothills. It just - it doesn't look like fire even really came through here. Still some pink retardant splattered around - but other than that, on these trees, it's - they're mostly green. The blackened scenery changes on the drive into town. The community is a second-home getaway for the wealthy and a tourism destination for outdoorsy types. Nestled along the west side of Lake Almanor, Chester is similar to Lake Tahoe, on a much smaller scale. Now entering into Plumas County - oh, man, the fire just tore right through here - everything below the lowest branches just reduced to ash - and, you know, these big trees just scorched. SCOTT RODD, BYLINE: The Dixie Fire burned over state Route 36, a two-lane road that leads into the town of Chester. But other communities did survive, thanks to firefighting crews. The fire has completely destroyed some towns. The Dixie Fire has burned almost half a million acres in northern California.

Cal fire map 2021 dixie fire