August 9, 2021 - Effective 5:00 P.M. on Monday August 9, the Highway 70 corridor will reopen 0.2 miles east of Jarbo Gap at Deadwood Road (Butte Co.) to the North Junction of 70 and 89 (Plumas Co.) to include the communities of Belden, Tobin Twain, Old Mill Ranch, and Paxton. Rush Creek will remain closed at this time. Road work and one-way traffic control will be intermittent, be aware crews who may be working in the area. Evacuation orders along the highway 70 corridor will be downgraded to evacuation warnings only within occupied areas. Forestland will remain in an evacuation order. Impacted zones including: Plumas Zone 1, Plumas Zone 2, Plumas Zone 3, Plumas Zone 4A, Plumas Zone 11, Plumas Zone 12A and Plumas Zone 16.

Highway 89 north of the 70/89 juncture will remain closed.

When residents do return to burned areas, it is important to follow protocols for re-entry provided by Plumas County Environmental Health. Officials recommend residents use personal protective equipment in burn areas and not disrupt the footprint of the burn scar area on one’s property. Only those with residence in the area should enter at this time.

While we understand that evacuated residents are understandably eager to get back to their homes and properties, the Dixie Fire is still active, and the public must remain out of evacuation order zones until the orders are downgraded to warnings or lifted. Please do not attempt to enter restricted areas until evacuation orders are lifted. You can determine your zone and see evacuation status by entering your address on the evacuation map located at: https://tinyurl.com/ydrapp24.

As an overview, residents can expect the following actions from county and State partners as we all work together on re-entry:

1. CALFIRE must release the area as free from active fire;
2. Law enforcement (Plumas County Sheriff) will post ‘Hazardous Area’ signs to compromised properties;
3. Caltrans will ensure that roads are passable;
4. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will clear damaged infrastructure and power lines.

Property owners should not commence cleanup of their destroyed structures until approved to do so by Plumas County. Beginning cleanup without approval, may cause forfeit of government assistance.

For more information visit www.plumascounty.us and follow the county Facebook.

Source: Plumas County Sheriff's Office