Lowell Fire Prompts Evacuations In Nevada County
Editor's note: Cal Fire has since downgraded their size estimate of the fire to 1,500 acres.
NEVADA COUNTY (CBS13) – As thick white smoke billows over Nevada County, an intense firefight continues in this steep terrain.
The fuels? Trees and brush burning rapidly in an area so remote, firefighting planes and bulldozers are doing most of the work.
"Other than that, you really have no way of getting into the fires. A lot of the time spent is waiting for the dozers to build us roads in," said Sean Griffin from Cal Fire.
Griffis says the fire is near an old mining site, making it even harder to access. Hundreds of hand crews are trying to cut a line around it to keep the flames from jumping Bear River – which could put even more communities in danger.
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"Hopefully we have a home when we come back," said resident Laura Fellows.
Laura, her dad and kids are frantically packing three cars and precious pets.
"Two turtles, cat, two dogs and a bearded dragon," her son said.
And as many valuables as they can.
"First thing I grabbed social security cards and birth certificates," Laura said.
"So much stuff you want to take," said grandfather Tom Fellows.
The fire, being called the Lowell Fire, has already ripped through 4,000 acres in a matter of hours.
"It's a new experience for me," said resident Mike Waugh.
A new experience on a birthday Waugh won't soon forget.
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He drove up from Bakersfield to celebrate with friends when the fire marshal showed up with an evacuation order.
"If I saw them panic then I was gonna panic, so no sense in letting it worry you," Waugh said.
His friend recently moved to the area from Montana. He says he's confident Cal Fire will soon get the upper hand, with the Lowell Fire now the 12th fire burning in the state.
"It seems like they're doing a good job," Waugh said.
Mandatory evacuations remain in effect overnight for the You Bet, Red Dog, Cascade Shores and Chaulk Bluff areas.