Officials announce 30-percent containment on River Fire, but evacuation orders remain in effect

Updated at 2:31 p.m. Aug. 6, 2021 There is containment on the River Fire. CAL FIRE officials announced Friday morning the blaze that ignited at 2 p.m. Wednesday, sending a plume of smoke high enough to be seen 44 miles away in Rancho Cordova and forcing the evacuation of some 6,600 people in Placer and Nevada counties, was 30 percent contained. The fire grew from 1,400 acres to 2,600 acres from Wednesday night to Friday morning. According to CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Jeff Loveless on Friday, the fire has not grown in the last 24 hours. "Today is the turning point for this operation," Brian Eagan, CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Department battalion chief and day operations for the River Fire, said during the Friday morning briefing. "Today is when we push that heat far enough away that we can start to make some good gains." The Friday update also noted full containment is expected on Aug. 14. On Thursday evening, as trucks and fire crews from throughout the state converged on the Gold Country Fairgrounds, CAL FIRE Information Officer Robert Foxworthy said there was no significant fire activity on a day with cooler temperature and just "mostly small things within the perimeter. "There were no large amounts of fire burning. There was hardly any smoke coming off the fire (Thursday)," he said. While crews Wednesday attacked the River Fire with a continuous air assault that included a jet and other airplanes, helicopters were used Thursday "more to mop up and put out hot spots," Foxworthy said. A helicopter coordinator provided acre estimates of the River Fire via the air Wednesday. On Thursday, the fire team had people walking the fire scene with GPS, according to Foxworthy. Foxworthy said the cause of the fire was still under investigation. "We're also figuring out what it wasn't," he said. As of Friday morning, 88 structures were destroyed and 20 damaged. Evacuation warnings were lifted Friday afternoon. Evacuation orders remained in effect, and there were injuries to two civilians and one firefighter. The vegetation fire originated at 2 p.m. Wednesday near the Bear River Campground west of Colfax and grew to 1,400 acres burned by 8 p.m. Wednesday, damaging several structures and forcing the evacuation of Colfax. Residents parked along nearby winding roads watched as the cloud of smoke rose. Law enforcement vehicles, lights and sirens on, streaked east and west on Interstate 80, and on- and off-ramps to Colfax were blocked by the California Highway Patrol and other responding agencies. According to CAL FIRE Unified Incident Commander Jim Hudson, the River Fire started along Milk Ranch Road. The fire progressed northeast toward Colfax and jumped the Bear River into Nevada County. The Friday morning update noted there were 125 engines, 41 dozers, 43 water tenders, 32 hand crews and 1,309 personnel multiple helicopters currently assigned to the fire. Loveless said during a noon update Thursday crews were continuing efforts by creating lines, "which is mitigating any of those fuels, things that catch on fire; we push those away from the fire." Loveless said the purpose was so the fire "doesn't have momentum to end up jumping our line." Placer County Sheriff's Office Lt. Nelson Resendes said 2,400 people were evacuated in Placer County, including everything west of Highway 174 and from Milk Ranch Road to the southern end of Rollins Lake. Overnight evacuation centers were being hosted by the Red Cross at the gymnasium at Regional Park (3770 Richardson Dr. in North Auburn) and Bear River High School (11130 Magnolia Road in Grass Valley). The Auburn Odd Fellows are providing care packages for those affected by the fire, and are accepting donations of hotel vouchers, pillows, blankets, gas cards, cash and gift cards. Families in need can register and provide a list of their needs through the Colfax and Nevada County River Fire Facebook page or by emailing riverfiredonationhub@gmail.com. Donations are being accepted through Aug. 6 at the Auburn Odd Fellows Lodge at 1226 1/2 Lincoln Way in Auburn. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said Wednesday evening 4,200 residents were under order or warning. Animals were being evacuated to fairgrounds. "Our objective and priorities remain paramount and the protection of life and property, and our unified command is strong," said Brian Estes, CAL FIRE Chief for the Nevada-Yuba-Placer unit. "I'm very, very proud of that. … As we move through the evening hours, we'll remain strong with an aggressive attack." "Our hearts are with our communities, our friends and our neighbors who have been impacted by this incident. We are sensitive to what you are going through," Placer County Sheriff Devon Bell said Wednesday evening during the news conference at CAL FIRE Station 10 in Auburn. "I want to thank our fire partners. We have entered into one unified command with CAL FIRE, I can tell you. We spend a lot of time in the offseason, what there is of an offseason in fire anymore, training with them, training for days like this, days we hope would never come, but they did." This is a developing story. The Auburn Journal will provide additional details as they are released.