Lassen Volcanic National Park Officials Evacuate the Area as Dixie Fire Consumes Southwest Portion of the Park

The Dixie Fire is continuing its destructive path through Lassen Volcanic National Park, with park officials evacuating the area. Recent heat mapping shows that the entire southwest portion is now consumed by the fire, including the area surrounding the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center.

Following a mandatory evacuation order for the town of Mineral, including park headquarters, NPS officials have left the area and will have to watch from afar as the Dixie Fire burns through the most popular area in Lassen. The fire has already consumed the areas of Bumpass Hell, Kings Creek Falls and the Mount Harkness Fire Lookout, and now the flames are near the southwest entrance and beloved visitors center.

“The town of Mineral, including park headquarters, is under mandatory evacuation,” wrote park officials in a statement. “Staff are setting up a temporary office is Redding today; please expect delayed response times.”

With the fire moving deeper into Lassen over the weekend, officials decided to establish fire line to protect the structures near the south entrance of the park. That strategy may have backfired, with winds pushing that fire operation quickly towards beloved outdoor areas. That fire, dubbed the Morgan Fire, has now merged with the Dixie Fire to consume much of the beloved park.

There is still no word from the National Park Service on what outdoor destinations have burned in the fire. The park did announce that the historic Drakesbad Guest Ranch is still intact:

With extreme fire weather continuing through the area on Wednesday, firefighters throughout NorCal will have their work cut out for them. Let’s hope they can save the beloved Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center.

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

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