8:31 a.m. PDT July 11, 2021
The Sugar Fire, the only active fire in the Beckwourth Complex, ran to the east and northeast Saturday, crossing US Highway 395 in at least two places destroying structures in Doyle, California.
Videos shot by Craig Philpott showed multiple structures burning in the small town.
The fire spread northeast for about three miles in 24 hours, growing to more than 82,000 acres.
(To see all articles on Wildfire Today about the Sugar Fire and the Beckwourth Complex, including the most recent, click HERE.)
In a virtual community meeting Saturday night, Incident Commander Rocky Opliger said, “We’re looking at unprecedented early season extreme fire behavior…much earlier than we’ve experienced before.”
Highway 395 was closed at times Saturday north of Highway 70.
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the area through Tuesday. The weather forecast for Doyle, CA Sunday afternoon calls for 104 degrees, strong winds out of the southwest Sunday of 21 mph gusting at 32 mph, and 9 percent relative humidity. The wind will subside Sunday night but will increase Monday afternoon — 22 mph gusting out of the southwest at 34 mph with 9 percent RH.
These conditions will make it a challenge for firefighters to make much progress in suppressing the fire.
#SugarFire #BeckwourthComplex at Doyle CA. Significant property damage in small town. 4/ pic.twitter.com/Y2tCZG7WaQ
— craig philpott (@CphilpottCraig) July 11, 2021
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