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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=articletitle><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Pigeon
Fire perplexes crews: </span></font></b></span><span class=articlesubtitle><b><font
size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Big Bar blaze flighty in
hot, dry, breezy weather</span></span></font></b></span><b><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=articlebyline><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>John Driscoll / Times-Standard</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=articlebyline><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4291760">http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4291760</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><img border=0 width=500 height=331 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01C6D265.1A751B50"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.times-standard.com/local/ci_4291760"><span style='text-decoration:
none'><img border=0 width=200 height=302 id="_x0000_i1067"
src="cid:image002.jpg@01C6D265.3F1EF0C0" title=""></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img border=0 width=5
height=1 id="_x0000_i1068" src="cid:image003.gif@01C6D265.3F1EF0C0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-element:frame'><b><i><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'>Mark McKenna / Times-Standard</span></font></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-element:frame'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>A plume of smoke billows from a burn-out, a
controlled burn meant to deprive a fire of fuel, near the junction of <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">East Fork Road</st1:address></st1:Street>
and US Highway 299.<a
href="http://northcoast101.com/nc/video_player.php?v=15" target="_blank">[Watch
Video]</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img border=0 width=5
height=5 id="_x0000_i1069" src="cid:image004.gif@01C6D265.3F1EF0C0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img border=0 width=5
height=5 id="_x0000_i1070" src="cid:image004.gif@01C6D265.3F1EF0C0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-element:frame'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><img border=0 width=1
height=5 id="_x0000_i1071" src="cid:image005.gif@01C6D265.3F1EF0C0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>BIG BAR Firefighters lit fires ahead of the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Mark McKenna /
Times-Standard </span></font></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>From left to
right: Joe Lindaman, Mike Wakoski, and Dennis Lang monitor radio traffic for
crews working fires in the Trinity County, while eating lunch at the Straw
House. The coffee shop and eatery has been open 24 hours a day to serve fire
crews working the blaze.<a
href="http://northcoast101.com/nc/video_player.php?v=15" target="_blank">[Watch
Video]</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>BIG BAR Firefighters lit fires ahead of the newly started Pigeon Fire
Tuesday, trying to starve it of fuel as it threatened the historic town of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Helena</st1:place></st1:City>, and watched
closely as the weather shifted and fanned the flames.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
little communities of Big Bar and Big Flat along the <st1:place w:st="on">Trinity
River</st1:place> were quiet, as many residents had heeded evacuation orders.
Fire managers were concerned the fire that blew into the upper reaches of
Manzanita Creek over the weekend could sweep down the drainage and into Big
Flat. Fire engines were parked at the ready there and in Big Bar in case the
fire came back down the hill. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The fire
on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Shasta-Trinity</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">National Forest</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> has
torched more than 5,000 acres, and has twice blown over fire lines carved by
bulldozers. Starting on the roadside Saturday morning, the burn has been
unwieldy and unpredictable. Burning embers have started fires ahead of the
blaze, which has thrived on the dry wood and brush blanketing steep slopes, and
with high temperatures and fickle winds. For now, fire managers are unable to
tell residents of the area just where the blaze might spread in the next three
days. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“We
can't be certain how this will set up,” said fire information officer
Chris Worth. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Firefighters
expected the fire to eventually fuse with the larger Bar Complex 12 miles away.
That wildfire, which is being managed with the Pigeon Fire, has burned 32,019
acres in the rough wilderness near Denny. State Route 299 was reopened to
controlled traffic mid-day Tuesday. But travelers had to be stopped occasionally
as rocks tumbled onto the highway from burnt slopes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>That
hazard kept Labor Day revelers from driving from the coast inland to <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Trinity</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Before the official reopening,
some motorists took their chances and headed back home. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Gary
Pelton of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Redding</st1:place></st1:City>
got lucky, being held up at a traffic stop for a few minutes in his RV before
being let through on his way home. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“I
thought about staying another day at the casino,” Pelton said. “I
won $260 last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. used a helicopter to assess power lines consumed
by the fire, which knocked out power to central and southern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Trinity</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
Power has been rerouted to Weaverville and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Junction City</st1:place></st1:City>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The fire
had disastrous consequences on tourism in the area this past weekend. The <st1:place
w:st="on">Trinity River</st1:place> was closed to rafters and boaters, and campgrounds
were empty. Many trails in the Trinity Alps are closed, and Worth said hunters
have been inquiring about what areas are accessible for upcoming deer season. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Some of
those who stayed behind became an informal part of the firefighting effort. The
Straw House a popular cafe and cappuccino stop was staying open 24 hours a day
to serve firefighters. Employees slept on air mattresses over the weekend,
hoping the business wouldn't fall prey to the blaze. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>“Up
in the Trinity Alps we're protected from a lot of things,” said employee
Kieara Kiefel. “The one thing that can destroy us is fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A sign in
front of the store thanks firefighters. About 530 are working the blaze, with a
total of about 1,100 on the Bar Complex. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Three
firefighters from <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> sat on
the Straw House patio, taking a break from the smoky work to grab a bite to
eat. Mike Wakoski is working his seventh fire of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>He said
the Pigeon Fire has potential to become big, and predicted its merger with the
Bake-Oven part of the Bar Complex. And while he may be gearing up to leave, he
expected others will have to stay on the fire for a long time. “This fire
will burn until it snows,” Wakoski said. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>There is no
rain in the forecast, and meteorologists are expecting hot and dry conditions
and increased variable winds later in the week. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Officials
are also keeping an eye on several other fires in the region. The Orleans
Complex has burned 15,710 acres and is considered 90 percent contained. No
significant fire activity has been reported there. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Happy
Camp Complex has burned 4,650 acres, and has made some short runs, torched
trees and sent burning embers ahead of the blaze recently. A small fire aboard
a helicopter forced the pilot to land, but no one was injured. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
Uncles Complex in the Marble Mountains Wilderness is made up of three fires
totaling nearly 19,000 acres. The Hancock Fire is expected to continue to
spread to Portuguese Ridge. The Uncles Fire is projected to burn down Deadman
Gulch and into the North Fork of the <st1:place w:st="on">Salmon River</st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
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