As they try to contain the raging Dixie Fire in northern California, wildland crews are facing the danger of gun-wielding residents who refuse to evacuate.
Firefighters have been confronted by residents who have ignored evacuation orders as the massive wildfire—the third-largest in state history—continues to burn through Plumas and Butte counties. In some cases, homeowners have pulled guns and threatened firefighters on their property, KPIX-TV reports.
"There is stuff out there that we didn’t want to see," Jake Cagle, California Incident Management operations section chief, said at a Thursday briefing after the Dixie Fire tore through Greenville, destroying roughly 75% of the historic town's businesses and homes.
"Again, talking about the people out there dealing with evacuations," he added. "We are all challenged. Law enforcement’s challenged. We have firefighters getting guns pulled out on them because people don’t want to evacuate. That’s just the duality. That’s what it is. Not trying to place the blame on the landowners. We understand, our hearts go out to them."
Although Cagle expressed empathy, he said residents refusing to evacuate can divert crews trying to contain the wildfire. As flames directly threaten property, firefighters can be forced to use vehicles and other resources to get homeowners out of harm's way.
“The impacts, the devastation, we understand," Cagle said. "That’s why we are here, we are trying to do the best we can. That is our sole intention. But again it comes down to life threat, and that’s what we need to manage.”
As of Friday afternoon, the Dixie Fire had burned over 430,000 acres and was 35% contained.
