Lassen – Modoc Unit - Board of Forestry and Fire Protection - State ...

FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008
Lassen-Modoc Unit
OVERVIEW
Modoc County is located in northeastern California. Both residents and visitors alike enjoy the
rural character and many benefits. It is rich in both scenic and recreational areas, natural,
cultural, and historical resources, clean air, water, and wildlife habitat.
The City of Alturas, located in the central portion of the county, is the county seat and the only
incorporated city in the county. Approximately 21 unincorporated, smaller communities
comprise the remainder of the population centers in Modoc County. Modoc County’s government
structure is typical of counties in California and is governed by a Board of Supervisors consisting
of five elected members.
There are numerous wildland fire protection agencies that have responsibility within the county,
including the USDA Forest Service (FS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of
Indian Affairs (BIA) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). There
are also numerous fire departments and fire protection districts that serve local areas, many of
whom have mutual aid agreements with each other as well as state and federal agencies for fire
suppression and protection.
The many assets at risk in Modoc County include the various residential, commercial,
governmental, and other structures and property that exist within the county. Many of these
structures and properties are located close to or within the flammable natural vegetation of the
area. Utilities and associated infrastructure such as electric, telephone, gas, water lines,
telecommunication sites and rail lines are also at risk.
Other important assets that are in jeopardy from wildfires include the many scenic and
recreational areas, wildlife and watershed, timber, livestock forage, agricultural crops, and
prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and artifacts.
Areas and Transportation
There are 1,419,840 acres, about 4000 square miles in Modoc County. Lake County and Klamath
County, Oregon are to the north, Shasta and Siskiyou County to the southwest and west, Lassen
County is south, and Washoe County, Nevada, to the east of Modoc County, California.
The County is accessed from the Lakeview, Oregon and the north via Hwy 395, from Klamath
Falls, Oregon, via Hwy 139, from Susanville, California to the south via US 395, from Redding
to the west via Hwy 299 and from Gerlach, Nevada, to the south via NV 447.
The nearest major metropolitan areas from Alturas are Reno, Nevada, located approximately 186
miles southeast and Redding, California, approximately 142 miles southwest. Klamath Falls,
Oregon, is 100 miles northwest. The California State Capitol, Sacramento, is approximately 285
highway miles southwest of Alturas.
Modoc County has railroad traffic passing through periodically. One line running northsouth
along the west side of the county accommodates several trains per week. The
railroad traffic from Oregon to Alturas to Newell runs a couple of times per week. There
are airports in Modoc County located at Alturas, Cal Pines, Cedarville, Ft. Bidwell,
Newell and Adin. The Sage Stage is operated by Modoc Transportation Agency, P.O.
Box 999, Alturas, California 96101, (530) 233-6410. The bus service provides both fixed
route service and dial-a-ride. The Fixed Routes serve Alturas, Likely, Madeline, Termo,
Susanville, Reno, Canby, Adin, Bieber, Burney, Redding, Klamath Falls, Newell,
Tulelake and Cedarville. Seniors, disabled persons and youth pay discounted fares.
Modoc County Community Wildfire Protection Plan/Revised May 2008 77