This news story about the destruction of the Juniper Lake Cabins by the Dixie Fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park was partially adapted from an August 22 National Park Service press release. You can read the original press release here.
Since the arrival of the Dixie Fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park prompted the National Park Service to close the entire park on August 5, this massive forest fire has burned close to 50,000 acres in the park. This now also includes the historic Juniper Lake Cabins.
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Historic Juniper Lake Cabins Destroyed by Dixie Fire
The Dixie Fire has consumed seven of the eight Juniper Lake Cabins, situated on the northwest shore of Juniper Lake. There, set on that beautiful mountain lake, the cabins used to offer views of Lassen Peak and other surrounding summits.
Most of the destroyed Juniper Lake Cabins are private, in holder cabins, privately owned before the park’s founding. Only one of the structures survived the fire unscathed, while 46,950 acres of Lassen Volcanic National Park have burned in varying severity.
One of the seven cabins destroyed by the fire is owned by the federal government.
“The character of Juniper Lake is somewhat unique. These cabins were privately owned before that part of the park became a federal park. They have been passed down through families and are very important to the history of those families.”
Lassen Volcanic Superintendent Jim Richardson
Richardson describes the Juniper Lake Campground, located near the impacted cabins, as “old school.”
It is first-come, first-serve, where there are two group campsites and several individual sites.
“It is more of a local’s campground and off-the-beaten-path,” Richardson said. “The campground was burned, but that doesn’t mean it’s gone. We haven’t been on the ground to evaluate it yet. The resources needed to do that have a higher priority of suppressing this fire.”
The Dixie Fire, which has burned a total of 721,298 acres in northern California, tore through this popular recreation area, which also includes the nearby historic Harkness Lookout.
It then moved along the east side of Juniper Lake, but it did not burn the Juniper Lake Ranger Station. Superintendent Richardson credits fuel clearing for sparing the station.
The fire subsequently continued along the east shore and headed north to Snag Lake and almost to Butte Lake as part of a two-day wind event that began on August 10.
The destroyed Juniper Lake cabin owned by the National Park Service had a vital function as accommodation for crews that worked in that particular area of the park.
For more information on the Dixie Fire please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7690/