Even the Visitor's Center/Headquarters buildings and campground looks to be within the burned area - at least according to the map. I have not read of the Visitor's Center being burned (the last I read is that they were setting backfires to protect the multiple buildings) so I am hoping that this is not the case.
Lava Beds (on the north-east slope of the Medicine Lake volcano) is an exquisitely beautiful area. Located as it is in the remote north-east corner of California (near the Oregon border, about 45 minutes from Klamath Falls) when one is there one can almost imagine that major cities do not even exist.
I am hoping that the devastation of the Monument is not so bad as it seems currently. Of course, the lava tube caves (around 300 of them) will not be affected, and burned-over terrain will regrow - but probably not in my lifetime.
As near as I can guess, my favorite campground has thus far been spared, but looks to be only about a mile or two from the fire perimeter. It's location - the tiny town of Tionesta (Tionesta is located at the foot of Timber Mtn, on the lower right-hand-side of the map) - is under mandatory evacuation.
Give the fire map link below a minute or so to load - it is a large file, but well worth the wait.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CAMDF/2020-07-23-1344-July-Complex-2020/related_files/2020_07_28-07.40.20.121-CDT.pdf
Not a good start for California's fire season.
Anne
