[UPDATE 8:40 p.m.] Day 10: Lightning Fires

2015_08_08-10.58.21.108-CDT

Humboldt-Toiyabe Engine Crews on South Complex [Photo from InciWeb]

Since the lightning fires began a week ago Thursday, we’ve started a new post everyday with the most pertinent information you need to know. Below is our quick overview of the fires. As we update each incident throughout the day, we’ll note the time the facts were posted so you can quickly see if there is something new on these incidents. (Newest maps of the fires here)

  • Fork Complex (Trinty Pines and north to Hayfork):(Current as of 8:20 p.m.) 17,622 acres burned and 12% contained.
    Structures Destroyed: Residences 8, other buildings 4, Firefighter injuries to date: 2, Total Personnel: 1,640 “Forest Closure Order 14-15-03 has been signed and is being posted today. This order prohibits the public from going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Fork, South, Route, and Mad River Fire Complexes until they are declared out..” (More info here)
  • Gasquet Fire: (Current as of 8:27 p.m.) 1702 acres burned and 5% containment. “Communication with Tribes remains a high priority for the Team. Tribal concerns, including the identification of cultural areas, are a continuous process and included in the strategic planning of the incident.” (More info here)
  • Humboldt Complex (Alderpoint and surroundings):(Current as of 7:46 p.m.) 4,608 acres burned and 40% contained. Structures Destroyed:  6 outbuildings. Firefighter injuries to date: 7 Total Personnel: 1,496. “Fire growth is not anticipated on the Blocksburg , Bluford, Dobbyn, Wildcat or Winchester Fires. Minimal growth is expected within existing containment lines on the Steelhead Fire.” (More info here)
    2015_08_07-11.49.42.788-CDT

    Firing operation off of West Bank Road, Ruth Lake. [Photo from InciWeb]

  • Mad River Complex (Ruth Lake and Surroundings):(Current as of 4:34 p.m.) 17,852 acres burned and 30% contained. “The threat of thunderstorms in the area has diminished significantly. A high pressure weather system is expected to move back into the area this weekend, bringing a return of hot, dry weather conditions.” (More info here) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6289.
  • River Complex:(Current as of 8:30 p.m.) 13,827 burned and 10% contained. “11 mules and a horse are now assigned to the River Complex. The Forest Service has assigned local agency Packers and their stock to assist the fire fighters working out of Willow Creek California.” (More info here) Telephone number for the public information officer 530-276-8559.
  • Rocky Fire (Lake County): (Current as of 7:30.m.) 69,636 acres burned and 70% contained, 43 residences, 53 outbuildings destroyed; 8 structures damaged.  “All evacuations lifted.” (More info here)  Telephone number for the public information officer is (707) 967-4207.
  • Route Complex (south and west of Hyampom and Buck Mt. area):(Current as of 8:30 p.m.) 16,798 acres burned and 15% contained. “Slight possibility of evening thunderstorms; smoke and haze obscured visibility limiting air operations. Some increase in wind speeds is expected over the weekend.”(More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6865.
  • Olson Fire 8/7 [Photo from InciWeb

    Olson Fire on the South Complex [Photo on InciWeb]

    South Complex (north and west of Hyampom):(Current as of 8:40 p.m.) 16,481 acres burned and 5% containment. “Winds picked up today around noon, and are expected to persist until about 10pm.” (More info here)

Here’s our tools to keep you abreast of what’s happening:

Newest Info: Next, the twitter feed near the bottom right of our home page is continuously updated with the latest tweets from Cal Fire, other local news organizations, weather, etc.

Above that are two scanner feeds–one that will take you to Eureka/north coverage. The other that will take you to Eureka/south coverage.

Past Info: Reminder, at the bottom of this post under Earlier Chapters are links to our previous coverage. Much of it still very relevant. Particularly note our newest fire maps. We’ll be updating them throughout the day.

Don’t miss a post: In our right hand column is a subscribe box (for those accessing on mobiles, scroll down to the bottom and the box is just above recent posts.) Fill that out and a link to every story will appear in your email.

And, if you want a reminder of what this is all about, go see the incredible and short video of the Pine Fire raging as Miranda VFD laid hose. [Click here to view.]

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.: To see the latest on the smoke, click here.

Earlier Chapters:

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37 Comments
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Bee
Guest
Bee
8 years ago

Lots of stories can be written but only some matter. I’m sure they’ll be lots of feel-good stories about how the forest is returning but I can guarantee you it’ll never be the same

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
Guest
LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago

Cool action picture, but the thought of flame retardant seeping into streams, springs, and ground water is sad. They can put what ever label of safety they want on it, it still doesn’t change what it is.
We could use three days of rain to chase these wahoos out of the triangle.

Saille
Guest
Saille
8 years ago

yes! 3 days of rain minus any lightening…Thank you Kym, Oliver, et al. for keeping us up to date!

no doubt
Guest
no doubt
8 years ago

Yes lets call in the rain!!!! I have been wondering the same about that toxic retardant, where can public find just how much they’ve used on each fire incident? Thinking of how much of it is falling into ruth lake, will the north coast water district be testing the water for arcata/eureka???

Bee
Guest
Bee
8 years ago
Reply to  no doubt

Isn’t that the game you don’t care about Ruth lake at all .but you care about your greed plants hope they keep dumping as much as they can

S Gimmel
Guest
S Gimmel
8 years ago

Great photo – but it’s from the Willow Fire last month near Bass Lake.
I’m sure we have some awesome ones of the Fork Complex – we should probably use those.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

InciWeb captioned the photo as being a drop on the Fork Complex 8/7/15 with the image courtesy of the U S Forest Service but that’s not true. The photographer who took the photo is Brandy Nichole and it was from the Willow fire. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brandy-Nichole-Photography/145005845553924 Check out her great fire photos! That’s a Russian-made Ilyushin-76 cargo plane converted to fire bombing.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

And they didn’t even give the photographer credit for her copyrighted photo. Bad policy all around to misinform the public and rip off the photographer.

S Gimmel
Guest
S Gimmel
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

http://www.maderatribune.com/news/willow-fire-%E2%80%98human-caused%E2%80%99

Someone on Dipps Road in Hayfork posted it to their facebook page, thats probably where the confusion started

Bee
Guest
Bee
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

you picked the right one thanks

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
8 years ago

Unbelievable number of fire fighting vehicles going out to the fires on the Alderpoint Road this morning. Usually I just hear them pass the house but today I was driving in to Redway to do my KMUD show. Seemed almost endless, and almost all on their side of the road. I did have one bad moment when I came round a curve to find a water truck at least half way in my lane, but I slipped by on the side. I imagine they were quite surprised to see oncoming traffic.

S Gimmel
Guest
S Gimmel
8 years ago
G-ma
Guest
G-ma
8 years ago

Wow cool shot thou!!up-dates are awsome thank you.

Shake
Guest
Shake
8 years ago

I can’t thank you enough for these well organized, helpful updates. You’re awesome Kym!

silverlining
Guest
silverlining
8 years ago

Another classic photo.

R.S. Arnold
Guest
R.S. Arnold
8 years ago

LoCo is reporting a fire breaking out in Orick. Are there any details or updates on that fire?

Head Scratcher
Guest
Head Scratcher
8 years ago

Seems my comment got got deleted, so I will try it a different way. If there is anybody out there who has a negative slant on the firefighters and their tactics, can you please share how you would go about fighting these fires? Honest question. I need some perspective. Thank You

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