[UPDATE 7:05 p.m.] Day 16: Lightning Fires

The South Complex's Castle Fire on August 13, 2015. [Photo from the InciWeb]

The South Complex’s Castle Fire on August 13, 2015. [Photo from the InciWeb]

Here’s today’s fire post. As we update each incident until late evening, we’ll note the time the facts were posted so you can quickly see if there is something new. Look for the most recent general updates on the bottom but new information for individual fires are posted in the summaries below in blue.  (Newest maps of the fires here.) Those that have expanded 20% or more will have their acreage in red bold type. 

  • Fork Complex (Trinty Pines and north to Hayfork):(Current as of 2 p.m. ) 30,154 acres burned and 32% contained. Structures Destroyed: Residences 8, other buildings 4, Firefighter injuries to date: 3, Total Personnel: 2,411. “Due to an increase in fire behavior, the area of WILDWOOD has been upgraded to MANDATORY evacuation status effective at 12:00 P.M. today. Advisory-Due to an increase in fire behavior on the west side of the Peak Fire. The Sub Division known as Rowdey Bear will go into an advisory evacuation status, effective at 12:00 P.M. today…The southern closure of State Road 302 will be moved to the junction of Highway 36.” (More info here.)
  • Gasquet Fire: (Current as of 5:55 p.m.) 3069 acres burned and 29% containment. “Gasquet Fire Complex Base Camp Tour Saturday, August 15th 10 a.m. and Noon Park at Gasquet Bible Church (Located at 1340 Gasquet Flat Rd.)” (More info here)
  • Humboldt Complex (Alderpoint and surroundings):(Current as of 6:15 p.m.) 4,883 acres burned and 80% contained. Structures Destroyed:  6 outbuildings. Firefighter injuries to date: 14, Total Personnel: 1,664. “Fire growth is not anticipated on the Blocksburg, Bluford, Dobbyn, Steelhead, Wildcat or Winchester Fires.” Note that the Pine Fire is not listed here. (More info here)
  • Jerusalem Fire (Lake County): (Current as of 6:15 p.m.) 25,054 acres burned and 71% containment. Structures burned: 4 residences, 13 outbuildings.  “The burnout of the interior islands continue to threaten fire control lines. Winds remain a contributing factor for high probabilities of spot fires due to heavy interior fuels. This weekend brings hot and dry conditions with an increase in temperature into the upper 90’s with single digit relative humidity.” (More info here.) Telephone number (707) 967-4208
  • The Mad River Complex: a faller crew after cutting a large tree on the Gobbler Fire. [Photo from InciWeb]

    The Mad River Complex: a faller crew after cutting a large tree on the Gobbler Fire. [Photo from InciWeb]

    Mad River Complex (Ruth Lake and Surroundings):(Current as of 5:38 p.m.) 21,955 acres burned and 50% contained. Estimated Cost to Date: $16.5 million Injuries:4 Total Personnel: 1,243 Structures Destroyed: 2 residences, 2 outbuildings. “The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office has issued a press release announcing the lifting of road closures and evacuation orders in the Ruth Lake area: The Van Duzen Road and Lower Mad River Road will reopen to all traffic at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2015.” (More info here) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6289.
  • River Complex:(Current as of 5 p.m.) 32,880 burned and 18% contained. “An onshore flow began to make its way onshore this evening switching to westerly direction. Smoke from nearby fires will settle in the drainages tonight with good RH recovery.” (More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer 530-276-8559. Estimated containment: October 01st, 2015
  • Rocky Fire (Lake County): (Current as of 6:15 p.m.) 69,438 acres burned (acreage changed but time of posting wasn’t updated) and 100% contained, 43 residences, 53 outbuildings destroyed; 8 structures damaged. “Resources will continue to construct line, mop up hot spots and patrol the line for several days. ” (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 6:46 p.m.) 26,960 acres burned and 28% contained. “On the Johnson Fire, crews continued securing line with burnout operations and additional line construction on the south end. Successful burnout operations have helped secure the east side of the fire near Hyampom and more are planned. Structure protection is ongoing in the Hyampom area. Crews continue to improve containment lines along the western portion of the Johnson Fire for a planned burnout. Aircraft are fully engaged in support operations. The Buck and Chance Fires have completed containment line around them and crews are in a patrol mode.” (More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6865.
  • D88E603B2EF24B03952F1AFC5195CC88

    Fire plane as seen through yesterday’s thick smoke. [Photo by Gary Robertson, see more of his images of the fires here.]

    South Complex (north and west of Hyampom):(Current as of 6:40 p.m.) 17,653 acres burned and 20% containment. “The warning trend will continue to settle over the fire area through the weekend.” (More info here)

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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, the National Weather Service, 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. 

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.

————————————

UPDATE 3:55 p.m.:

UPDATE 4: 15 p.m.: The latest information on the Trinity County evacuations and road closures can be found here.

Earlier Chapters:

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LAZY SKUNK RANCH
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LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago

Fork Complex claims 8 residences and 4 other buildings destroyed-

how is that a correct number when it tore through around 300 parcels in the pines alone?

Does the TP not count when bean counters do their job?

James McComas, Trinity county
Guest
James McComas, Trinity county
8 years ago

we all know those figures aren’t real and there only to serve those who fill out the paperwork for the greattest gain or some other agenda unrelated to humanity. You will not see any FEMA trailers or Debit cards being handed out around here like after Katrina or that rainstorm ” sandy” ….not enough votes for anything like that to even be considered

Grumpy
Guest
Grumpy
8 years ago

They are not counting all the motorhomes and trailers that people in the Pines called home.
I live in the Pines and have seem a lot of burned out trailers,motorhomes and out buildings,8 sounds better that a 100, it may be awhile before we know for sure how many people lost the place they called home.

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
Guest
LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago
Reply to  Grumpy

I know! How can some office worker discount people’s homes? Typical CalFire and Krew- hiding money in offshore accounts to claim being broke to get the fire “fee”, but we see what they are really about.
Makes me think PMVFD was called away to town on purpose.

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
Guest
LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

What can one think? The powers that be tried to shut down PMVFD for years, just chomping at the bit to be able to access properties they wouldn’t be able to, skirting their federal crud they spew, and just as the fire breaks out PMVFD is moved miles away from their area?

We’ll never know, because of the “brotherhood” gig they wrap themselves in, but it really looks like the dog and man are working together.

Burnt Toast Weenies
Guest
Burnt Toast Weenies
8 years ago

Not sure who the “powers that be” are. How do you shut down a fire department? In any case, any fire department that gets “shut down” can become a private fire company. You can have your own fire company, funded by donations, grants and volunteer work. Sounds like that might be the best choice for people in the Pines. Who “moved” PMVFD? I’m not 100%, but they aren’t told what to do by anybody. They are the community fire dept. They fight fires where they see fit. I dont know, maybe things are different in your neck of the woods.

Grumpy
Guest
Grumpy
8 years ago

PMVFD was closed down for 10 months back in 09,when everyone quit, thats how you close a FD.
The PMVFD Chief is the person who says where the the dept engines go..
The SOP says The PMVFD may respond to mutual aid requests, but shall at no time leave our district unprotected.
I know being on a VFD is a pain in the ass, hours and hours of training, getting up in the night during a snow storm, fighting fire in 100 degree heat..more people need to get off their ass and join a VFD… PMVFD should have 15 FFs and a Chief and Asst Chief..they also need a water tender..

Blackheart72
Guest
Blackheart72
8 years ago

Complex is out. Releasing out of state engines to Feds for their fires. Holding onto State resources for if/when Lassic makes a run into State property.

Cody
Guest
Cody
8 years ago

A good 80% of the “homes” in the Pines are not legal aka permitted with the country. Hence the the low number of destroyed “Structures/Residences”

LAZY SKUNK RANCH
Guest
LAZY SKUNK RANCH
8 years ago
Reply to  Cody

You really want to say a human can’t live a nice life in a 10×12 that doesn’t need a permit from some bean counter that makes their living off that 10×12?

Really?

Just because people choose a different lifestyle that doesn’t fit your vision of Stanley Kubrick’s moon landing- doesn’t make it right or wrong.

I still say the man is working with the dog and that’s why so many people’s lives don’t matter to bean counter slime.

Plus, “the county” didn’t even have permits for such lifestyles ten years back. Love how you “Americans” wrap yourselves in counties and flags. Get a Free Market Job….

rastaj
Guest
8 years ago

Fire just outside weott. Hitting it hard with choppers, retardent drops, crews I will try to upload photos in a second

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