[UPDATE 10:20 p.m.] Day 20: Lightning Fires

Smoke obscured last night's sunset near Fort Bragg as haze from the Lightning Fires covers much of the Emerald Counties.  [Photo by Lynn Harrington]

Smoke obscured last night’s sunset near Fort Bragg as haze from the Lightning Fires covers much of the Emerald Counties. [Photo by Lynn Harrington]

As a new blaze burns in the King Range north of Shelter Cove, we’ll keep you informed on what is happening on all the fires here. 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 is 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 7:30 p.m.) 35,097 acres burned and 52% contained. Structures Destroyed: Residences 8, other buildings 4, Firefighter injuries to date: 7, Total Personnel: 2,518. Containment of the Fork Complex fires continues to steadily increase as weather conditions have kept fire behavior moderate.The Barker Fire saw some increased fire activity within its interior, but containment lines are holding.” (More info here.)
  • Gasquet Fire: (Current as of 8.55 p.m.) 6426 acres burned and 20% containment. Total Personnel: 715. “A lingering inversion continued today, contributing to moderate fire behavior. Smoky conditions impacted local communities during the morning, but conditions improved as temperatures rose in the afternoon. Despite an active inversion, rising temperatures and low relative humidity increased fire activity.” (More info here)
  • Humboldt Complex (Alderpoint and surroundings):(Current as of 7:15 p.m.) 4,883 acres burned and 97% contained. Structures Destroyed: 1 residence, 6 outbuildings. Firefighter injuries to date: 14, Total Personnel: 1,392. “Currently, no additional fire growth is anticipated. Fire suppression repair has begun on the Pine Fire and is ongoing on the Steelhead, Wildcat, Dobbyn, Bluford, Blocksburg and Winchester fires.” (More info here) containment. Structures burned: 9 residences, 18 outbuildings.  Telephone number (707) 967-4208
  • Thirsty cows drink from fire equipment. [Photo from InciWeb]

    Thirsty cows drink from fire equipment. [Photo from InciWeb]

    Mad River Complex (Ruth Lake and Surroundings) Now Combined with the Route Complex -see below:((More info here) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6289.
  • River Complex:(Current as of 9:00 p.m.) 43,144  burned and 18% contained. Total Personnel: 750. “Weather conditions tonight will continue the trend of heavy smoke in valley areas. As the fire backs down in to the Denny area tonight, fire personnel will begin to prepare for the implementation of structure protection plans as needed. (More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer 530-276-8559. Estimated containment: October 01st, 2015
  • Route Complex (south and west of Hyampom and Buck Mt. area) Now Combined with the Mad River Complex:(Current as of 7:05 p.m.) 56,323 acres burned and 33% contained. Structures destroyed: 2 outbuildings. Total Personnel: 893. Injury: 1. “Johnson Fire (29,840 acres and 26% contained) Crews conducted successful burnout operations on the north end moving those portions of the fire toward holding status. The majority of the east side of the fire near Hyampom is in holding status…Pickett Fire (10,923 acres, 78 percent contained) The fire has backed down to Highway 36, and debris continues to create a hazard on the highway. Steep embankments along Highway 36 pose a risk for debris to roll out and get below the road resulting in possible spot fires. Structure protection crews remain in the Forest Glen area.Lassic Fire (5,626 acres, 24 percent contained) The fire continues to spread to the east, west, and south. The fire continues to back down the west flank and may make significant runs. (More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6865.
  • South Complex (north and west of Hyampom):(Current as of 8:30 p.m.) 22,037 acres burned and 35% containment. Personnel: 1181.  “The thick smoke in the area made most aerial firefighting impossible, but air attack was able to get into the sky briefly over the Pattison Fire, which is still moving southward and is now believed to be on both sides of Gates Creek. Engines were in place at the Bar 717 Ranch today (along with the property across the river) to do point protection if necessary..” (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.
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UPDATE 10:43 a.m.: Today’s information from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office on evacuations and road closures here. This is the same information as yesterday afternoon. Click here to see it. 

UPDATE 1:20 p.m.

UPDATE 2:45 p.m.

UPDATED 10:19 p.m.:

Earlier Chapters:

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24 Comments
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Who
Guest
Who
8 years ago

Behind fire crew heading into weaverville this morning lot of tired faces in town .lot of Heavy smoke again

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
8 years ago

So yellow out this morning.I hope everyone is safe from harm.The photo of the animals is priceless!!thank you to the Brave firefighters with hearts of gold,and for watering those poor animals!!And thanks for these much needed up-dates.Could someone tell me where Red cross is??why there not here.thanks

Michael
Guest
Michael
8 years ago
Reply to  G-ma

They were here, No one was using the shelters, at least not on the Route or Mad River fires. They move onto where they are needed.

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
8 years ago
Reply to  Michael

Thank you.just wondering

nines
Guest
8 years ago

My face feels like someone’s trying to turn it inside out.

G-ma
Guest
G-ma
8 years ago
Reply to  nines

Ouch!that sounds most painful

nines
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  G-ma

It was! OMG, but I think the wind changed because right around 3pm the pain and burning subsided down to mere soreness… and even though the update image shows you guys are still being nailed really hard, at LEAST there’s also an update that the National Guard is coming to help us.

Who
Guest
Who
8 years ago

Winds up 5 to 15 small ash falling In parts of Hayfork .not good
5:30 pm

nines
Guest
8 years ago
Reply to  Who

Oh, man, I do literally feel for you. Trying not to feel sorry for myself, knowing you have to be having it so much worse.

Sally
Guest
Sally
8 years ago

Thanks Kym Kemp for continued excellent info and maps.

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