[UPDATE 8:37 p.m.] Day 29: Lightning Fires

Thursday, 27 August 2015, 10:11 am Kym Kemp 5 comments

Gasquet Fire. [Photo by David Webb]

The lightning storm that blasted us last month still continues to send fires burning through our forests and near our homes. We’ll continue to update you every day. Below we have our regular summary of each fire and then further down we have any new information coming in throughout the day that you need to know.

When we update each incident, 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.

Democrat Fire (west of Weaverville): (Current as of 5:45 p.m.) 128 acres and 65% contained. “The fire remains within the containment lines as firefighters continue to strengthen the perimeter. Resource demobilization and fire suppression repair has begun.” (More information here.)Public Information Line: (530) 225-2510.
Horse Fire (northeast of Shelter Cove): (Current as of 5:45 p.m.) 146 acres and 95% contained. Total Fire Personnel: 499. “Demobilization of excess resources will continue today as crews’ transition to the mop up and patrol phase of the fire. ” (More info here.) Fire Information Line: 925-588-9192
Fork Complex (Trinty Pines and north to Hayfork):(Current as of 7 p.m.) 36,499 acres burned and 90% contained. Structures Destroyed: Residences 8, other buildings 4, Firefighter injuries to date: 12, Total Personnel:299. “Fire activity on the Fork Complex continues to decrease as containment increases.” (More info here.) Fire Information Line: 530-628-0093
Gasquet Fire: (Current as of 8:10 p.m.) 22,914 acres burned and 28% containment. Total Personnel: 711. Injuries: 6. “The inversion lifted over the Peak Fire, but remained elsewhere….Bear Fire – 7238 acres 12% containment. Coon Fire – 5,653 acres 70% Containment Peak Fire – 9125 acres 4% containment Feeder Fire – 898 acres 100% containment.” (More info here.)
Mad River Complex (Ruth Lake and Surroundings) Now Combined with the Route Complex -see below: (7:30 a.m. Not updated as of 8:36 p.m. ) 36,055 acres and 68% contained. Personnel: 387. “Gobbler and Pickett Fires continue to be in patrol status, with no additional movement anticipated. Spotover along Lassic Fire’s Div T (northwest corner) may add acreage.Backing, flanking, limited torching and short-term runs may occur on the Lassic Fire’s southeastern and southern areas. Lassic Fire (16,791 acres, 39% contained) “(More info here) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6289.
Nickowitz Fire (northern Humboldt/southern Del Norte):(Current as of 7 p.m.) 6524 acres and 54% contained. Total Personnel: 331. “Main fire spread will be to the southwest along Nickowitz Creek toward Barren Butte below the 13N01 road. Firing operations will be conducted to stay ahead of potential runs in Soapstone Gulch to strengthen control lines as fire moves towards the 13N01 road. Firing of handline constructed from 12N02 Road toward Bear Pen flat will continue as necessary to keep fire even as it backs into the west end of Nickowitz Creek.” (More info here) Phone: 530-627-3246. Estimated Containment Date:Tuesday September 15th.
River Complex:(Current as of 7:30 p.m.) 65,221 burned and 27% contained. Total Personnel: 516. “While the fire grew almost 4000 acres today, almost all that growth is in the wilderness area to the east and north east of the complex. To date no structures have been lost or damaged. The three smokejumpers that were inserted into the northwest corner of the complex have lined out one canyon and it is declared contained but at the Horse Lintel Creek drainage they found the fire stalled with some small pockets of heat smoldering and “skunking” around in some of the undergrowth/story. They will overnight in the drainage and finish mopping up and controlling that portion of the fire. ” (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 6:40 a.m. Not updated as of 8:36 p.m.) 35,451 acres burned and 74% contained. Structures destroyed: 2 outbuildings. Total Personnel: 603. Injury: 1. “Johnson Fire (35, 451 acres, 74% contained) Close monitoring of active fire along Johnson Fire’s southern flank. Control actions may need to be taken to ensure containment ” (More info here.) Telephone number for the public information officer is 707-574-6865.
South Complex (north and west of Hyampom):(Current as of 7:15 p.m.) 28,916 acres burned and 65% containment. Personnel: 618. Injuries: 3. “The fire is predicted to make a slow backing towards Hayfork Creek.” (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 11:31 a.m.: Today’s statewide fire summary can be found here.

UPDATE 8:11 p.m.: Gov. Brown Issues Emergency Order to Help Lake and Trinity Counties: Click here to read it.

UPDATE 8:13 p.m.:

Fire complexes in NW Calif approaching a quarter million acres; firefighters continue to make progress #cawildfires pic.twitter.com/3hnzYzXjKQ

— USFS Fire-California (@R5_Fire_News) August 28, 2015