The Saw Fire: Photos and a Summary of What We Know

Smoke billows over the hill as heavy equipment heads into the area to fight the Saw Fire. [Photo by a reader]

A helicopter carrying a “Bambi bucket” used to dip water from ponds and rivers climbs above the fire. [Photo by Kim Sallaway]

Law enforcement evacuated residents of Upper and Lower Sawmill Road. [Video by Bobby Kroeker]

Firefighters battled flames pouring out of a trailer during the Saw Fire. [Photo by Kim Sallaway]

Fire crews dumped red retardant on a greenhouse and a marijuana garden in an effort to keep the fire from destroying them. [Photo by Kim Sallaway]

The fire burned so hot that many trees flamed up.

The fire burned so hot that many trees flamed up. [Photo by Kim Sallaway]

By evening, the fire was 70% contained. [Panorama by Kim Sallaway]

According to Laura Coleman Cal Fire spokesperson, “CAL FIRE is working with CHP to get Alderpoint Road opened; CAL FIRE still has to remove hazard trees that are hanging over the road; we don’t have an estimate for time but hoping by midnight it will be opened to one way traffic.” (Note at 11 p.m.: The California Highway Patrol reports that they are “Experiencing issues with dangerous tree blocking rdwy.”

A Sikorsky S-64 with its 2,650 gallon tank and a draft hose that can fill the tank in under a minute heads to base as the sun sets behind the smoke. [Photo from a reader was taken on the Blocksburg Fire which is burning about 15 miles away as the crow flies.]

A firefighter's gear is ready to continue the battle.

A firefighter’s gear is ready to continue the battle. [Photo by Kim Sallaway: to see more of his photos of the Saw Fire click here]

UPDATE 8:36 a.m. Friday: The Saw Fire: This Morning’s Information

Earlier Chapter: Fire near Sawmill Road East of Garberville

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Lynn Harrington
Guest
Lynn Harrington
6 years ago

Excellent photos Kim

The Shaman
Guest
The Shaman
6 years ago

Oh save the garden, yeah smoke that retardant devils lettuce!🤔👽

god
Guest
god
6 years ago

bulgarian campfire

Mike
Guest
Mike
6 years ago

New strain. Red bud

Jah
Guest
Jah
6 years ago

Retardant Weed
Ha

Jah
Guest
Jah
6 years ago

Hey, let’s save that Environmentally destructive Marijuana grow by dumping thousands of gallons of Ammonia Phosphate, Sulfate Ions and Iron Oxide onto the top of it. 🇺🇸

Sadtruth
Guest
Sadtruth
6 years ago
Reply to  Jah

Humans are destructive, we exisit for the purpose of eating and breeding, if you dont like it , to bad you are human, accept it and move on

Buzzards nest
Guest
Buzzards nest
6 years ago
Reply to  Sadtruth

Nicely put

Phyllis
Guest
Phyllis
6 years ago

Saved the garden with retardant. Lol
If the grower has permits can they claim the loss?

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

Only if they bought insurance!!!

visitor
Guest
visitor
6 years ago
Reply to  Phyllis

Possibly, with good insurance or insurance from the party responsible for the fire.

PG&E (their insurer/s, actually) are paying off growers in Calaveras Co. for plants lost in the Butte Fire of 2015.

guest
Guest
guest
6 years ago

Let this be a lesson cover those puppies up if there’s a fire close and hopefully they make it through!! Haven’t heard of any home’s being lost good job fire fighter’s, hat’s off to you and thanks for all your hard work!

In the Ferndale Zone
Guest
In the Ferndale Zone
6 years ago

Fire retardant: providing a free foliar feeding of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Iron, all crucial elements for plant nutrition. Should be some interesting product this fall.

Lynn
Guest
Lynn
6 years ago

Didn’t open until 1:45 am got home a little after 2 am Sat and waited7 hours that was insane. Thankful we home Good night I want to thank all the firefighters and crew for all your help. God bless you our heroes..

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
6 years ago

Too many fires! Its a big weekend with lots of out of towners, and there is a chance of lightning also. Be carefull everyone!

Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
Guest
Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
6 years ago

Hope they saved the marijuana garden so the cops can arrest those lettuce heads later.

When will we be told if the fire was caused by marijuana?

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
6 years ago

Your kind of small minded naivety, stupidity, and hate tries and spread lies that marijuana was a brain in a frying pan making people lazy, sterile heroin junkies with man boobs. Your kind is on the way out, squashed by evolution and the realization that cannabis haters are damn fools with a useful pawn idiot agenda. Again, never use cannabis to treat the cancer that hateful people LIKE YOU always get.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
6 years ago

The fire was not “caused” by marijuana, but it is the reason for keeps starting these fires. It’s the only way to rid the earth if this scourge. His plan is to burn every last plant and clean the hills of the growers. Once this happens, we can build churches instead of greenhouses. We can heal as a community. Marijuana is the new plague. Combine marijuana with flat brim hats and Toyota’s and you have your self an epidemic of great proportions. Never has the earth been so sick. Never have we needed God so bad to save us. The devil sneaks into my mind telling me to take a puff. A oufg od the good stuff he says. But I must fight this temptation. I’m afraid my child will be born a spider if I ingest the devil’s weed. The whole world is falling apart all because if one plant……MARIJUANA!

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
6 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

The main thing that baffles and angers me about Christians is how they can understand so little about human nature that when, in their fervor to convert another person, they tell that person (as they inevitably do, in one way or another), ‘You’re bad, and wrong, and evil,’ they actually expect that person to agree with them. It pretty much guarantees that virtually the only people Christians can ever realistically hope to convert are those with tragically low self-esteem [edit].”
When did being a Christian meant being an intolerant, small minded, hateful bigot?

Buzzards nest
Guest
Buzzards nest
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Wow sparkels. Very well put indeed. Just tried to be converted awhile ago and that’s exactly how it went. I want a shirt that says “My God hates you”. Thatll shut those christians up

Bc
Guest
Bc
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

It’s so funny how they call it the devils weed, when in fact it is said that god gave mankind a plant to heal, feed, fuel, cloth, and save the land… for some reason they think it was corn… corn destroys the earth pollutes the air and you can’t wear it.. as far as food, for animals grain ( maybe). So to all you chumps out there, please read the book you so cherish and understand what you are reading before you go off looking like fools….

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

That’s why there are as many different denominations as there are mj strains. Each branch away with their own special strengths and weaknesses.
The retardant red strain pollutes the mind with vivid images of impurities. Much like the denominations whose minds are polluted with interpretations injected by loyalists to certain dictates.
Generalizing all mj strains as the retardant red strain, would be just as detrimental to all society as it would be to generalize all denominations as stubborn dictators.

Yes, Virginia, there is a good branch for every bad branch known to man.
Unless, of course, you remain a collectivist. Then it’s all one general brand of Santa Clause for all.

Red pill or Blue pill, it’s up to you.

itscrazy
Guest
itscrazy
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Christianity could be a good thing if Christians would actually practice it the way it suppose to be…non- judgmental, tolerant, forgiving, loving to all. God created marijuana to save us all from pharmaceuticals.

Jayded1
Guest
Jayded1
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

The answer would be, pretty much from the start of Christianity. The only Good thing that came out of it was Jesus, and he’s dead. So it should all be scrapped… all religion, its the evil root that breeds hate across the world not pot.

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

Since the crusades! Most people just never learned history

Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
Guest
Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
6 years ago
Reply to  Perspective

Marihuana use leads to unprotected, premarital sex and is responsible for over population.

Far too many resources are used to grow marihuana.

Marihuana users wage a relentless war on nature through deforestation, high water use, bill hat production uses child slave labor, and the list goes on.

Bc
Guest
Bc
6 years ago

Fire started from a horse trailer, quess you should read before you blame…. But that wouldn’t be you would it….

Someone who lives across from the fire
Guest
Someone who lives across from the fire
6 years ago

The fire was started by a woman with a horse trailer, supposedly it came off the ball and was dragging , which of course made Sparks.

The outrage is palpable. Palpate it
Guest
The outrage is palpable. Palpate it
6 years ago

So Horses have caused more fires this year than weed? Horses have also caused more injuries than weed. If we use the same logic as we apply to weed regulations, horses should be treated like crack or heroin. When will our communityWAKE UP and reject this scourge of horses. Horse people just drive big trucks up and down our roads. they remove prime ag from food production to grow hay for their hobby horses. It’s OVER here! time to move out before YOUR neighbors get horses too. I’ve heard even some of our County Supervisors’ family members have horses now!

Bc
Guest
Bc
6 years ago

All I can say is a big huge thank you cal fire and the volunteers for all you do.. Hot as hell and you give your time and energy to safe all you can….. THANKS…..

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
6 years ago

Smoke can ruin everything it infiltrates, especially at harvest time.

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
6 years ago

Those are non native trees in one photo.

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
6 years ago
Reply to  Silverlining

Non native to earth?

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
6 years ago
Reply to  Lone ranger

They are not specifically adapted to the area. I used to plant Monterrey Pine but they don’t naturally reproduce and die early.

Vonne
Guest
Vonne
6 years ago
Reply to  Silverlining

Cedars they were planted almost 40 years ago.

Silverlining
Guest
Silverlining
6 years ago
Reply to  Vonne

Cedars can work if they are reproducing.

Wow
Guest
Wow
6 years ago

Well, that garden will never burn, that’s for sure. But glad they are getting it contained. Do you think they did that on purpose or did they actually try to save it and missed?

Amanda
Guest
Amanda
6 years ago

If some people hate cultivating marijuana and think it’s so awful why don’t you move, or focus your energy on something else? This area is what it is.

Mariahgirl
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Amanda

We are actually trying to move but have not sold our house yet! Pot growers are not all inconsiderate but there are the ones that try to plant anywhere and won’t slow down when driving through neighborhoods.

spam
Guest
spam
6 years ago
Reply to  Mariahgirl

Sooooooo glad I’m outta there!!!

Pot, nothing but pot, and only pot at infintum…

Boring–and the *people* it attracts!

Shawn Cherry
Guest
Shawn Cherry
6 years ago

Red Dog is an old strain. [edit]

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
6 years ago
Reply to  Shawn Cherry

Proving ignorance is a prohibitionist’s life work. These blogs prove time and time again how STUPID they are. In reality, these are major SNOWFLAKES afraid of everything they don’t understand just like the peabrain right wingnut.

Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
Guest
Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
6 years ago
Reply to  Sparklemahn

How many wild trout will you destroy today pumping water to grow marihuana?

Marihuana eradication can make America great again.

Public education on the dangers and destruction of marihuana use is the first step in saving lives, communities, and the environment.

Bc
Guest
Bc
6 years ago

Or electricity, grapes,tourism , sewage treatment plants. Give me a break when they send 87 percent of the Eels water south…..

Mtn. Woman
Guest
Mtn. Woman
6 years ago

First of all you need to learn to spell marijuana. Second I have witnessed the amazing healing properties of marijuana. I my self am a user for my epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, anxiety, depression, & mental stability. Third how is eradication gonna make America great? Do you know how many people have died from marijuana use only no other substances? NONE!!! Maybe Trump supporters like you [edit] should [edit] be educated on the herb, medicine, that is naturally provided for healing the mind, body & soul by “your god”!

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Mtn. Woman

Actually, the word Marihuna is an accepted alternative spelling, or used to be at least I haven’t seen it used in a LOOONG time but AFAIK it’s still acceptable!!!

You got stuck in the wrong town then
Guest
You got stuck in the wrong town then
6 years ago

The Honeydew bridge may not be the best place for you. I’d recomend a bridge somewhere out a little East of Kansas City.

Four20
Guest
Four20
6 years ago

Great work firefighters but why waste retardant on a grow site? Why not dump it on a house to save?

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago

Thank you firefighters! You are the most incredible warriors on earth. Thank you.

Truth hurts
Guest
Truth hurts
6 years ago

There is zero use arguing with a pot head. First their reasoning is impaired and they don’t even know it. Then, using a drug where the primary effect is that it stops people stressing about stuff, pot use fixes little but leaves the user with a hugely exaggerated belief in its effectiveness for good. It’s not that they are ‘healed’ from most of their illnesses but that they stop worrying so much about them. Which could have happened without the pot but is nowhere near as easy.

And the self justification goes on and on. In their world, it is everyone else’s problem. Every issue is seen through the pot filter. If it threatens to impair their using, it is worth attacking. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t interest them.

At least you won’t be burdened with long, windy reasoning about the virtues of pot. Nope. That would take the ability to form a rational argument. You’ll just be treated to a series of four letter word juvenile insults because that is all they got.

Dan Fuller
Guest
Dan Fuller
6 years ago
Reply to  Truth hurts

Go back to your Cave, Troll & keep your “Alternative Facts”, about Cannabis use to yourself!!! No one here believes your “Facts”, CHUMP!!!

owyhee kid
Guest
owyhee kid
6 years ago
Reply to  Truth hurts

go take some meds

Brad
Guest
Brad
6 years ago

Thanks for the great photo coverage as always Kim Sallaway.

Save the Trees
Guest
Save the Trees
6 years ago

Saving the weed was a waste of good fire retardant that could have been used to save trees!!!!

Jason
Guest
Jason
6 years ago

The red stuff’s organic, right?

Crime stopper
Guest
Crime stopper
6 years ago

why no comments about the cattle truck driver WHO caused the fire? They’ll pay dearly for the cost of this fire.

Cathy brusseau
Guest
Cathy brusseau
6 years ago

I don’t live in Humboldt but just recently almost lost my house in northern Calif do to a mower creating a a spark after hitting covert pipe which engulfed 3 houses near mine and numerous vehicles and part of my property last Saturday. due to negligence of a neighbor. I grow 6 plants legally on my property for severe asthma and Barretts esophagus disorder which is in pre cancerous stage. The medication for it is far worse than marijuana and causes cancer quicker than what it is suppose to cure. Cal fire did their best to miss the plants with fire retardant as much as possible and save our house at the same time, I am forever grateful, for their compassion. I have about 3% flame retardant on plants and buds but can’t get any info on toxicity if any that the plants will impose if I smoke them. The leaves will be cut off then very little on buds. Would like to know if my hard work will be lost or if it is safe.