[UPDATE Thursday Morning] Hwy 299 Closed at Helena Due to Fire
A wildfire began burning near Helena about 5:11 p.m. The fire is reported to be between 100 and 200 acres and threatening structures. Hwy 299 has been closed at Helena. Caltrans recommends that drivers take an alternate route.
Trinity County Sheriff’s Office reports that the fire has reached Red Hill Road.
More resources, helicopters and ground crews, have been requested.
UPDATE 7 p.m.: According to the CHP Traffic Incident Information Page, Hwy 299 will “most likely” be closed overnight. In addition, residents are being evacuated.
UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: 299 is closed on the east side at Junction City at Dutch Creek Road. We’re still trying to determine where the west side closure of 299 is located.
UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: The latest report is for 200 acres and rapid rate of spread. Fire is in Cooper Bar Estates. There are many spot fires with one engine trying to do what they can.
UPDATE 7:15 p.m.: According to a person listening to the local scanner, “It’s getting ugly…an engine is in trouble asking for help and TCSO say they got 911 3 people trapped in a house with fire around it.”
UPDATE 7:20 p.m.: Inciweb is reporting: “The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for residents of Junction City.” Inciweb also states, “It is burning along highway 299 and is currently burning on both sides of the Trinity River. It is currently under 300 acres with zero percent containment.”
UPDATE 7:34 p.m.: According to a person listening to the Trinity County scanner, “One engine just had to cut and run, and TCSO is asking for ems [Emergency Medical Services] and fire for some people who had to bail off hwy and are in path of fire.
UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: Inciweb is reporting, “SR 299W is closed east of Junction City (near PM 45) and west of Helena Bridge….Several structures are threatened.”
UPDATE 8:34 p.m.: Inciweb also states, “An evacuation center is being established at the First Baptist Church in Weaverville located at 1261 Main Street.”
UPDATE 8:39 p.m.: According to our reader who is listening to the scanner, “[The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office] is working hard to get people out…some won’t go. It’s across canyon creek rd [and] running.”
UPDATE 10:12 p.m.: Video by Laurie Haney taken at the Helena Bridge about 9 p.m.
UPDATE 10:20 p.m.: Here’s a story of how a 17-Year-Old Mendocino Girl and Friends Fled the Helena Fire in Trinity County.
UPDATE 10:25 p.m.: Inciweb is reporting that the fire is about 500 acres now.
UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: According to KRCR TV, “An animal shelter has been created at Trinity High School located at 321 Victory Lane, Weaverville. For more information call 626-6127.”
UPDATE Thursday morning: Read the latest information by clicking this link: Hwy 299 Still Closed After 5000 Acre Wildfire Burned Homes and Sent Residents Fleeing
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Do we know the evacuation areas?
not yet
The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for residents of Junction City and Helena. An evacuation center is being established at the First Baptist Church in Weaverville located at 1261 Main Street.
Basic Information
Current as of 8/30/2017, 7:24:01 PM
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Wednesday August 30th, 2017 approx. 05:15 PM
Location Helena, CA
Incident Commander Jim Yacoub
Current Situation
Total Personnel 100
Size 300 Acres
Fuels Involved
grass, timber
Significant Events
Currently on Scene:
9 Engines
2 Crews
2 Water Tenders
2 Hotshot Crews
Aircraft including Air Attack, Air Tankers, and Helicopters are on order.
Current Weather
Weather Concerns
Temperatures at or near 100 degrees for the next couple days. Winds are expected to be 5-10 mph from the west eventually switching to the northeast over the next 36 hours.
UNIT INFORMATION
USFS Shield
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
3644 Avtech Parkway Redding California 96002
Redding, CA 96002
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INCIDENT CONTACTS
Carol Underhill, Public Affairs Specialist
Phone: 530 628-0039
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Thank you very much Krysty.
Does anyone know how far the fire has gone up canyon creek road
Evacuation Center is at First Baptist Church. 1261 Main Street in Weaverville, they are the official Red Cross evacuation center. Others are gathering at Grange Hall in Juction City (unofficial center at this time, but used in past as command post on other fires).
Yes Junction city & Helena . Evacuations to Weaverville
If anyone knows if the fire is headed south or north, please do tell.
Evacuations in Junction City.
East and South–winds are fairly strong and blowing to the east. Folks are getting ash fall in Weaverville and Lewiston.
It’s staying along hwy headed up Oregon Mtn I believe . I’m getting ash fallout out here in Lewi
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5564/
Helena Fire
wind is starting to shift now with sun going down seeing smoke around Douglas city from this fire.
My sisters home is in Cooper Bar Estates. Any more info from scanners?
Very close to the fire from what little info is out
The fire at Lime Point jumped the river. Cooper Bar Estates has been evacuated.
Dry grass… and massive quantities of Poison Oak !
And star thistle.
Have not heard of homes burned in coopers bar yet. Things are happening so fast
a friend was evacuated at bottom of Red Hill and the house across the street was on fire. Fire truck there had to pull out. (Second hand). Looking for news on my Grandma’s house…..fire station 2 is in her driveway on Red Hill
Holy Crap.
Husband’s sister and bro in law just got mandatorily evac-ed. They already lost a everything in the 1990 Lewiston ” controlled burn ” on July 4th weekend, 1999……110 degrees, 40 mph winds, Cal Fire wouldn’t even sign off on it. Infamous, the Lowden Fire………23 homes burned down in ONE hour, a 10 yr old would know NOT to light a match on that day. We watched it from Gibson Peak in the TA Wilderness w our backpacks. hubby said ” that looks like Lewiston” , I said ” well should we hike out ? Mom lives there, not to mention your sister” and He said ” hell no, it’s too late” .
He was right………..
Doing Evacs powerhouse Rd and canyon creek rd fire is above housed on Upper rd It now spotted across canyon creek rd about 3 miles up
Thank you for posting.
Go go fire teams good luck and god speed.
Yes 💜
Please keep us posted on anything you hear concerning Coopers Bar. Appreciate it very much!!
Is this fire moving up Oregon Mountain into Weaverville?
Does anybody have any news about fire Station #2 in Coopers Bar? That is my Grandma’s drive way!!!! She is NOT there. She is in Redding
It was standing when I drove by an hour ago.
Thank you
It will be tomorrow before anyone will be able to see how many homes where lost or damaged, strike teams are just starting to get here, and TCSO is trying to get folks out some refuse to go
We just left the canyon Creek lake. a couple will stay upper waterfall overnight. I kinda worries about their safety.
They’ll be fine that far up canyon creek assuming they are setup to wait out a few days. If not thay’ll have to hike out east to the Stuart Fork TH.
Thanks!
Sure. I did hear on the scanner that they are sending someone up to notify backpackers… I don’t have details. I assume it is all the affected TH’s.
“10:24 AM 101 [192] A90-011 105/ TRI SO HAD RES HELNEA EAST FORK COME THRU WAS UNAWARE / REQ SO UNIT GO TO THAT ROAD AND INFORM BACKPACKERS”
My family lives on Lake Road in Junction City. How close is the fire to them?
Extremely close. Mandatory evacuations in place.
Does anyone have a link to a online fire scanner
There isn’t one for Trinity county.
Praying for all my family there and their homes
My kids Grandpa lives in Junction City at the Bigfoot trailer park…. Phone’s are down and unfortunately he does not have a cell. Praying everyone is safe!
I’m traveling to Willow Creek from Redding. Actually coming from Los Angeles, can anyone tell me if I’m going to be able to get through? Please and TIA.
You will not get through highway 299, it is closed.
Nope. 299 closed
Not on Hwy 299. It is closed west of Weaverville.
If you get on 101 at some point you can take the west end of 299 to Willow Creek. If you are on I-5, go west on Hwy 20 or Hwy 36. Hwy 20 is easier.
Ok. Thank you so very much. I’m on my way home. It’s been a year and a half and I am on my way up now. So thank goodness for the alternate routes.
be aware that hwy 36 is closed from 8am-12 and 1-5pm monday thru friday between dinsmore and bridgeville.. safe travels
I live by manton below mt lassen and I saw the fire on top of our ridge –it looked massive and that was when it just broke out —I determined from what I saw it had to be around weaverville —I was all the way on the other side of the valley near shingletown and viola —it looked massive then —this was just before sunset
No 299W closed
Thank for the info as always Kym 💖
299 is closed they won’t even let media in
Thank you so much for the info. I appreciate it. Prayers to all of the families in the path of this horrific fire. Heartbreaking. Most definitely devastating. Please keep us all updated.
Hi, my deaf 55 year old brother lives at 221 Bear Springs Rd. near Lake Road and I don’t believe he evacuated early. I have called the Sherrif’s Office but they’re not sure they can get there now. Has anyone seen the condition of Bear Springs Road? His name is Ken Locke. Thank you.
I’ve heard my brother is okay and there are only “two houses left standing” near them.
So good.
1500 acres now, evacuating from Helena to the top of Oregon mtn. Including Canyon creek. If you know people there, they need to leave now and not wait!!
Any more new news on the fire?
does anyone have an update on the Fire? We are at the Evac Center and want to know when we can go home.
Son is a CHP in Weaverville. Has friends up on Canyon Creek. Can’t contact him, he’s kinda busy now. Any updates since last night?
Any new news about what the winds did last night.. My family is on Canyon creek at power house road bend. Can anyone tell us if the homes are gone. I was told valdor road is ash. Any confirmations would help easy hearts.
Local radio is reporting homes burned.
299 closed on west side at big flat
Any word on Bigfoot Campground west of Junction City?
Had reply from friends who live there said they are ok but lost everything.
OG Captain… Did you hear anything about Bigfoot Campground? Worried sick… and praying…
Not yet
My friend living on Acorn Lane was evacuated with only the clothes on her back her dog and the car she is driving.
Destroyed 🙁
We have a good friend living in our vacation home on Acorn Lane. She just texted us that the officials says there are no visible houses along the river. 3-4 day before anyone can get in to look. We’ve lost our house, our fishing boat, she’s lost everything… so very devastated.
I am so sorry…
So sorry to hear that.
Lots of homes and cabins. Praying.
What about Steel Bridge Rd area? Are they safe?
Steel Bridge is fine. I was there this morning.
Praying for my sister and her family. There home was a total loss
My grandma lives right around the corner from the Bigfoot campground and I haven’t heard from her since roughly 8am this morning… at that point she was just waiting for evacuation … I’m praying
I’m praying for all of you. God Bless you all
Does anyone know if there is risk of it heading towards burnt ranch? I hope everyone is safe.
My son in law is a firefighter. He was in Nevada City on another fire and his engine just got pulled to head to Weaverville. MORE HELP IS ON THEIR WAY!!! Sending prayers for safety to all!
I have a friend who lives in River acre’s does anyone have any information on that area?
There are only 3 houses left on river acres from what we’ve heard. Who’s your friend?
Has Mad River been evacuated? Please let us know
Do they know yet what caused this fire yet?
It’s been several days since Cooper’s Bar evacuation, does anyone have details regarding damages/losses? I can’t find any assessment results regarding my neighborhood. (I’m out of the area)