Red Salmon Complex Now at 2,643 Acres With 0% Containment
Smoke billowing from the Red Fire on July 31. [Photo from InciWeb]
The Red Salmon Complex burning in the Six Rivers and Shasta Trinity national forest is 2,643 acres and 0% contained. Both fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain, with limited access. Air operations will continue to support crews on the ground with as visibility and smoke conditions allow. Today, crews will continue strengthening indirect line utilizing existing trail systems, roads, and ridgelines using minimum impact suppression tactics in the wilderness and working with resource advisors to avoid disturbance to cultural resources. An air quality monitoring specialist will continue to provide daily smoke forecasts and air quality information for the surrounding communities.
The Red Fire is 1,966 acres and 0% contained. Crews continued line reinforcement along the 10N01forest road and Lubb Trail progressing towards Black Mountain.
Firefighters will continue indirect line southeast down to Indian Rocks along Salmon Summit Ridge.The Salmon Fire is 677 acres and 0% contained. The fire is continuing to hold in previous fire scars but still has some potential for growth. Handcrews started direct attack operations on the south portion of the fire starting at Salmon Summit Ridge and scouting missions along Backbone Ridge to attempt containment and hold the fire where it currently sits. Crews began indirect line reinforcement along Backbone Ridge and will progress down to Pack Saddle Ridge and begin north towards Black Mountain to tie into the Red Fire.Helicopter fighting flames on the Red Fire on July 31. [Photo from InciWeb]
Weather: A high pressure system continues to sit atop the area, creating an inversion that will hamper ventilation of the smoke. The ridgeline line winds will be predominantly from of the northwest pushing smoke from the Red Fire to the Salmon. This weather will supply dry air conditions with poor humidity recovery as well as the possibility of smoke laying down over the fire area.
Closures: Big Rock River Access has been closed in the interest of public safety as it is being used as a dip site for helicopter operations in the fire suppression efforts on the Red Salmon Complex. —
Note: A new base camp for crews is being established in the town of Orleans for increased logistics on the incident…One historic cabin has been wrapped in preparation of fire
advancement.
The Red Fire on July 31. [Photo from InciWeb]
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This fire is turning out to be a nasty one. I hope all the ground firefighter’s, and aircraft pilots will be safe. Working that fire is about as close to hell as you can get.
Agreed!
The pictures in the article are great in that they show just how steep and rugged the terrain the firefighters are working in.
The good news, at least in the pictures I’ve seen, the fire is mostly on the ground. I sure hope thats the case cause that country is stunning and spectacular, much of it old growth, or mature second growth. Being an older forest should protect it too though these days that isn’t always the case as fires burn hotter and grow quicker than ever before.
Agreed, the fire looks plenty healthy. Of course, even healthy fires shouldn’t happen in July… Fires like these should be ‘managed’ not ‘fought’
Joe, how do you manage a fire that you cannot control?
I’ll keep to my max 10,000 acre size for now. It’ll burn until the rains and that’s 5 months away.
To be honest, this looks like a perfectly good fire to let run its course and do the ecological work fire normally does in that ecosystem. At least it would be in a normal, non-pandemic year. Typical WFU prescription for the wilderness fires that were naturally started is to watch them and maybe steer them a bit but don’t do a full suppression unless conditions are extreme (e.g. extended drought, huge fuel loads from bug kills, etc.).
That’s way over-simplified but in general we need to let fires that fit the guidelines burn to reduce fuel loads against future, larger fires. This year of course they are on a full-suppression on all fires to reduce the risk of them becoming large and requiring big fire camps where the virus could spread like, er, wildfire. Sorry
Is there smoke in Willow Creek?
Not yet but there’s about 100 fire personnel And 10 choppers posted up at the cement yard.
You’re talking sense Cy
I wish they would burn it in the fall when there’s no baby critters
🕯🌳I pray for the safety of the firefighters and those involved in fighting these fires in Humboldt. 👨🚒🇺🇸
This AM update.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6891/