Fire Near Homeless Encampment North of Redway–PHOTOS

According to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Marty Hobbs, a fire which started just north of Redway is currently being mopped up. Hobbs said his unit will be there for hours as completely extinguishing fires in a redwood forest is a difficult task. This fire, Hobbs said, burned only about a quarter acre starting about a 100 yards west of Redwood Drive in a thickly wooded area. He said that the fire started in or near a homeless encampment which honeycombs the forest there.

Two inmate crews and a team leader (about 40 men altogether) are currently breaking up burning logs and digging through smoldering redwood duff to reach bare dirt. [These are the men in orange.]

Hobbs said that he expects to be there til 11 p.m. He might even have to leave an engine with a crew overnight.

Cal Fire had twelve pieces of equipment at this fire.

 

Cal Fire has been responding to multiple incidents today–including to a multi acre fire between Kneeland and Bridgeville, an accident on Hwy 36 and to the three Mendocino lightning fires west of Laytonville. [See here.] They are responding to two small fires at Stafford now as well.