[UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: Voluntary Evacuations] Fire Reported in Southeastern Humboldt County

vegetation fire iconAt approximately 2 p.m., a fire was reported in the 2200 block of Miller Ranch Road in southeastern Humboldt. This is southwest of the New Harris store and roughly ten miles east of Richardson Grove.

Fire engines are responding to the area.

UPDATE 2:32 p.m.: Reportedly the fire is 10 acres now and burning into timber. Air attack is saying it could get to 100 acres.

UPDATE 3:14 p.m.: The fire is now at 75 acres, according to scanner reports.

UPDATE 4:42 p.m.: According to the Northern California Geographic Area Coordination Center, “Miller fire, 75 acres grass, brush, timber, 0% contained. Moderate rate of spread. Structures threatened. Evacuations in progress.”

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.: Cal Fire tweeted, “#MillerFire…off Miller Ranch Rd & Bell Springs Rd, 10 miles NE Leggett (Humboldt County) Is now 90 acres.

UPDATE 6:07 p.m.: According to Cal Fire, the fire is 10% contained and the forward spread has stopped. Voluntary Evacuations are in place for Miller Ranch Road. That means: “You are strongly urged to leave the area. If you choose to remain, you should be prepared to take action immediately if the danger approaches.”

Multiple resources have been assigned. This includes Cal Fire Aircraft, Equipment, Crews, and Overhead as well as  Local Government Engines and Water Tenders;. There are approximately 150 people on the incident.

“Cal Fire engines are responding from as far as Marin and Santa Barbara…[A] small base camp [is] being set up to support incident personnel…[A]aircraft (Air Attack and Helicopters)[are] still flying the incident but air tankers have been released.

Miller Fire 8/31/17

The Miller Fire [Photo provided by Cal Fire]

UPDATE 6:34 p.m.: The weather is not cooperating. Harris is under a Red Flag Warning all night which indicates fire danger is high. In additon, NOAA states,

High pressure building in will bring drying offshore winds
tonight, followed by an extended period of very hot and dry
conditions. Gusty east winds will increase this evening and
continue through the night at high elevations, and poor overnight
recoveries can be expected. Winds will weaken during the day
Friday, but critically hot and dry conditions will continue
through at least Monday morning. While winds Friday through Sunday night are expected to be mostly weak, periods of critical fire weather will be possible given the extreme dryness expected.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: All Aircraft is being released off the Miller Fire, according to scanner traffic.

Photos of the Miller Ranch Road Fire by Tim Tietz:
Miller Fire 8/31/17 by Tim Tietz

Miller Fire 8/31/17 by Tim Tietz
UPDATE Friday: Miller Creek and Spy Rock Fires: Updates in Words and Photos

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51 Comments
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Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
6 years ago

Is there a firebug running around?

Anon
Guest
Anon
6 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

No the world is just pissed off at humanity. :p

Boudreaux
Guest
Boudreaux
6 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Car fire.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
6 years ago
Reply to  Boudreaux

Thanks.

Lives on miller ranch road
Guest
Lives on miller ranch road
6 years ago
Reply to  Boudreaux

NOT a car fire. Don’t just run your mouth.

Hmmmm
Guest
Hmmmm
6 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Its called poor land and forest management practices combined with extreme weather due to ocean temp rising, ice plates cracking&melting and fires in peat moss in greenland.
Who cares anymore why or who, lets just be real with whats happening. You can recreate the effects in a lab, its not hooey, simple reaction to an action.

Loren
Guest
Loren
6 years ago
Reply to  Hmmmm

WHAT? Peat Moss in Greenland caused the Miller Ranch Fire??? What Planet are you from?
You been smoking the wrong stuff

lookout
Guest
lookout
6 years ago

Wildfire can start VERY easily with heat waves like this & low humidities (16% RH at my place)…
Have an escape plan

Life time local
Guest
Life time local
6 years ago

There are a couple planes a couple helicopters the local Palo Verde volunteer and cal fire. Hope it gets put out soon. Thank you and good luck fire fighters.

Lives on miller ranch road
Guest
Lives on miller ranch road
6 years ago

Should I be evacuating?

Kathy
Guest
Kathy
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Is there any chance of 101 closing?

Liz
Guest
Liz
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I think Kathy was asking about this… From the Mendo Voice… UPDATED 4:30pm 8/31/17 — A vehicle fire is being reported on northbound Highway 101 and West Road near Redwood Valley. Northbound lanes may be shut down. Scanner traffic indicates it is a blue Ford sedan that is now fully engulfed. Cal Fire is responding and trying to contain the blaze so it does not spread to nearby vegetation, according the the CHP incident page. It is unclear if there are any injuries involved at this time.

Scanner traffic indicates that some vehicles are turning around on the highway to avoid being stuck in traffic as northbound lanes of Highway 101 may be closed. Please be patient as emergency responders are also waiting in traffic attempting to reach the scene, according to the scanner.

Lives on miller ranch road
Guest
Lives on miller ranch road
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Thank you for staying on it. Lots of people in the triple-digit block of Miller Ranch rd., and I’m watching ashes fall in front of my face wondering if I should’ve left already.
I’ll be watching your updates

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
6 years ago

Evacuate to the top of the road at bell springs, if you don’t need to evacuate, then they’ll let you back in. Grab animals and come out.

Local gal
Guest
Local gal
6 years ago

There’s a cal fire gal at the top of Miller ranch rd. She might have more info for you. I was just there. Good luck

Life time local
Guest
Life time local
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I drove by the entrance and fundraise for the fire department, I stopped and spoke with people. . Miller ranch road is suppose to be eveacuated. If that person is still home on miller ranch road go to the top lots of people will be there!

Life time local
Guest
Life time local
6 years ago

Yes miller ranch Rd is all suppose to be evacuated !
That is only common sense. It is not mandatory yet but fires can move a lot quickly in areas like this. Be careful!

Cindy miller
Guest
Cindy miller
6 years ago

I’m at Richardsons Grove now. From Rio Dell south, the smoke is terrible. The wind is starting up. Hope they get the out soon.

Charbead
Guest
Charbead
6 years ago

STOP THROWING CIGARETTES OUT OF CAR WINDOWS!!!

Dj Sticky
Guest
Dj Sticky
6 years ago
Reply to  Charbead

Not what happened

ED Denson
Guest
ED Denson
6 years ago

I’ve got friends in the area who are packing for evacuation. I estimate they are within a mile of the fire, and with a bit of wind a mile is not a long way. I don’t think there is more than 1 way in and out on Miller Ranch Road so anyone else down there might want to start packing too. Don’t get cut off.

Eel River
Guest
Eel River
6 years ago

Do we know which specific areas are preparing for evacuation? Thanks.

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
6 years ago
Reply to  Eel River

Just Miller Ranch Rd

The Colstons
Guest
The Colstons
6 years ago

The county computer called and put us on standby alert for evacuation. I live at the back of Rancho Palo Verde. If I lived on Miller Creek road I would consider packing up the dogs. I have a bag packed every summer. I have fought fire on my land…not by my mistake…3 x. 2 times on my birthday. It is the hottest month. Pack that bag, turn that truck around, open that gate.

The Colstons
Guest
The Colstons
6 years ago
Reply to  The Colstons

Figured that was the case. Im ready anyway cause I hate movin fast. Nontheless your words are reassuring.

Skippy
Guest
Skippy
6 years ago

Keep us posted Kym. I live lower benbow near Richardson grove, area.
Smoky here.

Alex MACEDO
Guest
Alex MACEDO
6 years ago

Did marijuana farms burn????

SoHumMountainRanger
Guest
SoHumMountainRanger
6 years ago

Do we know anything now?

Mark switzer
Guest
Mark switzer
6 years ago

Thank you to Alderpoint fire department for getting there so quick and taking the lead.
You guys rock.
Thank you to Palo Verde and all the volunteers that helped put out the spot fires
That was a very difficult spot to defend and it definitely would of jumped without the help of all the volunteers
Y’all rock
And cal fire
Y’all kick ass too

LivesThereToo
Guest
LivesThereToo
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark switzer

Thank you, Mark! Love you guys! Is it mostly contained?

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
6 years ago
Reply to  LivesThereToo

Pretty well contained, hopefully it won’t be a problem at all today, they released us (Palo Verde Volunteers) around 9pm last night along with most of the crews that were there. The amazing convict crew stayed on to do mop up along with probably Cal fire and one of our water tenders as well.
Thanks so much for all the amazing resources and humans that responded!

Bc
Guest
Bc
6 years ago
Reply to  Sarah

Nice, thanks for the update… fire fighters rock, great job all…

Tator tot
Guest
Tator tot
6 years ago

Thank you heroes, fight fighters our angels

Mike
Guest
Mike
6 years ago

Of course thank you to the fire fighters from every agency and volunteers, but thank you Kym for your reporting. I have property very, very, close by and it took us several hours to get there to check on it. The whole drive, when we had cell service, we tried the cal fire website and their phone number for info but we did not get anywhere. I would just like to say thank you. I read your site everyday but today you made a difference in my life and I appreciate it greatly. Thank you

So. Hum. Yo!
Guest
So. Hum. Yo!
6 years ago

Where is Miller ranch road?
My son is up there and I’m worried!
Is the fire past island mountain rd. turnoff on bell springs going south?

Nice Marmot
Guest
Nice Marmot
6 years ago
Reply to  So. Hum. Yo!

No Miller r\Ranch road is a couple miles north (before) of the IM turnoff going south. You may be thinking of Mill stead Rd,

LookinDeeper
Guest
LookinDeeper
6 years ago
Reply to  So. Hum. Yo!

No, miller is before Island Mtn going S

Anna Navarro
Guest
Anna Navarro
6 years ago

Anyone know how contained it is now?

Benbow
Guest
Benbow
6 years ago

Any updates this am? Appreciate you, Kym!!

Jefferson Parson
Guest
Jefferson Parson
6 years ago

Thanks so much to all the brave fire-fighters and home defenders, especially the Palo Verde crew that I belonged to and fought fires with as long ago as 1984! And special thanks to Kym, who puts out this invaluable news service that gave great comfort to this worried father, whose beloved daughter is living within a mile of the blaze!

Jefferson Parson
Guest
Jefferson Parson
6 years ago

Are you waiting for me to “moderate” my comment, or are you “awaiting moderation” by someone else? Please explain. There’s no need to publish my query.

Brandi
Guest
Brandi
6 years ago

No more updates? I saw quite a few fire trucks headed back up the hill while I was on my way to take my kiddo to school.

Visitor
Guest
Visitor
6 years ago

Is the miller fire out now

Someone who knows
Guest
Someone who knows
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I heard from someone on the Miller fire that it started in one of the upper buildings at 2222 Miller ranch rd. Those 2 buildings are a 2 story indoor and a barn that housed a giant diesel generator. Who is responsible for this fire? Who was running that indoor? Who was staying at that property? And who owns it right now?