Evacuation Orders Downgraded for Hopkins Fire, Some Progress Made, and Firefighters Say, ‘We Feel Loved, But, Please, No More Food’
According to a press release by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office,
Due to positive developments in fire behavior and the hard work of firefighters from Humboldt County and beyond, the Evacuation Order for the following areas has been downgraded to an evacuation warning: communities south of Highway 36 to Casterlin Road, not including all properties on Casterlin Road. Residents who live in this area may begin to return home via Highway 36 to Alderpoint Road only, but should remain ready to evacuate again at a moment’s notice.
All properties on Casterlin Road and south to the county line remain under an evacuation order. (See below for entire press release. See here for map of evacuation areas.)
In addition, Ward reiterated his statement this morning that more resources are coming to the area to fight the fire. “Tomorrow, we’re putting up a camp at Eel River Conservation Camp,” he told us. “People will start to see lots more equipment and folks who are not local folks.”
Ward thanked the community for their generous donations of food. “We really appreciate that people are thinking of us,” he said. However, he explained that firefighters have been given too much. “Alderpoint Store loaded up the station up there,” he told us. “Kettenpom Store fed others…We’re loaded to the gills.”
He said they didn’t have any more places to refrigerate items. “It’s just going to go to waste,” he worried.
“The positive thoughts that go with the food are wonderful, heartwarming,” he explained and the firefighters are grateful. But, now that they have so many food donations and the supply lines are in place to bring more, he suggested that another way to show appreciation is to donate to the local volunteer fire departments or even join up. “They are struggling,” he said.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
Due to positive developments in fire behavior and the hard work of firefighters from Humboldt County and beyond, the Evacuation Order for the following areas has been downgraded to an evacuation warning: communities south of Highway 36 to Casterlin Road, not including all properties on Casterlin Road. Residents who live in this area may begin to return home via Highway 36 to Alderpoint Road only, but should remain ready to evacuate again at a moment’s notice.
All properties on Casterlin Road and south to the county line remain under an evacuation order.
Please visit humboldtgov.org/evacmap for the latest evacuation map.
CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES
- Alderpoint Road at Fort Seward Road
- Alderpoint Road at Dyerville Loop Road
- Bell Springs Road
SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS
Humboldt County residents are encouraged to sign up for Humboldt Alert to receive local emergency notifications, including information regarding evacuations and emergency sheltering in the event of a wildfire or other emergency incident. Residents can sign up by going to: humboldtgov.org/alerts
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information regarding the Hopkins Fire, current impact and evacuation areas, please go to humboldtsheriff.org and visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter, or call 707-268-2500.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
All the extra food could go to the displaced people in the shelters if firefighters don’t need it right now .
That’s a very good idea.
YES! Not to sound spoiled and bougie, but as an evacuee I was a bit underwhelmed by the lunch offered (half-burnt/half-raw krinkle-cut fries, as a vegetarian [don’t hate] I missed out on the hot dog) and thought, wow! I’m greatful. . . aaand I wonder how I could help these people help these people with more nourishing nourishment!?
If would be best to take the food to the emergency services stations where it is needed.firefighters are too busy to figure out what and where to ditribute the pies and casserole made by resident.
I was never able to eat all the food provided in my fire lunches that day. It’s all you can eat for breakfast and dinner in fire camp, and the bag lunches are about 3000 calories. I would save things like clif bars and jerky to eat in the winter, and everything else I would leave on top of the newspaper stand at Shop Smart. That bag never lasted long there. The regulars on the front porch learned pretty quickly to check there during local fires.
The only time the firefighters might need extra food is at the very beginning of a spate of fires, before the support networks get up and running.
In ’03 I went to San Diego to work on the Cedar fire (the largest in California history until the Mendocino Complex a couple of years ago) and in fire camp there was a pile of donations with things like deodorant. I thought, that’s the last thing we need; everybody just smells like smoke and that’s that. I did pick up a cot there, though, which beat sleeping on the ground.
It’s great to get personal, incomes perspectives. Thank you
It would be great if there were a list of volunteer fire stations with addresses for donations. I contacted Arcata fire and hope to hear from them soon.
You’ll have to scroll through this to get their phone numbers and email addresses https://humboldtgov.org/DocumentCenter/View/83575/2018-Annual-Fire-Chiefs-Report_FINAL
But here’s a fairly comprehensive list:
Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Associations (PDF)
Humboldt County Fire Chiefs’ Association
Southern Humboldt Fire Chiefs’ Association
Eel River Valley Fire Chiefs’ Association
Humboldt County Supervisorial District 1 (PDF)
Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department
Honeydew Volunteer Fire Company
Loleta Volunteer Fire Department
Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department
Redcrest Volunteer Fire Company
Scotia Volunteer Fire Company
Humboldt County Supervisorial District 2 (PDF)
Alderpoint Volunteer Fire Company
Briceland Volunteer Fire Department
Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department
Carlotta Volunteer Fire Department
Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department
Fruitland Ridge Volunteer Fire Dept.
Garberville Volunteer Fire Department
Miranda Volunteer Fire Department
Myers Flat Volunteer Fire Department
Palo Verde Volunteer Fire Company
Phillipsville Volunteer Fire Company
Redway Volunteer Fire Department
Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department
Salmon Creek Volunteer Fire Company
Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department
Sprowel Creek Volunteer Fire Company
Telegraph Ridge Volunteer Fire Dept.
Whale Gulch Volunteer Fire Company
Whitethorn Volunteer Fire Department
Humboldt County Supervisorial District 3 (PDF)
Arcata Fire Protection District
Blue Lake Volunteer Fire Department
Kneeland Volunteer Fire Department
Humboldt County Supervisorial District 4 (PDF)
Humboldt Bay Fire
Samoa Peninsula Volunteer Fire Dept.
Humboldt County Supervisorial District 5 (PDF)
Fieldbrook Volunteer Fire Department
Hoopa Wildland Fire Department
Hoopa Volunteer Fire Company
Orick Volunteer Fire Department
Orleans Volunteer Fire Company
Trinidad Battalion CSA #4 (Amador Program)
Trinidad Volunteer Fire Department
Westhaven Volunteer Fire Company
Willow Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Yurok Volunteer Fire Company
County, State, and Federal Fire Services (PDF)
Arcata/Eureka Airport Fire Hall
CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit
Six Rivers National Forest
Emergency Medical Services, Technical Rescue & Disaster Response Groups (PDF)
Eel River Valley Technical Rescue Team
Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team
Humboldt Urban Search and Rescue
Hazardous Materials Response Team
North Coast Emergency Medical Services
https://humboldtgov.org/Archive.aspx?ADID=1401
Hawkins Bar Volunteer Fire Department
https://www.firedepartment.net/directory/california/trinity-county/hawkins-bar/hawkins-bar-volunteer-fire-department
Please add Southern Trinity Volunteer Fire Dept.
Thank you!
Peggy, those are the Humboldt ones. If I could find a similar list for the surrounding counties (hint hint for those of you who would like to help) I would totally post it.
A very kind reader made a list of all the SoHum Fire Departments and their addresses for those of you moved to donate.
ALDERPOINT FIRE
POB 164
ALDERPOINT, 95511
BRICELAND FIRE
POB 1249
REDWAY, 95560.
BRIDGEVILLE FIRE
P.O. Box 4
Bridgeville, CA 95526
CARLOTTA FIRE
PO Box 33
Carlotta, CA 95528
FORTUNA FIRE
320 S. Fortuna Blvd.
Fortuna, CA 95540
FRUITLAND RIDGE FIRE
POB 87
Myers Flat 95554
GARBERVILLE FIRE
PO Box 288
Garberville, CA
MIRANDA FIRE
POB 160
Miranda, Ca 95560
MYERS FLAT FIRE
PO Box 131
Myers Flat, CA 95554
PALO VERDE FIRE
P O Box 1381,
Redway, Ca 95560,
PHILLIPSVILLE FIRE
PO Box 39
Phillipsville, CA 95559
REDWAY FIRE
PO Box 695
REDWAY, CA 95560
RIO DELL FIRE
50 West Center St.
Rio Dell, CA 95562
SALMON CREEK FIRE
PO Box 662
Miranda, CA 95553
SHELTER COVE FIRE
9126 Shelter Cove Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
SPROWEL CREEK FIRE
PO Box 2122
Redway, CA 95560
TELEGRAPH RIDGE FIRE
PO Box 1152
Redway, CA 95560
WHALE GULCH FIRE
76850B Usal Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
WHITETHORN FIRE
PO Box 485
Whitethorn, CA 95589
Trinity County:
Kettenpom Zenia Volunteer Fire Dept
Po Box 100
Zenia 95595
I’d say Kettenpom Fire was the hardest hit and some of their volunteers lost their residences.
I reached out to someone to find out if they could give me an address people could send checks to.
Kettenpom Zenia Volunteer Fire Dept Po Box 100 Zenia 95595
Thank you. I’ll add it to the list.
Double check PaloVerde address it is listed as same as Myers Flat Fire. That might not be correct.
Thank you. Fixed.
1 correction please, Palo Verde V F D’s address is P O Box 1381, Redway, Ca 95560, Thank you
Fixed
Thank you Kym for all your hard work and giving credit!
I would add Van Duzen since they are right there at the doorstep and STAR (Southern Trinity Area Rescue) are covering all the fire fighters backs!
Give me the link & I’ll donate.
Thank you Chuck for mention us out here .Yes STAR ambulance has been the medical coverage and transport for the Ruth area and on the front line with these firefighters since last Thursday. Also Southern trinity volunteers have been out there.And yes donations to either of these would be greatly appreciated since we both struggle to stay in operation for this community.
Please put addresses or another way to donate.
When they move to the Redway Camp, maybe non perishable foods can be accepted? Crackers, peanut butter, chips, cookies, candy bars, drinks?
Glad to see you aren’t suggesting any health food.
Instead of bitching about the ideas of others, why don’t you do something positive?
You could suggest healthy alternatives. You could also donate healthy food.
Does it feel good to food shame a good person?
When you come off a fire your not looking for tofu or celery……
When I first started working on fires in the early ’80’s, there would be tables in fire camp with cases of candy, and garbage cans full of soda cans and ice. Sometimes we would designate one guy on the crew as the Candy Man. We’d distribute his gear among the rest of us, and fill his pack with candy to distribute to the rest of us throughout the shift.
Somewhere in the early 2000’s, the “powers that be” figured out that loading us up with junk food was not the best way to either get the fire out quickly or preserve our health. I met my ex on the Yellowstone fire in ’88. It’s a bit of a story, but the main theme is that what we had in common from the get go was trying to find healthier food in camp.
There’s a balance out there, somewhere…
I was thinking of healthier versions of these… I shlda specified that. We evacuated Wednesday & all I wanted immediately after settling down was a peanut butter& jelly sandwich,( which I never eat in my normal life.)
I had just read that they are setting up at the Redway Camp & we can find out what can be accepted there. I remember a few years ago, Suzanne VanMeter was a food liaison to the fire crew there. She’s amazing!
Blessings to you. Evacuated yourself and still looking to help others. Love and respect. ❤👍❤
For sure: No, they cant. They have to be thrown away due to food handling laws. Please donate those to local volunteer departments instead of Calfire or USFS, who get all meals and snacks through fire caterers.
Thanks for the news, Kym. Always a joy that you are on the job!
“He said they didn’t have any more places to refrigerate items. “It’s just going to go to waste,” he worried.” Great choice of wording by the writer- tactful .
The government needs to send all the units from all the states around so they can help to stop those fires 🔥
We are only seeing “air quality unhealthy to very unhealthy “ do smth to prevent those problems this is every year ..
I’ve read and reread but still not clear if I can return to rancho via hwy36 does anyone know?
Rancho Sequoia is still under an evacuation order. You can’t go back to it.
Thank you kym more then once.
Hang in there, lady. Hugs to you during this really awful time.