[UPDATE 5:44 p.m.: New Evacuation Orders and Warnings in Trinity County] Firefighters Are Still Keeping the Hopkins Fire Out of Humboldt County
Posted 11:22 a.m.
Firefighters kept the Hopkins Fire east of the Main Stem of the Eel River and out of Humboldt County again last night.The fire has once again had a name change. It is now being called the August Complex West Zone, but is still grouped with the August Complex as part of the largest fire in California history.
We’ll update here as needed.
UPDATE 4:26 p.m.: New evacuation orders and warnings for Trinity County. Click here for the full details: Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Increases Evacuation Orders and Warnings
UPDATE 5:44 p.m.: The Shasta Trinity National Forest requested a strike team, 3576c, to the Ruth Guard Station about an hour ago. This was reported as an immediate need.
The Plan:
Firefighters will be strengthening structure defense for the Hettenshaw Valley, the Kettenpom Valley, and Ruth areas.
The Weather:
Smoke will help keep the temperatures down into the low seventies in the higher elevations to the low eighties in the lower elevations. Smoke will likely be lighter today and there will be better visibility than yesterday. Expect some wind with light gusts up to 10 mph. Moister air will help firefighters.
The Roads:
Here is the latest information: Information on Highways Closed Due to Fires
The Maps:
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- Public Information Map-Zoom or click on the map for more detail.
- Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.
- KMZ Map–Zoom for detail or for 3D imagery, click on the map and download a file that connects with your Google Earth program.
- Humboldt County’s Interactive map
- Mendocino County’s Interactive map
Evacuation Area information:
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- Trinity County: The following areas: Zenia, Kettenpom, Hettenshaw Valley, and Ruth.
- Mendocino County: See map
- Humboldt County: See interactive map
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USEFUL Information:
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- Evacuation to here for animals Humboldt: “If you have a need to evacuate animals please contact the Humboldt County Fairgrounds to arrange for drop off. HCF is also arranging for trailers if needed to transport animals. Please call 707-496-8841.”
- Evacuations for animals Mendocino:
- The Laytonville rodeo grounds are open for livestock. They are located at Harwood Road Laytonville, call ahead at 707-984-8100
- Covelo Rodeo Grounds for small/large animals/livestock (77286 Covelo Road)
- Evacuation place for Trinity residents: Humboldt Fairgrounds in Ferndale.
- Evacuation place for Humboldt residents:
- The Mateel Community Center located at 59 Rusk Lane will be open as an evacuation shelter this Wednesday afternoon and as needed. “Small pets are welcome with leashes outside the hall, no pets are allowed inside the hall due to potential allergy reactions for some individuals. For more information about the ongoing fire evacuation center located at the Mateel visit mateel.org.
- As of noon Wednesday, the Humboldt County Fairgrounds has been designated as an Office of Emergency Services County-wide Evacuation Center for both human and livestock fire evacuees. Because of COVID, human evacuees need to have trailers and RV’s and/or tent campers. See more here.
- Redwood Acres is preparing to take in fire evacuees, both livestock and those who have an RV or are willing to camp. There is a chance that the Red Cross may want to set up a station.
- Fire Evacuation Information Line at 707-268-2500 for questions regarding current county evacuations and resources.
- Evacuation place for Mendocino Residents-
- Covelo High School for people (76280 High School Street)
- The Laytonville rodeo grounds are open for livestock. They are located at Harwood Road Laytonville, call ahead at 707-984-8100 Harwood Hall is also open for residents feeling the Hopkins fire. They are located 44400 Willis Ave, Laytonville
- You can listen to Trinity County Scanner by clicking here Trinity County Public Safety
- You can listen to Southern Humboldt County Scanner by clicking here Humboldt County Law, Fire and EMS – Eureka and South
- You can listen to Mendocino County Scanner by clicking here Mendocino County Sheriff, Fire, EMS, Cal Fire and CHP
- Good fire and smoke info here: Click here. (Please remember the info here isn’t always up to date. If you are given an evacuation order, leave–no matter what this says.)
- Good Social Media Site–FIRE EVACUEE INFO – Humboldt/Northern Mendo/Trinity Fires: Click here
- Water Station Open for Fire Evacuees at Rio Dell City Hall
- The Humboldt Transit Authority is currently offering regular services to Southern Humboldt County.
- Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
- Number to call for information on evacuation in Humboldt County=707-268-2500
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How You Can Help:
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- GoFundMe for Trinity County’s Southern Trinity VFD. Click here.
- If you would like to donate, the addresses for Southern Humboldt Fire Departments can be accessed by clicking here.
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Earlier Chapters:
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- Evacuation Warnings Sent to Southeastern Humboldt–Island Mountain, Palo Verde, Alderpoint, and Harris–as August Complex Spreads West
- Fire Forcing Evacuations in Three Forks, South of Ruth Lake
- Hopkins Fire in the August Complex Burning in Trinity County and Moving Towards Humboldt
- Elkhorn Fire (New Name for Fire Causing Evacuations in Trinity, Humboldt, and Mendocino) Slowed With Cooler Weather
- Wind Shift Helps Keep Fire East of the Main Stem of the Eel River This Afternoon But Drives ‘Erratic Fires’ in Zenia/ Kettenpom area
- Good News: Hopkins Fire–Still Holding East of the Main Eel River, Lots of New Resources on the Ground, and Rain Predicted Next Week
- Humboldt County Releases Cool New Map That Shows Fire, Evacuation Zones, Road Closures, and More
- Reinforcements Arriving! Firetrucks From Texas in SoHum
- Last Night, Firefighters Fought a Battle for the Community of Ruth as They Conducted a Firing Operation on the Hopkins Fire in the Massive August Complex
- Northern California Regional Evacuation Shelter established for wildfire evacuees
- Evacuation Orders Downgraded for Hopkins Fire, Some Progress Made, and Firefighters Say, ‘We Feel Loved, But, Please, No More Food’
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I hate that you have had cause to get so proficient at fire reporting they are very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks for your reporting Kym, It is some comfort to know that you really care, and know that it is important for everyone to feel that they know what is going on, from someone that they can trust.
As I looked around our house, there is ashes everywhere. My brown roof is now grey, my petunias are covered, the deck is so ashed that it gets tracked into the house, and all that I can think is… My God how lucky we are. All we have to deal with is ashes!
Those ashes most undoubtedly contain the ashes of someone else’s home… Or even worse… I can’t bring myself to say what those ashes may contain.
If you are a young and capable person, please consider joining a volunteer fire department. It is not at all as scary as you think. You will be given, free of charge, much, much training. You will discover that you will end up understanding, and how to deal with the dangers and remain safe.
I can honestly say that being a firefighter for 39 years was the best gig of my life, and the most rewarding thing that I have ever done. Think about it, you owe it to yourself to do something worthwhile.
I used to help out with fundraising back in the day, but never tried for an actual firefighter… I still keep the fundamentals of firefighting skills, vehicle rescue and extrication, and such on my bookshelf, though.
Even if you’re not young and capable, there may be other ways you can help out, like fundraising or maintenance.
But if you’re going to be in the ground force you better be in good shape or start training.
I’ve never worked on a serious out of control rager, but I know that the feeling it gives an FF when they have successfully brought a rager to the ground and tamed it is a feeling they cherish forever. And you’ll be universally loved by all.
AND WE REALLY REALLY NEED YOU.
We are about 10 miles north and our RH was 78% this morning, hope that keeps up!
Sad to see the comments about the food at the evac center even though grateful. I planted a bunch of extra garden this year to donate to Food For People because of Covid-19 but because of their warehouse being destroyed they won’t accept it. I took 150lbs of produce to the stated evac center at the high school at Van Duzen on Wed during the 2 hours someone was actually there but the Red Cross said they couldn’t accept it. They did let me leave it on the lawn, don’t know what happened to it when they left. If anyone has any ideas to get some to refugees that is legal and won’t go to waste let me know.
Omgaaash Kym, you are awesome and amazing ❣️ I haven’t even started to read it yet but I saw that you listed the time of the posting for us who are using a mobile device and cannot hover over the date 😉 I thank you so much!!!! Now please go take a well deserved nap 😴💤
Yes, thx Kym for adding the time stamp!!
Well, I didn’t actually go anywhere but I faceplanted on my desk for 15 minutes.
The largest fire in California history and the one with the most name changes. Yes I realize there were a few that morphed into one but they were changed after that lol…
Were they able to save the store in kettenpom. I heard they were giving it one hella fight.
According to the local Facebook page, from people on the ground, yes. And surrounding houses.
Sweet, thanks!
Good news! Thank you firefighters!
Working in Gville today . Followed three of the big portable restroom and shower trailers headed to the con camp, A number of engine convoys from all over passing thru town headed that way. Reinforcements have arrived. Bless em all.
Over the years, everywhere I went to work on fires, there’s been signs on the roadsides thanking firefighters. Always appreciated, but I have to admit, I kinda got used to it over time. In 2015 I went to work on the Butte fire in Calaveras County that took out about 550 homes. Every day on a state jurisdiction fire (because CAL FIRE does 24 hour shifts, as opposed to 12+ hour for the US Forest Service) there’s huge convoys of fire vehicles and apparatus going in both directions as the shift changes each morning. One day, as we were heading out of camp towards the line, the whole damn town was out on the streets, waving their signs and cheering like we just won the World Series or something. It was awesome; I got choked up.
Unofficial word is it jumped Horse Ridge east of Ruth and new evacuations from Journey’s end south, and over to Forest Glenn. I am 12 mi north of Horse Ridge, RH 57%, dead calm, heavy smoke.
A new addition to info maps on fire damage. This is for people who have evacuated and want to know if their place survived. From the site;
“Field damage inspection is still ongoing and subject to change. The points shown in this map are being updated regularly. Data is subject to change as information is gathered and verified. The icons on the map indicate the current known status of the structure. If your structure is not identified by an icon, it has not yet been identified.
Addresses may be entered into search bar to find a specific location.”
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=d91553ea739b4e8882150bfc19ab7294&extent=-13600251.4551%2C4766414.8856%2C-13365436.9042%2C4870674.9922%2C102100
The above map is only for the North Complex. Looking to see how to get this map on the Slater or Hopkins.
Kym code red alert evacuating forest glen and from journeys end to highway 36
That isn’t what is being posted. Did something else come out? Here’s what the TCSO is saying on OES’s Facebook page. https://kymkemp.com/2020/09/12/trinity-county-sheriffs-department-increases-evacuation-orders-and-warnings/
The above map is only for the North Complex. Looking to see how to get this map on the Slater or Hopkins.
I think RHBB and Kym Kemp should receive a Pulitzer for timely, accurate and potentially life-saving journalism in a rural area with limited media access. Who will nominate RHBB? There are other awards that may be ‘on point’ as well.
I’m nominating her for Queen of the North Coast, at the very least. No, make that Empress. Or, what was it they called the Head Woman in Black Panther? That’ll do.
I’m nominating me for a nap.
My youngest child and I agree: we couldn’t care less.
We – my other half, my children and I – moved up to Humboldt County seeking a kinder, gentler way of life.
What we found was ignorance, bigotry, prejudice, racism, backwoods politics – backwoods lawyers, backwoods judges, too. Rampant unemployment. A culture of informers.
Child Welfare Services and a vindictive Superior Court and a government run by criminals and rentiers [1] leave me with ZERO loyalty to this county or its predatory inhabitants.
As an amateur radio operator I could probably be very valuable to my local volunteer fire department, but I know that the day would come when I would be called upon to protect the home of a local judge or lawyer who had betrayed me, my family, and the United States Constitution, and when that day came, I knew that I would lay down my fire-fighting tools and refuse to fight that fire – and so, to avoid the inevitable controversy, I simply refuse to fight ANY fires.
I encourage everyone else who has been abused by this county, its legal system, or its agencies to consider moving elsewhere. Let this county’s inhabitants drown in their own poisons. Come back after the fire has cleansed it.
You cannot invoke a spirit of community from individuals you have systematically betrayed, repressed, and censored. I’m not part of your community. Nor are any of my descendants. Deal with it.
I think you sanctimonious assholes should contemplate the possibility that God is angry at you. God knows, I am.
Go fight your own fires.
Pay yourselves a dollar a day, too, fuckers.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rentier_capitalism