At Least 152 Structures Destroyed As Flames From the August Complex Swept Through Trinity County
Three Forks home after the fire. [Photo provided by a family member]
As of this date, the August Complex (North Zone) has been documented to have destroyed 152 structures in the communities of Three-Forks, Hoaglin, Kettenpom, and surrounding areas in Trinity County.
Due to active fire behavior, evacuation orders (in some locations,) and present safety issues such as fire debris including fallen trees, many areas continue to be inaccessible for further evaluation. The number of damaged or destroyed structures is expected to increase, as these dangers are mitigated and further evaluation can occur. Trinity County has not faced such devastation from wildfire, since the 2017 Helena Fire was estimated to have damaged/destroyed 117 structures.
At this time, Trinity County Environmental Health is urging the public, that as evacuation orders lift, to use extreme caution. Any handling of fire debris is highly discouraged, as handling/sifting of fire debris and ash, can be extremely hazardous to human health and the environment (see this link from California Environmental Protection Agency for more information: https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/public-information/report/fireash.pdf). Please note that this debris cannot be taken to local solid waste facilities, and has to be removed properly with demolition permits and hazardous waste evaluations. Trinity County has requested assistance from the state’s fire debris removal process and will keep the public updated with this effort. Please call Trinity County Office of Emergency Services at 530-623-1116 for additional information or to find out if your property has been impacted by the 2020 August Complex.
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I assume this information is a conflation of all Trinity County August Complex documents and shouldn’t be surprised that even Trinity County can’t keep track of North Zone vs West Zone, after so many naming adjustments.
Sorry to all who lost their homes precious valuables. I hope all the livestock, wildlife, and beloved pets made it through, OK. And, of course, thank you firefighters!
“Please note that this debris cannot be taken to local solid waste facilities, and has to be removed properly with demolition permits and hazardous waste evaluations.”
Wow! Just Wow!
Yeah, that was pretty incredible.
It will just sit there until winter, rain will wash it all down stream.
Yes you need special permits. Who could have guessed?! Think they will issue abatements and fine you if you don’t get the permits and just clean up your own garbage? Or will John Ford do rush disposal permits for the special licensed legal people- because they are more important and legitimate?
John Ford wont do shit because he doesnt work in trinity county.
I caught your drift, however just wanted to state the fact that John Ford has exactly zero power in trinity.
They issued waivers after the fire in Helena and Junction City a few years ago. I suspect they will again.
A very informative article; there’s so much to take in and consider here. You have done your usual sterling job of reporting, Kym. However, if I may, I would like to make a comment about the headline of this article. As a writer, newspaper contributor and freelance editor, in my opinion the sentence “At least 152 structures destroyed as flames…” has a tone of immediacy, and could possibly be misconstrued by people who read it and jump to the conclusion that this is a single event that has only just occurred. They may miss the fact that it says “swept” rather than “sweep”. They will learn their error, of course, as they read the article, but why put people through that moment of horror? Would it not be kinder to write something a bit less, uh, inflammatory at first blush? Something that won’t cause people to freak out yet again? For example, “Structure Loss in August Complex Fire in Trinity County at 152 and Counting”. You will note the difference. There has been so much anxiety and fear generated by this devastating fire, I feel that journalists have a responsibility to think very carefully and try to tone down their rhetoric for the sake of all the anxious and terrified readers who snatch at the daily news with pounding hearts, braced for the next horrific chapter in the saga. It’ll still sell, trust me.
Kim is a fear monger
I cannot agree with you, as that’s not been my experience at all. I’m merely taking issue with this single headline. How often do you read her articles, by the way? Her name is spelled Kym.
You want Kym to put lipstick on the pig news…..
I see very little difference between the horror and destruction of 152 structures burning over a few days or a few weeks. OK, your headline is slightly more accurate and facile than Kym’s, but geez! OK, I guess we’re all a bit frazzled and bitter as our State and country seem to be burning down literally and figuratively.
And then there’s Akismet.
On second read, your complaint seems pedantic and picayune. Sorry, PCO, I tried, really tried, but I can’t take it anymore.
Maybe “didactic” would also apply. How about a popular vote, America!?
Perhaps you could start your own news page and then you could write the way you think is more appropriate. Just saying.
I think this a subtle and very important point.
One way to avoid a lot of this is to clear our land of brush and big trees. Which is what we are in the process of doing. We have burned leaves on our land from the fire, which was stopped 300 yards from us. Our valiant fire fighters saved us. It is now up to us to honor their good work by being responsible to clear our land and make it as fireproof as possible. The bigger parts of the tree are to be milled, the smaller to be chipped. Clear cutting helps prevent our homes and out buildings from being destroyed, metal roofs also help prevent structures from burning. In a couple weeks, our land will look a lot different, but it will be much safer. And, one more thing; the environmentalists, in many areas of our state, are directly responsible for the rapid expansion of these fires. They are not intelligent people, they have proven themselves to be destructive to all of us, and our environment. Where are EPIC and earth First when it comes to the huge illegal grows destroying our environment, and depleting our river and stream water? Where are you? Why haven’t you spoken out against them? Why do you sit on your hands? What a bunch of weak stupid creeps. Cowards really.
Defensible space is the key. Note that you have room to create it. The problem with these recent fires, as far as burning homes goes, is suburban dense subdivisions. Look at Santa Rosa, Paradise/Oroville, Talent/Phoenix, no forests. Not Sierra Club turf. Add wind and homes are burning homes. They’re just piles of slash and plastic.
We left the suburbs in 1981 just for these reasons. Have not paid a water bill since, nor do I ever intend to. The burbs and the city people are the most vulnerable in a disaster, no thanks. All the people I know who did the same thing have wonderful places and have food and water, without being dependent on the govt . Those who depend on the govt, are doomed. Seeds and bullets people, seeds and bullets.
Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
I think it wldve been more respectful if you had sent her a personal email. She deserves nothing but respect. Your suggestion is valid, but method of delivery, too public. (My inconsequential opinion .)
The headline seems fine to me. No clouds of smoke or flames in the photo to imply it’s a new fire.
As the (now) senior citizen daughter of a High School English teacher, I find little to nothing to nit-pick about on KYm’s writing, spelling, etc. She writes an excellent column, particularly under the circumstances created by these fires. May it wouldn’t do any harm to just read what she has written, AS it is written and learn a few things about our wonderful counties. By the way, Kym, thanks for the wonderful coverage. If my Mom were still with me, I’m sure she would have graded your writing with an “A”.
You should all take a moment and pray for patience and the grace to deal with this situation as proper adults. I know it’s difficult in such a world but this world is a creation of our own selfish and childish ways of handling life churning situations.
Kym spreads the news. The trolls pick nits about it.
Please be advised: There is a program to pay landowners to make their forest lands fire safe. The NRCS is a division of the Department of Agriculture. The NRCS will pay about $1,000 an acre for fuels reduction and oakland forest restoration. The NRCS will also pay about $3,000 for the CDF forest management plan necessary for the cleanup project. It may take about a year to get all the paperwork in order. Landowners must do the work first then the NRCS will reimburse for the cost. Contact, Carrie Nicolls NRCS Partner Forester at [email protected]
Phone (503) 784-2036
Wow. Deepest condolences to all who lost their homes! Devastating! Seriously if Kym didn’t report on this.. I doubt it would get much coverage at all. So many large fires in the North Coast right now.. and California in general.. So thanx for the coverage!
Has Hayfork burned up yet?