[UPDATE: 5:02 p.m.] August Complex: Flames Continue to Consume Structures

POSTED 10:55 a.m.

According to the Shasta Trinity National Forest Twitter account this morning, “The #AugustComplexNorthZone has forced some of our crews to pull back, account for everyone, and then safely re-engage. We got photos from Information Officer McMillan, who was in Ruth Valley yesterday. These photos share a look at what the day looked like for the firefighters. [Photo from Shasta Trinity National Forest]

NEWER UPDATES at August Complex: Fire, Fear, Frustration

The August Complex, now 938,044 acres and only 43% contained, continues to push past firefighters and consume structures near Ruth Lake and into the Hettenshaw Valley. Witnesses in those communities report that more structures were lost in the early morning hours today. Buildings at the Rodeo grounds were lost but Journey’s End was still standing this morning, according to Levi Cope, who lives in Humboldt County, but who is in the area helping local residents.

According to the Alaska Incident Management Team overseeing the North Zone of the August Complex, “A preliminary estimate shows structures and powerline infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed by the powerful wind-driven fire in the past few days.”

Forest Glen and Hwy 36. [Video Credit: Public Information Officer PIO Kale Casey/Alaska Incident Management Team]

They also say, “The fire continued to burn actively through the night with flanking, backing down slopes, and isolated tree torching. Firefighters patrolled and monitored structures on the west side of the fire last night and those efforts continue today…Crews conducted overnight strategic burning operations near Hettenshaw on the west side of the fire and near the junction of Forest Roads 30 and 35 on the east side.” [Read their whole press release here.]

In addition, the Zogg Fire which is moving south from the Igo area towards Hwy 36 is over 40,000 acres and 0% contained and there is already talk about the two fires possibly merging.

Mopping up around structures along Hwy 36 (SR 36) in Forest Glen after the Red Flag weather the last two days. [Video Credit: Public Information Officer PIO Kale Casey/Alaska Incident Management Team]

UPDATE: 5:02 p.m.:

Virtual meeting covering the west side of the August Complex tomorrow at 7 p.m.

The Images:

Many of the lakeside cabins on the south end of Ruth Lake burned, according to Levi Cope who took this and the next two videos. He described hearing, “Crazy loud explosions of propane tanks blowing up, bomb style.”

[Photo from Shasta Trinity National Forest]

[Photo from Shasta Trinity National Forest]

[Photo from Shasta Trinity National Forest]

The Plan:

The North Zone Plan:

The North Zone Warning:

The West Side Plan:

The Weather: 

Although, the Red Flag Warning days have passed, temperatures are still high and humidity is low. In the North Zone temperatures will reach the lower eighties but down south on the tail end of the fire by Lake Pillsbury the temperatures could reach the high nineties.

The Smoke:

The Roads:

Here is the latest information: (This includes maps of Trinity County roads now closed.)

Other Closures:

Hayfork Airport (F62) is scheduled to CLOSE today, Tuesday Sept 29, 2020, at noon due to fire fighting activities. Please plan your flight accordingly.

The Meetings:

Info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2749090628665615/Community_Meeting_Sept_30_2020.01

The Maps:

• • • North Zone KMZ Map–Zoom for detail or, for 3D imagery, click on the map and download a file that connects with your Google Earth program. Warning this imagery was captured around 10:00 p.m. and the fire may have moved some since then.  (For the August Complex KMZ File click on the map. For the Zogg’s, click here.)
    • Firemapper: This is an unofficial representation of heat from satellites showing on the ground fire. Zoom or click the map to go to the full site which covers the whole fire and allows you to look at other fires.
    • For Humboldt County Evacuation map. Click here or see below: (Please give it time to load.)

    • Mendocino County’s Interactive map

  Evacuation Area information:

  • • • Trinity County: See here or here.
      • Mendocino County: See map

  USEFUL Information:

  • • • Trinity County Evacuation Orders  
        • Ruth and Ruth Lake 
        • Forest Glen 
        • Post Mountain/Trinity Pines
        • Three Forks
        • Hettenshaw Valley  
        • Lower Mad River Road
        • Mad River
        • Zenia area 

         

        Humboldt County 

        Evacuation Warning 

        • Areas east of Alderpoint Road to the Trinity County border and south of Showers Pass Road to Mountain Creek 

        Evacuation Information 

        Residents are urged to evacuate from the fire area. Evacuation information for Trinity and Humboldt counties is available from the Red Cross at 530-276-8034. A Temporary Evacuation Point for Trinity County is Hayfork Fairgrounds; evacuees can receive accommodation instructions and proceed to a hotel for safe, non-congregate sheltering. Evacuation information is available online from the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page.

        Road Closures 

        All roads on the east side of Ruth Lake and Ruth area roads are closed. All roads in Van Duzen, Mad River, Ruth, Hettenshaw and Zenia areas are closed. The closure for State Route 36 extends from the Humboldt County line on the west to the junction with Bowman Road on the east. All roads within the Trinity Pines/Post Mountain Subdivision remain closed, including Trinity Pines Drive, Rattlesnake Road, Post Mountain Road and all county and private roads within the subdivision.

        Damage Assessments 

        Trinity County Office of Emergency Services will conduct structure damage assessments when it is safe to do so. They may be contacted at: 530-623-8223. 

      • 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 (22830 S. Airport Road in Covelo)
      • Evacuation place for Trinity residents:
        • Evacuees are encouraged to proceed Hayfork Fairgrounds where a temporary evacuation point has been established. This is not a shelter location, it is a point where evacuees can pick up hotel vouchers and proceed to hotels that have been procured in Lewiston and Weaverville. The previous temporary evacuation point in Humboldt County is no longer in service.
        • Information Boards are updated daily at the following locations:
          • Platina Store – 4554 State Route 36W, Platina, CA
          • Harrison Gulch Guard Station – 2555 State Route 36W, Platina, CA
          • Wildwood Inn and RV Park – 2721 Wildwood Rd, Wildwood, CA
          • South Fork Mountain Vista – Horse Ridge Lookout Rd & State Route 36W, Mad River, CA
          • The Watering Hole (Mad River Burger Bar) – 2515 State Route 36W, Mad River, CA
          • Mad River Ranger Station – 741 State Route 36W, Mad River, CA
          • Southern Trinity High School – 600 Van Duzen Rd, Mad River, CA
          • Dinsmore Store – 43819 State Route 36W, Bridgeville, CA
          • Hayfork Ranger Station – 111 Trinity Street, Hayfork, CA
          • Hayfork Post Office – 7180 State Route 3, Hayfork, CA
          • U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest
          • U.S. Forest Service – Mendocino National Forest
      • 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
      • Wildfire Evacuation Checklist
        • 15 minute packlist
        • 30 minute packlist
        • Sixty and 120 minute packlist

  How You Can Help:

  • • • • GoFundMe for Trinity County’s Southern Trinity VFD. Click here.
        • GoFundMe for Post Mountain VFD: Click here.
        • If you would like to donate, the addresses for Southern Humboldt Fire Departments can be accessed by clicking here.
        • To volunteer or donate to assist regional wildfire evacuees, please contact:
          • Pay it Forward Humboldt
            • Volunteer: 707-499-2364
            • Donation: 707-499-3840
            • [email protected]
          • Humboldt Area Foundation
            • Hafoundation.org
          • American Red Cross
            • Redcross.org
          • Humboldt CERT
            • Humboldtcert.com

  Earlier Chapters:

  • • • 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
      • 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
      • Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Increases Evacuation Orders and Warnings
      • Evacuation Orders Downgraded for Hopkins Fire, Some Progress Made, and Firefighters Say, ‘We Feel Loved, But, Please, No More Food’
      • Firefighters Are Still Keeping the Hopkins Fire Out of Humboldt County
      • Possible Light in the Tunnel of Ash for Growers: Law Enforcement, Cal Fire, and OES Working on a Plan to Allow Cultivators Access to Their Cannabis Crops
      • Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Issues New Evacuation Orders for Their Residents
      • Dangerous Fire Weather Today in the Areas Between Ruth Lake and Island Mountain
      • Pyrocumulous Cloud Formed in the North Fire Areas Yesterday and the Main Complex Pushed About Five Miles Westward Forcing New Evacuations in Mendocino County
      • Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Issues More Evacuations Orders for Forest Glen and Warnings for Post Mountain and Trinity Pines
      • Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Issues New Evacuation Orders
      • Evening Update on the North Zone of the August Complex
      • Evening Update on the West Side of the August Complex
      • Firefighters Struggling to Hold the Southwest and North Line of the August Complex
      • August Complex Grows to Almost 800,000 Acres
      • New Evacuation Order Wednesday Night: The Areas of Post Mountain and Trinity Pines are Under an Evacuation Order
      • Evacuations in Trinity Pines, Active Fire in Horse Ridge Area Above Ruth, and More in Tonight’s Update
      • More Evacuations to the North as the August Complex Grew Over 60 Square Miles Yesterday
      • Evacuation Order downgraded for communities south of Casterlin Road
      • Residents of the Hettenshaw Valley Can Return Home; The TCSO Has downgraded the Area to an Evacuation Warning Only
      • August Complex Calmer Under Cooler, Moister Weather
      • Good News: Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Reducing Evacuation Orders to Warnings in Areas Near the Humboldt County and Southwestern Trinity Borders
      • Good News: Hettenshaw Valley, Zenia, and Kettenpom Downgraded to Evacuation Warning
      • August Complex Moving Towards Hwy 36
      • Warmer, Drier Weather Today Over the August Complex Which is now 836,871 Acres
      • August Complex Closing in on 850,000 Acres
      • At Least 152 Structures Destroyed as Flames From the August Complex Swept Through Trinity County
      • August Complex: Firefighters Struggle Against Tough Weather Conditions to Keep Fire South of Hwy 36
      • August Complex: The Fight to Hold the Flames Back From Hwy 36
      • August Complex: With Critical Fire Danger Rolling Across the Region, ‘Let’s Just Pray That All Goes Well’
      • August Complex: Dangerous Fire Conditions Force New Evacuation Orders and Warnings
      • August Complex: Smoke, Flames, and Burning Homes