August Complex: 2020 Spawns California’s First Gigafire in Modern History

POSTED 11:51 a.m.

As 2020 continues its relentless march towards becoming one of the darkest years in modern history, the August Complex, now 1,011,493 acres, and 60% contained, has reached “gigafire” status–a name given to the rare fires which burn over a million acres. Only a few have existed in the last fifty years. These include the 1988 Yellowstone Fire in Montana and Idaho (1.58 million acres), the 2004 Taylor Complex in Alaska (1.3 million acres) and 2020’s other gigafire, in Australia this year (1.5 million acres).

Climate scientists blame higher temperatures and more extreme weather for these behemoths.

Last night, flames rising in the east above southern Humboldt County concerned residents. According to Fire Captain Specialist, Jeremy Ward, spokesperson for Cal Fire, “Crews…assisted federal cooperators on the Northwest Zone with a firing operation in the Big Meadow to Coffee Pot area along the state/federal protection area border.  The firing operation was highly visible and did generate some citizen concern, however the operation has held through the night.”

As a whole, with favorable weather on their side, firefighters managed to strengthen fire lines and even build a bit more containment.

In the Northwest Zone, according to a statement by the August Complex Management Team,

Firefighters made good progress in containing spot fires east of South Fork Ridge and north of Ruth Lake. Structure groups continued work in the Ruth Lake Area and near Journey’s End. Crews worked on constructing direct line from the Van Duzen Road east to Lake Ruth.

Today if conditions allow firefighters will continue firing operations in conjunction with work of structure protection groups to defend areas near Ruth Lake. Crews will continue to hold dozer lines east of Hwy (SR) 36 to South Fork Ridge. Fire personnel will strengthen dozer lines and contingency lines from the west side of Ruth Lake through the previous Gobbler and Lassics Fire burn scars to below Mule Ridge. Crews will be working to improve containment lines from Round Mountain to Kettenpom. More air resources will be relocating to the northwest zone and will be available to support firefighting efforts as visibility improves. As smoke blanket lifts, fire activity may increase and columns may become more visible.

In the Northwest Zone, according to a statement by the August Complex Management Team,

The control lines along Route 36 beginning at the west end, mile marker 64, were improved to reduce the threat of northward spread [yesterday]. The team partnered with CalFire to continue structure assessments and protection north of Route 36. A drone was flown along the South Mountain ridge to assist with firing operations.

A priority on Wednesday will be creating line along the fire perimeter near Round Mountain. The team continues its progress on contingency dozer lines northeast of the South Trinity River. Many hazard trees are being removed along the Route 36 corridor, with structure protection on the north side nearly completed. Two additional hand crews have arrived and are beginning work in the active Round Mountain area.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton’s 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force will begin operations in this zone. They are forward-deployed to a spike camp and will field five 20-person strike teams comprised of ten 20-person crews that perform the full range of front-line firefighting tactics.

The Images:

Video credit: August Complex Management Team

For some amazing photos from the Lassen Interagency Hotshot crew, click here. Below is one example.

The Plan:

The North Zone Plan:

The Northwest to South Zone Plan:

Cal Fire’s West Zone:

The Weather: 

Temperatures in the 80’s to 90’s and dangerously dry today.

The Roads:

For the latest information, click here.

The Meeting TODAY:

For the West Zone: A virtual meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7.  The meeting will take place via Facebook Live at  https://www.facebook.com/CALFIREMEU/

For those in the Southern Humboldt area, daily updates and incident maps are at the following locations:

• Shopsmart in Redway (Incident Updates)
• Ray’s Food Place in Garberville (Incident Updates and maps)
• Garberville Post Office (Incident Updates)
• Miranda Market (Incident Updates and maps)

The Maps:

• 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.

Evacuation Area information:

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

USEFUL Information:

For Trinity County Evacuation, please contact: 530-276-8034 or visit: trinitycounty.org/OES 

For Humboldt County Evacuation, please contact: 707-268-2500 or visit: humboldtsheriff.org 

Road Closures 

• • Rattlesnake Road at SR 3 
  • Post Mountain Road at SR 3 
  • SR 36 from Humboldt County Line to SR 3 
  • Zenia Bluffs Road at Humboldt County Line 
  • Zenia Lake Mountain Road at Peaks Road 
  • Kekawaka Creek Road to Mendocino County Line 

 

Forest Closures are still in effect and can be found here: 

• • Shasta-Trinity National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/stnf/forestorders
  • Mendocino National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices
  • Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices

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. 

Forest Closures: Shasta-Trinity, Mendocino, and Six Rivers National Forests.  

Each forest has closures in place. Individual forest closure information is available online:

• • Shasta-Trinity National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/stnf/forestorders
  • Mendocino National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices
  • Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices.

• 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: (Because there are so many earlier chapters, we’ve eliminated all but the last few days. However, they can still be easily accessed by clicking on the first title and scrolling down the list posted there)

• • • August Complex: Smoke, Flames, and Burning Homes
    • August Complex: Flames Continue to Consume Structures
    • August Complex: Fire, Fear, Frustration
    • August Complex: Red Flag Warning Conditions on the Southern Half of the Fire; Anger in the North Zone as Residents Claim Homes Are Lost Unnecessarily
    • August Complex: In the North, Fire Pushing Towards Zenia and Also Towards Bear Wallow, In the South, Another Critical Fire Danger Day
    • August Complex: Now a Million Acres