Red Salmon Complex: 72% Containment

Press release from Red Salmon Complex Management Team:

Fire activity continued in the South Fork of the Salmon River, Methodist Creek, Plummer Creek, and the East Fork of the New River. Fire was seen backing down toward Plummer creek to the confluence of the Salmon river, cleaning up unburned fuels in a steady progression in islands within the fire’s interior. The fire crews assigned to Devil’s Backbone completed their mission successfully and hiked back out of the area. Two crews will remain in Division P doing line restoration and suppression repair work alongside a heritage consultant.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A weak cold front moved into the area overnight Tuesday. This front will lower temperatures and increase humidity values until Thursday morning when a drier air mass will filter in and drop humidity levels once again. Fuel moisture levels will remain low allowing the fire to remain active for the near future with moderate fire behavior possible. Rain is not forecast in the immediate future. Smoke impacting the area remains likely due to a light inversion over the fire. For information on smoke impact, go to www.airnow.gov.

Today’s Operations: Crews will continue monitoring lines along Plummer Creek. In division P, crews will continue suppression efforts and conduct repair work where possible. Crews will also be active in the Salmon Ridge and Fawn ridge areas for suppression repair. Back haul of equipment and other resources will continue in the communities of Forks of the Salmon, Cecilville, Denny, and other private ranches, inholdings and properties.

Fire suppression repair is occurring both within the Wilderness and on all flanks of the fire where containment has been achieved. As fire containment increases, crews shift from suppression tactics to suppression repair work and the collection and return of the miles of hose, water pumps, and portable water tanks back to fire camp for cleaning, packaging and shipping.

Closures: For Firefighter and public safety, fire officials remind visitors that areas and roads within and near the perimeter of the fire are closed. More information is available on forest websites: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/stnf/alerts-notices