[UPDATE 7:54 p.m.: Map] Hwy 299 Reopens, But ‘Subject to Closure at Any Time’

Smoky sunset on the Monument Fire. [Screenshot from the Oregon Mt. Camera in the AlertWildfire network]

The US Forest Service requested the closure of Hwy 299 near Big Bar about 4:30 p.m. as the Monument Fire made a push. However, since there were no mandatory evacuations, the CHP site indicated that it was better to keep the road open, but “subject to closure at any time.”

The Forest Service posted on Facebook,

The #monumentfire is burning near the community of Del Loma along the Highway 299 corridor on the south side of the Trinity River. The fire was extremely active today, driven by diurnal winds and critically dry conditions. The fire is currently mapped at approximately 1,800 acres and is 0% contained. The fire is burning in the 2008 Cedar Fire; snags and deadfall are causing containment issues. The terrain is extremely steep, and rollout is hampering containment. A Type 1 National Incident Management Organization team will be in briefed tomorrow.

An evacuation warning remains in effect for the community of Del Loma on both sides of the river. Residents are urged to stay tuned to local media as conditions are changing rapidly…

Please remember that this story is unfolding. Information is being reported as we gather it. However, some of the information coming from witnesses and initial official reports could be wrong. We will do our best to get the facts but, in the case that something is inaccurate, we will update with correct information as soon as we can.

UPDATE 7:54 p.m.: Here’s a good map of all the fires. Click here to zoom in or out. Here’s a screenshot.

[Screenshot of map from the National Interagency Fire Center]