Monument Fire: New Evacuation Orders and Warnings as Fire Ramped Up Activity Today
[Photo from August 1 of the Monument Fire by Duane Sherman]
As of 9:35 p.m., no one is issuing updated acreage for the Monument Fire but there is an update on conditions from today.
Press release from the Monument Fire staff:
The Monument Fire continues to burn west of Big Bar, along both sides of Highway 299 and east of Cedar Flat. The fire…[is] continuing to threaten the communities of Big Bar, Del Loma, Big Flat, and Burnt Ranch.
This afternoon, there was an increase in fire activity due to northwest diurnal winds with short range spotting and uphill runs in steep terrain. Crews remain engaged in structure defense and establishing additional containment lines. Crews continue to patrol the fire perimeter, monitoring the fire growth and activity.
Electrical transmission and distribution lines have been de-energized due to impact of fire.
Structure protection is the operational priority for night resources in and around the threatened communities.
Evacuations:
Mandatory Evacuation for Big Flat
Residents of Big Flat are encouraged to go to the Red Cross Shelter in Weaverville located at 1261 Main Street.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for Del Loma, Big Bar, and Cedar Flat
Evacuation warning for the communities of Helena, Junction City, Coopers Bar, Red Hill and Canyon Creek
For additional evacuation information, visit Trinity County Sheriff’s Office | Facebook
Evacuation Centers:
Red Cross Shelter – First Baptist Church, 1261 Main Street, Weaverville
Willow Creek VFW Hall, 20 Kitmu Road, Willow Creek…
Weather: West to northwest up-valley will predominate the next 24 hours with overnight relative humidity recovery…
Resources: Total personnel 319, (4 crews, 24 engines, 5 helicopters, 8 dozers, 3 water tenders, 5 masticators, 1 skidgine).
Community Meeting: This evening a meeting was held in Junction City with over 130 community members present to discuss mandatory evacuations and the current fire situation.
Caltrans reports, “State Route 299 is currently closed from Burnt Ranch to just east of Helena (Trinity County) due to #MonumentFire. There is currently no estimated time for when the roadway will be reopened.”
Earlier Chapters:
- Evacuation Warnings Issued for Del Loma Area Along Hwy 299; 1000 Acres and 0% Contained
- Hwy 299 Closed at Big Bar Due to the Monument Fire
- Hwy 299 Reopens, But ‘Subject to Closure at Any Time’
- Trinity County Sheriff Issues Evacuation Orders Tonight in Big Bar Area as Monument Fire Grows; Hwy 299 Closed!
- Breakout Spots From the Monument Fire Crossed 299 and Trinity River, Threaten Structures
- [UPDATE 6:52 p.m.: Monument Fire Now 9000 Acres, 0% Contained] Evacuation Order for Cedar Flat and Evacuation Warning for Burnt Ranch Areas Along Hwy 299
- Monument Fire’s Behavior Causes Sheriff to Issue Evacuation Warning for Big Flat
- Monument Fire Grows Another 6000 Acres, Now at 15,000 and 0% Contained
- Monument Fire Grows Over 2500 Acres Today
- About 240 Customers Without Power as the Monument Fire Continues to Disrupt the Lives of the Small Communities Along Hwy 299
- Monument Grew Another 7000 Acres to Almost 25,000 and Remains Uncontained
- Evacuation Warning For Helena, Junction City, Coopers Bar, Red Hill, and Canyon Creek
- Trinity County Sheriff Issued an Evacuation Order for Big Flat
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Big Flat is gone…fire heading toward JC. If you have people there tell them to leave immediately.
There are tweets of structure defense in Junction City.
By the glow I see growing, seems about right.
Must be in the upper 50k now, and bad news for many.
0% contained is just nothing to be proud of, in the least.
Fire crew just returned to our place. Told us 15 houses burned in Big Bar area yesterday. Fire burned past us last night on north side; another two days or so until it gets past on south. It’s pretty bad, and seems worse than 2008, because of spotting.