[UPDATE 1:38 p.m.: Road Closure Update] Monument Fire Just Under 50,000 Acres and 0% Contained as It Spread Quickly Overnight

Firefighters in a valley along Hwy 299 as the Monument Fire glows behind them. [Photo taken August 3 and provided by Hawkins Bar Fire Department, Todd Wright Fire Chief]

Posted 8:48 a.m. updated 1.38 p.m. in Green

The Monument Fire expanded to 49,068 acres, and ten days after lightning started it, the fire is still 0% contained.

The fire moved quickly last night towards the east. There was long range spotting up to a mile away. Three spot fires got within about one mile of the Junction City. Two were suppressed but one is still active this morning. An Evacuation Order is expected for Junction City this morning.

Information from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office:

The Monument Fire burned actively overnight west of Junction City. Smoke shaded skies lifted overnight increasing fire activity spreading the fire to the east, as winds casted firebrands and embers across containment lines. Fire crews aggressively worked to extinguish the spot fires to stop its forward progress.
The fire has grown to 49,068 acres, with 0% containment.

On the southeast, firefighters are assessing spot fires and will be using heave equipment and hotshot crews to secure and halt the fire progression. We will remain vigilant in our efforts to provide structure defense, by increasing and securing fire line in the threatened communities of Junction City, Helena and Burnt Ranch.
Crews will stay actively engaged in the firefight by searching for smoldering hot spots in the burned areas, reinforcing containment lines and providing point protection where they are working.  Resources continue to patrol and assess for additional needs to protect life and property by scouting, constructing and improving indirect line.

We’ve gathered the most important information about the Monument Fire and organized it below for our readers.

The Stats:

528 Total personnel, 5 hand crews, 61 engines, 5 helicopters, 10 dozers, 6 water tenders, 5 masticators.

The Plan:

A thorough assessment of the Monument Fire in the video below.

https://www.facebook.com/ShastaTrinityNF/posts/3046275162271189

Compelling Images:

Monument Fire near Cedar Flat last night. [Photo by Paul Turner]

[Photo taken August 3 and provided by Hawkins Bar Fire Department, Todd Wright Fire Chief]

[Photo taken August 3 and provided by Hawkins Bar Fire Department, Todd Wright Fire Chief]

[Photo provided by Hawkins Bar Fire Department, Todd Wright Fire Chief]

Smoke shows the leading edge of the Monument fire on the west flank. Burnt Ranch on the right. Friedrich Road/Mill Creek in the middle as seen gazing south from Ironsides Lookout on Friday afternoon. [Photo provided]

The Weather:  

Again, the weather will be hot and dry with highs in the mid-90’s and humidity down as low as 8% at times.

The Roads:

The Monument Fire continues to impact Hwy 299, a major east/west travelway. [Photo posted on Caltrans Facebook page]

Caltrans reports that the Hwy 299 closure now stretches “from Burnt Ranch to Powerhouse Road 2 miles west of Junction City due to the Monument Fire.”

UPDATE 1:38 p.m.: The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office reports that the closure is now:

The Maps:

• Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.
• KMZ Map–Zoom for detail or for 3D imagery, click on the map and download a file that connects with your Google Earth program.

Evacuation and Help Information Including Community Meetings:

• A community public meeting will be held virtually tonight at 6:00 p.m. via livestream on Facebook Live. https://fb.me/e/Dyl6TkvF
  Please submit your questions prior to the meeting at the incident email address or on our Facebook Event page. We have opted for a virtual meeting due to health and safety concerns. When safety permits we will reinstate in-person community meetings.
• Evacuation Centers are at the Mad River Grange, 110 Hatchery Rd., Blue Lake and another Evacuation Shelter is being opened in Redding by the Red Cross. The American Red Cross is opening a shelter for #DixieFire and #MonumentFire evacuees at Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, #Redding, CA.
• Areas under Evacuation Order are:
  • Big Bar
  • Big Flat
  • Canyon Creek
  • Cedar Flat
  • Coopers Bar
  • Del Loma
  • Helena
  • Junction City
  • Red Hill
• Areas under Evacuation Warnings are:
  • Burnt Ranch
• Anyone impacted by Wildfires in Trinity County can receive free referral support, group support, and one-on-one crisis intervention by reaching out to (530) 461-0257 and [email protected].
• According to the Trinity County Animal Shelter, “If you are being evacuated and need help moving or a place to take large animals please call either the sheriffs office at 530.623.2611 or us here at the shelter at 530.623.1370.”

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
• Monument Fire: New Evacuation Orders and Warnings as Fire Ramped Up Activity Today
• Structures in the Tiny Tourist Town of Big Flat Burned as Monument Fire Swallows Another 10,000 Acres, Still 0% Contained
• Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Issues Evacuation Order for Helena
• Monument Fire Grows to 42,567 Acres, Still 0% Containment
• Spot Fire Northwest of Junction City
• Monument Fire Just Under 50,000 Acres and 0% Contained as It Spread Quickly Overnight