Good News on the McFarland Fire as Hwy 36 Reopens in a Limited Fashion, But Hotter, Drier Weather Settles in for This Week

Active burning on the McFarland Fire. [Photo from InciWeb]

Press release from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office:

This morning, the McFarland Fire is 33,528 acres and is 33% contained.

The fire is active on the northwest perimeter near Dubakella Mountain, Highway 36 on the northern side, in Beegum Gorge to the east and the August Complex burn scar on the southern perimeter.

Today firefighters are mopping up and strengthening the northwest perimeter with burning near Dubakella Mountain to secure the control line and prevent the fire from crossing Highway 36 and moving northwest towards the Post Mountain and Trinity Pines communities.  Good progress is being made and Highway 36 will be opened with a pilot car escort as of 10 a.m. this morning…

There is active fire in Beegum Creek.  Dozer line has been completed from Beegum Gorge south along Sunshine 28N02 to prevent the fire from moving further to the southeast; crews are working to strengthen and widen this line with firing operations.  The fire is on the south side of Little Red Mountain and dozer line has been completed along the 35 Road to Paul’s Day 28N09 north to Pole Corral Creek in Section 14.  Crews are improving this line as well.  The fire has burned down to the August Complex fire on the south and has run out of fuel.

The fire was active last night but night crews were able to make good progress with more moderate night-time fire behavior.

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

The Weather:  

According to Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office:

“Temperatures are expected to be 5 degrees warmer today with a high of 92 degrees in the fire area and relative humidity in the 12-15% range.  The weather is becoming hotter and dryer as expected.   Winds over the fire area are expected to be light, out of the south at 4-6 mph with gusts up to 14 mph.  Winds may come out of the west-southwest in late afternoon.”

The Roads:

Per the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and the Trinity County Office of Emergency Services, as of Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., one lane of Highway 36 is open from Wildwood Road to Highway 3 with a pilot car escort.

The Maps:

• Public Information Map-https://ftp.wildfire.gov/public/incident_specific_data/calif_n/!2021_FEDERAL_Incidents/CA-SHF-001175_McFarland/GIS/Products/20210810/pio_arch_e_land_20210809_1140_MCFARLAND_CASHF001175_08010day.pdf
• Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.
  ops_arch_e_land_20210809_2241_MCFARLAND_CASHF001175_0810day
• 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:

• Evacuation Centers are at the
  • Mad River Grange, 110 Hatchery Rd., Blue Lake
  • Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, Redding, CA.
• Areas under Evacuation Warnings in Trinity County are:
  • Post Mountain
  • Trinity Pines
• Areas under Evacuation Warnings in Shasta County are:
  • Harrison Gulch from Highway 36 to Deerlick Springs Road
  • Platina (Both sides of Highway 36 from Sunday Gulch Road to the Shasta/Tehama County line.  All roads to the south of Highway 36 from Sunday Gulch Road to the Shasta/Tehama County line including: Beegum Gorge Road, Platinum Lane, Secluded Glen Lane, Shady Nook Drive and Beegum Road.)
  • Shields Road
  • Wildwood
  • White Rock Road
• 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:

• 40 to 50 Acre Wildfire South of Hwy 36 in Trinity County
• Yesterday, Wind, Rain, and Hail Didn’t Stop Three Fires in Trinity County
• Evacuation Warning Issued by Trinity County Sheriff’s Office for McFarland Fire
• Evacuation Warning Still in Effect on McFarland Fire Near Hwy 36
• Evacuation Orders Issued for Wildwood in Trinity County; Hwy 36 Being Closed
• Evacuation Warning for Post Mountain and Trinity Pines
• McFarland Fire Spreads to Nearly 16,000 Acres
• Shasta County Sheriff Issues Evacuation Warnings for Residents Along Hwy 36 in Western Shasta Because of McFarland Fire
• McFarland Fire Tops 20,000 Acres, Only 5% Contained as Flames Close in on Hwy 36, But Firefighters Hold the Line There
• Firefighters Face Red Flag Conditions on the McFarland Fire Which Grew to Over 23,000 Acres and Is Only 7% Contained
• Evacuation Warning Issued for Residents East of the McFarland Fire in the Platina Area
• McFarland Fire Grows Over 3000 Acres, Still Only 7% Contained
• Firefighters Injured on the McFarland Fire Yesterday
• McFarland and Monument Wildfires Prompt Forest Closures (Maps)
• McFarland Fire Now Over 30,000 Acres
• McFarland Fire Grows to 31,185 Acres and 21% Containment
• Firefighters Upped Containment Today on the McFarland Fire
• Good News: Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Drops Wildwood From an Evacuation Order to an Evacuation Warning
• Firefighters Push Back at McFarland Fire But Hot, Dry Weather Expected to Feed the Flames
• Containment Rises Again on the McFarland Fire