A Red Flag Warning Will Push Firefighters Today on the Monument Fire; Yesterday It Devoured Over 9000 More Acres

This video was takes from Upper Lake Road in the Junction City area on August 16 by Milo Bastos

The Monument Fire burned hot and fierce yesterday swallowing over 9,000 more acres and reaching 128,613 acres with only 10% containment.

Structures were damaged on August 16 in Junction City and teams are working to assess the situation there.

The biggest activity was towards the south in the direction of Hayfork and multiple new evacuation orders and warnings have been issued last night and this morning.

The west end of the fire is holding fairly steady, but the fire is spreading like a red amoeba in all other directions.

According to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office,

The Monument Fire continued to advance to the south, east and north, threatening the communities of Junction City and Hayfork. The fire is estimated at 128,613 acres following an infrared flight early Wednesday morning, a gain of more than 9,000 acres over Tuesday. Containment remains at 10% with 920 personnel working on the fire.
Following a transition day with California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 on Monday, the Alaska Type 1 Incident Management Team took command of the North Zone between Burnt Ranch to Chimariko Road on Highway 299 on the north end and Burnt Ranch to the intersection of Hyampom Road and the 2N11 Road on the south end at 6:00 AM today.

CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5 took command of the South Zone at 7:00 AM today. CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5 will manage the portion of the fire threatening state-responsibility lands.

The two teams will work together, share information and resources and prioritize where those resources will focus their efforts, said Alaska IMT Incident Commander Norm McDonald. The two teams worked together on the August Complex last summer, he noted.

“We’ll support them and they’ll support us; we’ll share resources from porta-potties to air tankers,” McDonald said. “We worked together last year and have good relationships. The number one objective for both teams will be firefighter and public safety. All our decisions will be based on that.”

The fire on Tuesday continued to advance toward Douglas City, Hayfork and Weaverville, prompting the Trinity County Sheriff’s office to issue an evacuation warning for those communities. As of Tuesday night, the fire was within one-quarter mile of Hayfork and an evacuation order was issued for residences from Ewing Road, up through all residences off Brady Road while firefighters worked to protect structures in the Farmer’s Ranch Road, Sunshine Meadows and Harrison Road areas.

Elsewhere on the fire Tuesday, crews continued defending structures in the communities of Junction City and Red Hill, mopping up around structures impacted by the fire Monday night. A Trinity County damage assessment team was in Junction City to gauge structure loss and damage following Monday’s incursion.

Crews continue to strengthen and patrol control lines in the area of Burnt Ranch and Ironside Mountain on the west side of the fire. A tactical firing operation was conducted south of Burnt Ranch along the 60 Road in the Chaparal Mountain area to prevent the fire from threatening Burnt Ranch and moving to the west. Helicopter retardant drops were used to pretreat the area around structures prior to the burn operation. Fire managers are working to secure lines and mop up the burn before winds switch from the northwest to the northeast, which could challenge containment lines. Crews continue scouting for areas to put contingency lines in the area of Gray Ranch and Denny to keep the fire east of the Trinity River.

Firefighters also responded to three spot fires discovered east of the North Fork Trinity River. Helicopter water drops were used to knock down two spot fires but one near 33A4 and Duncan Roads had grown to approximately 40 acres as of late Tuesday night. Given the extremely dry conditions, spot fires are a major concern and continue to challenge firefighters.
Firefighters also on Tuesday responded to a 2-acre spot fire below Pattison Creek Ridge. Helicopter water drops suppressed the fire and crews were mopping it up.

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

Stats:

920 personnel, 12 hand crews, 74 engines, 7 helicopters, 15 dozers, 5 water tenders, 6 masticators, 3 skidders, 2 excavators.

Compelling Images:

Hawkins Bar Fire Water Tender 4142 working hard on August 17 helping to pick up spot fires on top of the 60 Rd, Underwood Mtn Rd.[Photo from Hawkins Bar VFD]

Fire by Junction City on August 16. [Photo by Shae Philips]

Fire by Junction City on August 16. [Photo by Ben Lindemann]

Last night, the fire on Brady Road. [Photo taken by Graham Osburn from the old school on Hyampom Rd looking due north.]

CalFire Engine crew provides structure defense in Junction City. [Photo from InciWeb]

Firefighters scramble to scratch line around a spot fire near a structure in Junction City on August 16. [Photo from InciWeb]

Structure Defense at Junction City on August 16. [Photo from InciWeb]

The Plan:

https://www.facebook.com/ShastaTrinityNF/posts/3053721851526520

The Weather:  

According to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Public Affairs Office,

There is a Red Flag Warning in effect today for gusty winds and dry conditions. Winds will switch from the northwest to the northeast today. Much drier air will move into the region with poor overnight relative humidity recovery along ridges, along with poor to moderate recoveries in the valleys. Temperatures will remain in the 85- to 95-degree range. Relative humidites will dip into the low teens.

The Roads:

State Highway 299 is closed from 1.7 miles east of Hawkins Bar at Ammom Road to Sky Ranch Road in Junction City.

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.

Property Damage Assessment:  

The Shasta-Trinity Forest Service still has the same information for damaged structures. “Damage assessment teams have confirmed 32 structures have been destroyed.  For questions or information regarding the status of your property, call Trinity County Office of Emergency Services (OES) at 530-623-1116.”

Evacuation and Help Information Including Community Meetings:

• Evacuation Centers are at
  • The American Red Cross is opening a shelter for #DixieFire and #MonumentFire evacuees at Shasta College, 1155 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, #Redding, CA.
  • The shelter at Trinity Valley Elementary School will move to Willow Creek Bible Church, 39 Barannan Mountain Road, Willow Creek, CA 95573.
  • Trinity County Fairgrounds announced, “Evacuees: The Fairgrounds is currently Open, if you have vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. that you would like to move to our parking lot please complete a form, located on our bulletin board and put into the mailbox. Everyone is welcome to use this space if you feel it is safer than your property.”
• Areas under Evacuation Warning are
  • In effect for Weaverville, Douglas City, areas south from Barker Mountain
  • Hayfork–South section (See here for details)
• Areas under Evacuation Order are:
  • Barker Mountain
  • Big Bar
  • Big Flat
  • Burnt Ranch
  • Canyon Creek
  • Cedar Flat
  • Coopers Bar
  • Del Loma
  • Areas Northwest of the Hayfork Summit (See here)
  • Hayfork–north section (See here for details)
  • Helena
  • Junction City east to Oregon Summit including:
    • La Grange Road,
    • Castle Road
    • Slattery Gulch Road
  • Red Hill
  • Sky Ranch 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.” More information here: Animal Shelter Evacuation Information From the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department
  •  In addition, Domestic + Large Animals can be taken to the Hoopa Rodeo Grounds on Pine Creek Rd in Hoopa, CA. Click here for a map. 
  • Trinity County Animal Shelter, 563 Mountain View St, Weaverville, CA
• Mandatory evacuations caused by fast moving wildfires in the local area have resulted in the temporary closures of several Trinity County Post Offices. Customers impacted by these closures may pick-up mail at alternative locations. See details below:

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
• Monument Fire Surpasses 50,000 Acres
• Evacuation Order Issued for Burnt Ranch Area
• Temporary Evacuation Point Set Up for Evacuees From the Monument Fire
• Monument Fire Captures Just Under 58,000 Acres, Firefighters Hold at 3% Containment
• Thirty-One Structures Destroyed so Far as the Monument Fire Takes 62,490 Acres
• After a Night Where the Fire Grew a Mile to the East in One Area, Red Flag Warning Will Challenge Crews Battling the Monument Fire Today
• Red Flag Conditions Again Today as Monument Fire Closes in on 75,000 Acres With Only 5% Containment
• Monument Fire Swells Another 4000 Acres; Containment Remains at 5%
• Wind and Hot Dry Temperatures Could Challenge Crews on the Monument Fire Particularly on the East Side Today
• The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Issued an Evacuation Order on the Monument Fire for Sky Ranch Road
• Leaping Almost 15,000 Acres Since Yesterday, the Monument Fire Closes in on 100,000 Acres
• As Monument Fire Grows, Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Issues an Evacuation Warning for Wildwood Road to Hayfork Summit
• New Evacuation Orders Issued on the Monument Fire (MAP)
• Monument Fire Roars Over Another 22,000 Acres in the Last Day