[UPDATE 10:02 p.m.: Kudos to the VFD] Cal Fire Dispatches Full Wildland Response After Motorhome Reportedly Explodes in Phillipsville Area Catching Surround Vegetation on Fire
About 6 p.m., the Cal Fire Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting that a motorhome was on fire south of the Phillipsville area on the Avenue of the Giants. By 6:06 p.m., the received calls that the motorhome “blew up” and surrounding vegetation is on fire.
By 6:09 p.m., the report came that the side of the hill is starting to catch on fire.
The dispatch called out a full wildland response–at least one tanker and an air attack are on their way as well as multiple ground units.
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 6:26 p.m.: The CHP Traffic Incident Information Page reports that the Avenue is being closed just south of Phillipsville.
UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: According to Lauren Schmitt from KMUD who is at the incident, the forward progress on the fire has stopped. FlightRadar shows the aircraft leaving the scene.
UPDATE 8:08 p.m.:
![[Photo by Laura Cochrane]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/unnamed-2021-09-01T194703.090.jpg)
Flames bubbling from the RV on the Avenue. [Photo by Laura Cochrane]
“Another person was there and had already called it in,” she said. “I stood and watched horrified.”
The RV was on the southbound side of the Avenue pulled onto the roadside. Flames first “spread first to the downhill slope to the river,” Cochrane told us. “Then after a bit, it caught on the east side of the road and that’s when it took off.”
Around then a propane tank exploded and made a loud noise, she said. “There was one guy down there trying to stomp out the flames. We were cheering him on.”
Flames on the Avenue spread from RV. [Photo by Laura Cochrane]
Video by Lori Lynn Savino of Tanker 96 dropping retardant on the fire.
UPDATE 10:04 p.m.: Laura Cochrane asked that we give kudos to the VFD’s. We agree. Those folks regularly save us. In the comment section we’ve added a list of VFD’s that you can donate to. Video by Cochrane below.
UPDATE 10:38 p.m.: The CHP Traffic Incident Information Page reports that the Avenue is now partially reopened. The southbound lane is open but the Northbound lane is still closed.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Heard Garberville had a fire also????
Not that I’m aware of.
Truly blackbelt reporting. We love kym.
Good weather conditions. Hope all safe knocking this down. Rest of us, be vigilant and supportive and safe. No fire till it rains 3 inches.
There was a report of another fire between Dean Creek and Tunnel Road, on 101, but they could not find it, so all resources got cancelled.
It was the trailer that’s been parked on the side of the road south past Phillipsville, just outside of town around the corner.
I’m sure they must have insurance.
It was abandoned, full of garbage. Probably not insured
Was it that delphin seen all around humboldt? Lol…
Lol? Are you kidding? Fire resources are stretched so thin that we have minimal fire response. This is not a laughing matter, regardless of what or where it is. You think it’s so funny, you go put on a uniform and go fight it. [edit]
The let it burn policy makes for a minimal fire response stretched thin or not. I wonder why we never see any well managed private timber lands get burnt up and out of control
There is no “let it burn” policy in So Hum. Private timberlands get burnt on a regular basis. You should learn some facts before making uninformed comments.
WTH is a “Delphin”???
Toyota Dolphin… its a cabover RV, or, Yotahome…
HEISENBERG
Oh boy! I live on the loop! Do I stay? Do I go? I hear a helicopter and a plane! A fire truck drove by on the loop but no sirens? Does someone tell us to go? I am on the fire alert and paid in full? Where do we go? My check comes next week! No motel for me! It’s really hard to go through this! You don’t know until you are here! It’s so easy to stay go!! Neighbors are staying! Thank you Kym for keeping us informed!
Forward progress stopped. You should be fine.
Thank you.
Thank you!
I’m so glad that it didn’t get out of hand! My heart goes out to my P’ville friends. How can we ever thank our VFDs enough? Donate, donate, donate!!
Been evacuated more than once. When they evac you, they have a shelter in place and you can go there. If you have camping gear, put it in your vehicle until fire season is over. My car never gets unpacked and if I have to evac, the only thing I’ll need is ice and beer. I’m fully equipped for camping for weeks.
It’s a real jerk that would light an abandoned vehicle on fire at this time of year!
A heartfelt thanks for this post, Kym. I’ve heard the planes circling, as well as the chopper in the air, and am relieved to know that the fire is being controlled. Now I can relax for the night.
Thanks Kym. I was scrolling by and saw your alert. We went out to see the planes. Thank you for keeping us connected. And thank you to the firefighters who responded. Time to get some donations out.
Please thank and donate a couple bucks from this years harvest to your local fire agencies these people are busting they’re ass all day and then going out on these calls if it wasn’t for them we would be smoke and embers
No they are claiming bucks lost
Then it was Walter trying to stamp out the flames! Makes total sense now!!
I wonder if the CDF and USFS agree that Citizens should not attempt to fight a fire like the HCSO dose
“Forest Circus” issued the order!!!
Please consider donating to your local fire department. Below are number of Humboldt County Fire Departments plus some western Trinity County and some northern Mendocino County.
And again thank you to the woman who did the vast amount of work compiling this.
ALDERPOINT FIRE
POB 164
ALDERPOINT, 95511
BLUE LAKE FIRE
PO Box 245
Blue Lake, CA 95525
BRICELAND FIRE
POB 1249
REDWAY, 95560.
BRIDGEVILLE FIRE
P.O. Box 4
Bridgeville, CA 95526
CARLOTTA FIRE
PO Box 33
Carlotta, CA 95528
COFFEE CREEK FIRE
HC 2 Box 3951
Trinity Center, CA, 96091
DOWN RIVER VFD
140 Fire House Rd
Big Bar, CA 96010
FERNDALE FIRE
PO Box 485
Ferndale Ca. 95536
FIELDBROOK FIRE
4584 Fieldbrook Rd.
Fieldbrook, CA. 95519
FORTUNA FIRE
320 S. Fortuna Blvd.
Fortuna, CA 95540
FRUITLAND RIDGE FIRE
POB 87
Myers Flat 95554
Douglas City Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 10
Douglas City, CA 96024
Phone: (530) 623-5110
GARBERVILLE FIRE
PO Box 288
Garberville, CA 95542
GASQUET FIRE Department
PO Box 85
Gasquet, CA 95543
HAWKINS BAR VFD
PO Box 485
Salyer, CA 95563
HAYFORK VFD
195 Hyampom Rd
Hayfork, CA 96041
HONEYDEW FIRE
P.O. Box 74
Honeydew, CA, 95545
HOOPA FIRE and Office of Emergency Services
P.O. Box 369
11121 HWY 96
Hoopa, CA, 95546
HYAMPOM FIRE
22509 Hyampom Rd.
Hyampom, CA 96046
HYDESVILLE FIRE
3494 CA 36
Hydesville, CA 95547
JUNCTION CITY FIRE
PO Box 418
Junction City, CA 96048
KETTENPOM ZENIA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
Po Box 100
Zenia, CA 95595
LAYTONVILLE FIRE
44950 Willis Ave
Laytonville Ca 95454
LEGGETT FIRE
P.O. Box 191
Leggett ca 95585
Lewiston Fire Department
PO Box 113
Lewiston, CA 96052
Phone: (530) 778-3711
LOLETA FIRE
567 Park St.
Loleta, Ca. 95551
(707) 733-5407
MAPLE CREEK FIRE
15933 Maple Creek Rd.
Korbel, CA 95550
MIRANDA FIRE
POB 160
Miranda, Ca 95553
MYERS FLAT FIRE
PO Box 131
Myers Flat, CA 95554
ORLEANS FIRE
38162 Highway 96
(PO Box 312)
Orleans, CA 95556
Or you can donate via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/orleansvolunteers
PALO VERDE FIRE
P O Box 1381,
Redway, Ca 95560
PETROLIA FIRE
(Donate online)
98 Sherman Street.
P.O. Box 169
Petrolia, CA
95558-0169
PHILLIPSVILLE FIRE
PO Box 39
Phillipsville, CA 95559
PIERCY FIRE
80401 Highway 271/ PO Box 206
Piercy, CA, 95587
POST MOUNTAIN FIRE
PO Box 1026
Hayfork, CA 96041
REDCREST FIRE
PO Box 27
Redcrest, CA 95569
REDWAY FIRE
PO Box 695
REDWAY, CA 95560
RIO DELL FIRE
50 West Center St.
Rio Dell, CA 95562
SALMON CREEK FIRE
PO Box 662
Miranda, CA 95553
Salyer Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 235
Salyer, CA 95563
Phone: (530) 629-2778
Samoa Fire
1982 Gass St
Samoa, CA 95564
SCOTIA FIRE
PO Box 185
Scotia, CA 95565
SHELTER COVE FIRE
9126 Shelter Cove Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
SPROWEL CREEK FIRE
PO Box 2122
Redway, CA 95560
SOUTHERN TRINITY VFD, (a bi-county organization serving both eastern Humboldt and Southern Trinity)
P.O. Box 16
Mad River, Ca 95552
SOUTHERN TRINITY AREA RESCUE (STAR), a bi-county EMS/volunteer ambulance service
321 Van Duzen Rd
Bridgeville Ca 95526
TELEGRAPH RIDGE FIRE
PO Box 1152
Redway, CA 95560
Trinity Center Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 191
Trinity Center, CA 96091
Phone: (530) 266-3420
Weaverville Fire Department
PO Box 447
Weaverville, CA 96093
Phone: (530) 623-6156
WESTHAVEN FIRE Department
PO Box 2143,
Trinidad, CA, CA 95570
WHALE GULCH FIRE
76850B Usal Road
Whitethorn, CA 95589
WHITETHORN FIRE
PO Box 485
Whitethorn, CA 95589
WILLOW CREEK FIRE
P.O. Box 51
Willow Creek, CA 95573
Samoa Fire
1982 Gass St
Samoa, CA 95564
Thank you! Fixed.
Another great collaborative reporting with Lauren Schmidt of KMUD. You guys make a great team! Briceland VFD had to cancel it’s fall fundraiser for the first time in decades, right in the middle of their ambitious Tim Olsen Memorial Fire House construction. This project deserves estate planning donation levels for those living within the district. The Fire Hall will be an enduring tribute to our beloved Chief Tim.