[UPDATE 10:21 p.m.] Red Flag Warning on the Monument Fire Tomorrow; Spot Fire Jumps Hyampom Road

Hayfork is underlined in red in this satellite image taken this afternoon.

The situation is heating up again on the south side of the Monument Fire. Firefighters faced active fire behavior today “with uphill runs and short-range spotting,” according to the Northern California Geographic Coordination Center.

This evening, flames jumped the Hyampom Road in the area of Nine Mile Bridge and the fire is burning on either side. The road has been closed.

Firefighters will be challenged by Red Flag warning weather over the fire tomorrow, according to the weather specialist speaking in tonight’s virtual meeting. (See the Plan below.)

According to the Northern California Geographic Coordination Center, the Monument Fire grew to184,142 acres today and is now 41% contained.

Tomorrow the fire is expected to be aggressive and stretch firefighters’ abilities to stop a push along the south line.

Below is a gif showing the smoke rising from the fires in northern California from this afternoon through this evening.

UPDATE 10:21 p.m.: Press release from InciWeb,

The Monument Fire is approximately 184,142 acres and 41% contained. Two areas of the fire remain active: the north side, which is primarily in the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, and the southwest side, which is east of Hyampom. While suppression efforts are being implemented to protect the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area, the Trinity Wild and Scenic River, Inventoried Roadless areas, and endangered species habitat, the highest priority remains the southwest side. Numerous resources are positioned near Hyampom to protect structures and make every effort to halt the fire’s southward advance toward Hayfork Creek and Hyampom Road.

On Sunday, hotshot crews initiated a multi-day firing operation east of Hyampom as a tactic to slow the fire’s spread southward and westward. Crews are conducting the firing operations in two areas: along Pattison Ridge and on the ridge north of James Creek, east of Nine-Mile Bridge. On Monday afternoon, the fire progressed downslope toward James Creek and Hyampom Road at a moderate pace. It reached Hyampom Road at a couple points east of Nine-Mile Bridge where crews were in position to hold the fire north of the road. However, as weather conditions worsened late afternoon, the fire spotted south of Hyampom Road in approximately eight locations. Firefighters were able to suppress and contain most of the spot fires, but one became established south of Nine-Mile Bridge and advanced upslope. Initial estimates are that the spot fire south of Hyampom Road is approximately 80 acres. Skies adequately cleared Monday afternoon, allowing two helicopters to assist ground crews with water drops. Firefighters also have a mobile retardant base near Hyampom that is operational and ready to support them should retardant be needed as a fire-suppression tool. The active southwest area of the fire will be the priority for crews working through the night. On the northern perimeter, the fire was active in Big French Creek. On the northeast side, aerial observers confirmed that the fire remains west of the North Fork Trinity River and Backbone Ridge. Resources continued to clear and widen handlines constructed along Backbone Ridge. Contained fireline elsewhere around the fire perimeter continues to be monitored and patrolled.

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

Stats:

2,053 personnel, 37 hand crews, 126 engines, 4 helicopters, 38 dozers, 42 water tenders, 30 masticators

The Plan–Tonight’s Meeting:

The Weather:  

The Forest Service is issuing a Red Flag warning for the area of the Monument Fire tomorrow.

The Roads:

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

Monument Fire:

• A segment of State Route 299 – from Mile Post 36.3 (just west of Helena) to Mile Post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) – is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Exception: On Monday, September 6, the escort will operate every hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Overnight, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.
• Northeast of Hayfork: Big Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road
• West of Junction City: Big French Creek Road, Big Mountain Road, and Soldier Creek Road
• South of Willow Creek: Hodgson Road, Burwood Drive, Panther Road, and Butterfly Creek Road

Evacuation and Help Information Including Community Meetings:

• Evacuation Centers are at
  • The American Red Cross has a shelter for #DixieFire and #MonumentFire evacuees at Shasta College, 1155 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, #Redding, CA.
  • There is a shelter at 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.”

• 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. 
  • Redding Rodeo Grounds (large animal) 715 Auditorium Drive Redding, CA
  • Trinity County Animal Shelter, 563 Mountain View St, Weaverville, CA
  • Warehouse (small animal) 145 Locust Street Redding, CA

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
• Smoke From Fires Cooled Temperatures and the Monument Fire Had a Calmer Day Than Expected
• Monument Fire Continues to Push Towards Hayfork, Growing Almost 7000 Acres Overall
• Monument Fire Grows About 6000 Acres; With the Wind Changing, the Fire Is Expected to Move to the West Today
• Two Spot Fires From the Monument Fire Jumped the New River This Evening
• Monument Fire Claws It’s Way West But Firefighters Up Containment in Other Areas of This Massive Beast
• Monument Fire Grew Another 2000 Acres in the Last Day, Containment Remains at 16%
• Monument Fire Containment Increases to 20% After Another Day of Heavy Smoke Suffocating the Flames
• Monument Fire Tops 150,000 Acres, Pushes Towards Being in the Top Twenty Largest Wildfires in California History
• Big Flat, Big Bar and Del Loma Reduced to an Evacuation Warning
• Junction City Reduced to an Evacuation Warning
• Burnt Ranch Reduced to an Evacuation Warning on the Monument Fire
• The Monument Fire Active North of Hayfork Tonight
• 50 Structures Destroyed on the Monument Fire
• Monument Fire Swallows Another 2200 Acres; Firefighters Face Challenging Conditions Today
• Monument Fire Likely to Reach Top Twenty Largest Fires in California Over the Weekend
• Monument Fire Became the Twentieth Largest Fire in California History Yesterday; Shows No Signs of Stopping Soon
• Monument Fire Active Today (Evening Update)
• Hyampom Road Closed After Monument Fire Makes New Push
• UPDATED Evacuation Orders Along Hyampom Road
• Three of the Top Twenty Largest Fires Ever in California History Burning Now, Monument Fire in Trinity County Now the 18th on the List
• As Monument Fire Continues to Push South, Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Issues Evacuation Orders and Warnings for the Hayfork Area