Firefighters Continue to Use the Reprieve Brought by the Rain to Tame the Monument Fire

Night Operations near Cow Creek last week. [Image from InciWeb]

According to InciWeb,

The Monument Fire is approximately 219,302 acres (+48) and 59 (+4) percent contained.

Yesterday’s operations proceeded with more patrol and mop up. Containment line was added on the southernmost division of the fire. Chippers were utilized to mitigate fuel loads around structures in the Trinity Village area. Masticators were also used to enforce contingency lines around Trinity Village and to improve the road system to Denny Proper. A road group was assembled to mitigate hazards along the Hyampom Road.  Approximately 1.3 miles was completed.  On the east side of the fire preparation for suppression repair has begun.

Overnight, mop up and patrol work continued. Fire was active near the Trinity River and is expected to remain active in this area throughout the day.

Today’s operations will continue to concentrate on mop up and patrol. Scouting for possible future contingency lines will be conducted in the northeastern part of the fire. Chipping operations are planned on the 10 Road and hazard mitigation will continue along the Hyampom Road. If weather conditions are favorable, tactical firing operations are possible in the northwest area of the fire.

Stats:

1,133 personnel, 17 hand crews, 77 engines, 7 helicopters, 12 dozers, 10 water tenders, 13 masticators, 1 excavator

The Weather:  

According to InciWeb,

 Easterly winds are expected over most of the fire today. However, winds along the northwest perimeter will be from the northwest this afternoon. The air will dry out slightly, as well as warm up just a bit. All fuel classes should be available to burn as Probability of Ignition approaches 80%.  Weather condition are expected to remain conducive for mop up operations, with direct attack tactics possible on any fire burning near the containment lines.

The Roads:

• Hwy 299 Schedule

According to InciWeb,

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.
• Hyampom Road is closed between Grassy Flats and James Creek.
• Forest Service Road 3N08 northwest to Oakridge is closed.
• Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency.
• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.
• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.
• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) 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 30 – 45 minutes. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open to the public.

Evacuation and Help Information Including Community Meetings:

• On Saturday, September 25, there will be a virtual community meeting at 6 P.M. Facebook and Zoom links will be provided at a later date.
• 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.
  • McKinleyville Seventh Day Adventist, 1200 Central Avenue, McKinleyville
  • Fireman’s Hall Pavilion, 9 Park Street, Fortuna
  • 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
• Red Flag Warning on the Monument Fire Tomorrow; Spot Fire Jumps Hyampom Road
• The Monument Fire Throws Spot Across Hyampom Road; It’s Now 300 Acres
• Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Issues New Evacuation Orders as Monument Fire Pushes Hard to the South
• With Wind Gusts of Up to 45 MPR in Areas, the Monument Fire Advanced Aggressively Today
• Firefighters Face Another Hot, Dry, Windy Day on the Monument Fire After Flames Conquered Large Areas Yesterday
• Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Issues New Evacuation Order for Hayfork Area
• The Monument Fire Blew Through Nearly 13,000 More Acres Today
• The Monument Fire Expected to Push to the North and Southwest as Temperatures Heat Up and Fuels Dry Further
• Monument Fire Mostly Calm After Weekend Rain; Hot and Dry Weather Returning
• Monument Fire Continues to Slowly Grow After Weekend Rains