[UPDATE 6:25 p.m.] Fire at Clam Beach, Air Support Requested
Fire personnel are responding to a vegetation fire near Clam Beach.
The initial reports over the scanner around 3:15 p.m. today, indicated the fire was between Clam Beach and the Vista Point.
At least four fire companies have been requested to respond with additional air support requested.
Fire personnel are staging at the Clam Beach parking lot.
At 3:43 p.m. the fire was reported to be approximately 1 acre in size “in heavy driftwood” on the dunes.
Emergency personnel stated over the scanner that there may be a need to shut down the #2 southbound lane of Highway 101. Please avoid the area if possible.
Just before 3:50 p.m. personnel requested two additional water tenders as well as coverage for McKinleyville.
[Photo by Jae Wood]
Update 4:02 p.m.: The CHP Incident Page states “Per [Calfire] fire is getting larger they have aircraft [enroute] at this time.”
Update 4:33 p.m.: The Caltrans Quick Map states that the #2 southbound lane of Highway 101 is now closed just south of the North Central exit.
UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: According to Cal Fire Division Chief Paul Savona, “We had to shutdown the number 2 southbound lane of Hwy 101 and it is still shut down.” He said the fire is about one acre” located in a difficult to access area. “Crews will be at scene probably the remainder of the evening,” he told us. “Additional growth is not expected.”
The cause is under investigation.
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![Cal Fire helicopter dipping water at Clam Beach. [Photo by Kathy Via]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/288666112_828150801524350_8902090919463407312_n.jpg)
- Cal Fire helicopter dipping water to fight the Beach Fire. [All photos by Kathy Via]
![Cal Fire helicopter dipping water at Clam Beach. [Photo by Kathy Via]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/288428530_3291065554459599_7565274158619451956_n.jpg)
![Cal Fire helicopter dipping water at Clam Beach. [Photo by Kathy Via]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/288798515_1426897834491115_4997415328550439803_n.jpg)
![Cal Fire helicopter dipping water at Clam Beach. [Photo by Kathy Via]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/288429141_2246547555492614_4677729966045245708_n.jpg)
Video by Shaina Niehans
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It was just a matter of time. I’ve seen many people build fires there in the middle of a huge amount of driftwood.
Please don’t take photos while driving, especially at an emergency scene. If you want to be a news photographer, park your vehicle in a safe location, and then take your pictures.
I for one appreciate videography; providing it is done safely, and with and tact. The passenger was the one filming. What’s the harm?
It was taken from the passengers side.
Look again
It’s going to be a gnarly summer!
Too many homeless and no place to go!
Solstice party was last night. Many little fires all down the way. Though I despise the grubby Grubbs, this was more likely college students getting schwasted and not understanding how to put out embers. But also, if you’re reading this homelessez, please go away and stop begging in front of safeway past 7pm. And that dude begging in front of chevron all day these days. Just go to eureka dude. You 4 are the only ones doing this in mckinleyville. I feel for you on one level, but Freaking gtfo. You’re gonna attract more and that is NOT ok.. I will start yelling at you soon
You are probably right.
I did jump to conclusions.
“I will start yelling at you soon”
From the safety of your vehicle? Ballsy!
I was wondering who owned Tulsa-by-the-sea. It must be you!
Everyone in town must be thankful for a citizen who looks out for their safety by yelling at the homeless. Maybe you could hire a kid to yell for you. Much safer that way.
I hate it when they beg for a dollar, while I’m busy pouring ‘hundos in my Hummer.
Me too!
Love the pics and video. I walked over to Vista Point and down to S end of Clam Beach and then N up the beach but did not see any big fire damage, must be farther N, near where Central dead ends into Clam Beach.
Viewing the video again, it is close to the Central exit, but, still south of it.
We were there on Father’s Day to use one of the barbecue pits to cook hot dogs and lamb stew. I took a few videos but only like a few minutes of videos because all of our phones were dying. I collected samples of numerous plants including some edible ones and interesting but invasive ones while my children were playing with another child and the food was cooking. Is that what burned? The field I collected plants in? I wish I had collected more plants. If I knew it was all gonna burn up in days I would have taken several samples of each plant. How sad!
A month later coyote brush sprouting back lots of dune grass coming up. It’s barely an acre in the dunes behind the mouth of strawberry creek. Some small trees burned up, larger driftwood didn’t, in a year or 2 will be hardly noticeable