[UPDATE 12:54 p.m.: Six Rivers NF Lists More Fires] Lightning Storm Peppers Northern Humboldt, Multiple Fires Reported

Throughout the early morning hours today (August 5), lightning flashed in northern Humboldt–particularly near Willow Creek and Hoopa.

Basho Watson Parks, a member of the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council, has been up since early this morning reporting on the resulting fires on the Willow Creek, CA Bulletin Board on Facebook.

We spoke to him a little after 5 a.m. He explained that there are multiple fires in his area almost assuredly caused by lightning. He told us that strikes “pummeled” the area around Three Creeks and Brannan Mountain which is west of Willow Creek. But also hit all around northeastern Humboldt County starting roughly about 2:30 a.m.

He knows of one fire south of Willow Creek, which we believe is the one that shows on FireMappers as the Charlie Fire.

He gave his observations which haven’t been confirmed officially. “There are three fires on Campbell Ridge,” he told us. “Three [that] are growing…One up Peach Tree, one in the Hudson Creek drainage, and one further up river on Campbell Ridge directly east of Willow Creek.”

The last, he explained is in a “super steep” area. As of 5 a.m., he believes firefighters “are trying to gain access.”  He doesn’t believe there are any established roads.

“The lightning is still rocking all around us,” he told us as he and a companion prepared to go check on some of the fires about 5:15 this morning.

Rob Mayeda, a meteorologist for NBC, created these snip of radar showing storms moving from south to north through Humboldt County around 4 a.m.

Radar loop of storms moving north through Humboldt County during the 4am hour #CAwx 8/5/2022 https://t.co/4soHE99Qkl pic.twitter.com/UKqwxk6EeY

— Rob Mayeda (@RobMayeda) August 5, 2022

We’ll be updating on these storms and their fiery aftermath here throughout the day.

UPDATE 7:18 a.m.:

A fifth fire is now known to be burning on the eastern edge of Humboldt County after a lightning storm passed over northern Humboldt early this morning.

About 6:50 a.m., a report came in over the scanner that a new fire was now burning “at the end of High Prairie Road” off of Snow Camp Road. The fire is estimated to be already one acre in size and growing in heavy timber.

Four other fires started this morning relatively close to Willow Creek, because they happened overnight and in relative rugged areas, not much information is known other than their rough locations.

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services Issues an Advisory to Willow Creek Area After Multiple Fires in Area

UPDATE 11:56 a.m.: There are now at least seven fires in the Willow Cree and south area.

According to a press release from Six Rivers National Forest,

BOATMAN: Fire is located northeast of Willow Creek on Waterman Ridge Road 7N02 Forest Route 4.

BREMER: Fire is located northeast of Willow Creek on ridgetop above the Bigfoot Subdivision. No road access to fire. Currently staffed with 3 engines on top and 2 engines at bottom.

BRAVO: Fire is located south of Willow Creek between Baldwin and Campbell Ridge.

CAMPBELL: Fire is located south of Willow Creek on the west side of Campbell Ridge above Campbell Ridge Road.

FRIDAY: Fire is located south of Willow Creek ½ mile up Friday Ridge Rd from Hwy 299.

OAK: Fire is located south of Willow Creek. Near FS Road 5N31 and 6N20.

CHARLIE Fire is located south of Willow Creek near the Oak Fire and along FS Road 6N20.

Lauren Schmitt from KMUD News kindly shared this informative series of interviews with Basho Watson Parks, Jeremy Ward who is Cal Fire HUU Battalion Chief, and Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATE 12:50 p.m.: Six Rivers now names eleven fires:

BOATMAN: Fire is located northeast of Willow Creek on Waterman Ridge Road 7N02 Forest Route 4.
BREMER: Fire is located northeast of Willow Creek on ridgetop above the Bigfoot Subdivision. No road access to fire. Currently staffed with 3 engines on top and 2 engines at bottom.
BRAVO: Fire is located south of Willow Creek between Baldwin and Campbell Ridge.
CAMPBELL: Fire is located south of Willow Creek on the west side of Campbell Ridge above Campbell Ridge Road.
FRIDAY: Fire is located south of Willow Creek ½ mile up Friday Ridge Rd from Hwy 299.
OAK: Fire is located south of Willow Creek. Near FS Road 5N31 and 6N20.
CHARLIE Fire is located south of Willow Creek near the Oak Fire and along FS Road 6N20.
SURPRISE: Fire is located approximately 3 miles south of Salyer on South Fork Road.
SPIKE: Fire is located approximately 10 miles South of Hwy 299 on Forest Route 1 near Spike Buck Mountain.
CORRAL: Fire is located northeast of Willow Creek on Tish Tang Ridge.
ROOSTER ROCK. Fire is being managed by CalFire. Located east of Maple Creek, near Rooster Rock and Snow Camp Mountain.