[UPDATE 5 p.m.: New Evacuation Orders] Firefighters Face Hotter and Drier Weather on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Today

SRLC This photo was taken by firefighter Steven Douglas with Cedar Mountain Fire on the evening of August 10, 2022 from the Incident Command Post

UPDATES in Green:

New Evacuation Order as of 5 p.m. here.

Since yesterday morning, the Six Rivers Lightning Complex grew from 12,375  to 13,968 acres–over 1500 acres. It is still 0% contained. Today is predicted to be warmer and the humidity to drop.

The Campbell Fire grew to the southeast and also spotted in the same direction over the dozer lines north of Trinity Village about 8 p.m. However, Hawkins Bar Fire Chief Todd Wright said this morning that crews got mostly on top of that about two a.m. Yet, he warned that because the weather is now predicted to be hotter and drier in the coming days. “This afternoon its going to get a little interesting.” But, he added, “I’m feeling optimistic about our chances.”

All the fires grew yesterday, and with the inversion layer predicted to lift this afternoon, they will likely grow again. Look for more aircraft this afternoon when the smoke lifts.

In summary, the fires grew through the higher humidity of the last few days. As the weather turns drier and hotter, firefighters will be facing a more challenging landscape, but they’ve been using the last few days to good effect.

UPDATE 11 a.m.: According to a press release from Six Rivers National Forest,

…There are 1,400 personnel assigned to the incident. USFS, CIIMT 11 and CAL FIRE continue to work together in order to create a single unified operational plan for firefighters to collectively fight fire and support the communities impacted.

Overnight in the area west of the Bremer Fire burning within the Lightning Complex, firefighters performed firing operations off dozer and handlines to remove fuels to protect homes. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the fire to look for threats to control lines. If the visibility permits, aviation crews will assist ground firefighters with water drops.

On the northwest side of the Waterman Fire burning within the Lightning Complex, crews had a successful firing operations near the Four Road which held overnight without any challenges. To the north of this fire, resources were able to improve the dozer and handlines towards Horse Linto Creek and will continue to work in this area today. There was another firing operation on the far southeast side which was successful in removing fuels. Fire crews will continue to work in this area. Firefighters will be concentrating on securing the communities near Salyer Loop and Salyer Heights.

On the Campbell Fire burning within the Lightning Complex, resources continue to prep Waterman Road/The Four Road and make a turn towards Zigler Point and toward the community of Trinity. Crews did firing operations in this area that held well without challenges. To the southeastern edge of this fire, dozers put in line above Trinity Village. There were some challenges with spot fires, however fire crews were able to get these spots

and bring them back into the main body of the fire. Nightshift crews were able to improve the lines that were made around spot fires and feel confident about those holding up.

On the west side of the Ammon Fire burning within the Lightning Complex, crews are scouting routes for dozer line that will be put in today. In the southeast corner, prep work continues with no current challenges to the line. Along Ammon Ridge prep work was completed yesterday and firefighters will continue to improve the line without any expected challenges in this area.

To the west side of this fire along Friday Ridge Road progress is slow as there are very thick fuels in this area. Dozer and handlines have been started on the northwest side of this fire and firefighters will continue to work in this area to connect to dozer line that has been put in from the northeast.

Overnight humidity recovery was moderate with values from 40-60% which was much drier than previous nights. Gradual warming and drying in the coming days means the fuels will be more susceptible to burning. The fire will be more active as the inversion lifts. Air operations will be limited due to poor visibility from the inversion layer. This will impact northern areas of the Lightning Complex.

Strategic objectives are to keep the fire north of Ammon Ridge Road, south of Lone Pine Ridge Road, east of the FS-1 road and west of the boundary with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Stats:

The numbers of firefighters and their support staff with boots on the ground is rising. The stats from Cal Fire captured in the early morning of August 11 were:

SRLC stats 8.11

The stats from Cal Fire captured this morning are:

SRLC stats 8.12

That’s 30 more engines and 135 more personnel.

The acreage on individual fires are roughly:

Ammon 6,617 IR Acres

Bremer 1,098 IR Acres

Campbell 4,817 IR Acres

Charlie 114 IR Acres

Waterman 1,318 IR Acres

Compelling Images:

All photos from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department:

The Plan:

The Lookout with Zeke Lunder, wildfire analyst, gives his perspective on what’s happening on the Six Rivers Complex

The Weather:  

Smokey with high temperatures in the low eighties. The humidity dropped last night compared to the night before and is expected to drop much further today.

The Roads:

Hwy 299 is open but please keep your eye on Caltrans QuickMap for the latest information.

The following roads into evacuation zones have been closed. (Please note we believe more rural roads have been closed but don’t yet have accurate information. These are just the ones we know for sure.) Residents may still use these roads to travel out of evacuation order zones:

    • Horse Linto Creek Road at Saddle Lane
    • Seeley McIntosh Road at Country Club Road
    • Friday Ridge Road at Sandy Bar

The Maps:

  • Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.
  • KMZ Map–Zoom for detail or for 3D imagery, click on the map and download a file that connects with your Google Earth program.SRLC heat 8.12.22

Evacuation and Meeting Information:

Earlier:

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7 Comments
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Chuck U
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Chuck U
1 year ago

A cool hack I use when the inversion is thick and no visibility is to use the weather radar function on windy.com, it is very sensitive to smoke plumes indicating increased burning activity. Last year on the monument it was very good for seeing where blow ups were about to occur. If you see repetitive “puffing” purple on the radar that produced a blowout later in the afternoon. If zero vis and no firefighter radio nearby this may be the best indicator to tell you it is time to run.

Martin
Guest
Martin
1 year ago

Just praying that all the firefighters will be able somehow to start getting the upper hand of this monster. I pray that no one will be injured or killed. The speed of spread is just amazing. Hells fire on earth!

willow creeker
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  Martin

It’s actually a slow moving, not very intense fire in most spots. Just creeping along and burning underbrush. Haven’t seen much torching.

Dude
Guest
Dude
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

So why is it still 0% contained?

Northern forests
Guest
Northern forests
1 year ago
Reply to  Dude

Expect containment numbers to increase soon, lots of sections line are already in mop up stage, but there is still a lot of uncontained line out in the remote areas away from structures that could still pose a threat.

willow creeker
Member
1 year ago

Yes. It’s actually burned up to and been stopped all along patterson road and some of Seely Mac a couple days ago. Not sure why that isn’t considered containment.
Also- the night time pics are misleading. The long exposure makes the fire seem much more intense than it is. I experienced this first hand outside my house, where my pictures of the fire out back really scared my family, and I had to explain, ‘it’s really not as bad as it looks’
I would call this- and I’m hearing this from fire crew also- a good fire. The weather has been cool and high RH has helped. I’ve been wearing a jacket in the morning and I have to wipe dew (and ashes) off my windshield every morning. We have been lucky.
Big thank you to the firefighters.

The Real Brian
Member
1 year ago
Reply to  willow creeker

Glad it’s not traumatic there WC.

Way to stay realistic and positive!

Good luck out there!