[UPDATE 10:54 a.m.] Six Rivers Lightning Complex Grows Almost 3000 Acres

Hand tools like the ones seen here, play a major role in controlling wildland fires. After hand line construction, firefighters need to sharpen the cutting edges of their tools with a file to prepare that tool for the next operational period. Pictured here are the Cedar Mountain Fire Protection District crew enjoying some music while preparing for the next day’s work. [Photo and caption posted by Six Rivers National Forest]

UPDATE 10:54 a.m.: Almost one hundred lightning strikes occurred across the Klamath National Forest, “with many more on neighboring lands in northern California and southern Oregon,” reports Rachel Smith KNF’s Forest Supervisor. “As of this morning, we are actively working on eight new starts. We are making good progress on all of these new fires with assistance from local volunteer fire departments, municipal departments, neighboring national forests, and CAL FIRE firefighters. Clear skies allowed us to get water-dropping planes and helicopters on these new starts early along with smokejumpers and heli-rappellers for the more remote fires. Two new smokes have been reported this morning and crews are working their way into them as I write this.”

Six Rivers Complex, burning in both Trinity and Humboldt Counties, is now 26,000 acres (a growth of over 2800 acres) but is also 33% contained. That’s a 10% jump in containment with solid black lines shown on the map of the Campbell Fire flank above the Trinity Village area.

Today, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms and the predicted persistent smoke throughout the day will likely keep most aircraft grounded.

Below we’ve gathered the most important information about the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Fire and organized it below for our readers and we’ll be keeping our eyes on what’s happening and updating throughout the day in green.

UPDATE 9:52 a.m.: According to the Six Rivers National Forest Service, 

Fire activity was minimal overnight with only one instance of fire spotting outside of the control lines, and that was quickly contained. Crews conducted several successful strategic firing operations and improved control lines using dozers and handlines to remove fuels. Control lines are holding well.

Campbell Fire
Crews will continue to strengthen fire lines and limit the spread of the main fire. Fire crews will patrol and extinguish remaining pockets of heat inside control lines on the west side of the fire.

Ammon Fire
Firefighters will continue strategic fire operations along the southwest perimeter in the Friday Ridge area. Crews will continue to improve and reinforce fire lines along the Six Road of Ammon Ridge and within the Friday Ridge System as well as along Titlow Hill Rd/Route 1 out to Highway 299.

Stats:

Yesterday’s stats from Cal Fire are:

Today’s stats from Cal Fire this morning remain the same:

The Plan:

The Weather: 

There’s a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. But otherwise smoky and (very slightly) not as warm or as dry as yesterday.

The Roads:

Hwy 299 and Hwy 96 is open but please keep your eye on Caltrans QuickMap for the latest information.

The following roads into evacuation zones have been closed.

According to Six Rivers National Forest, the following roads leading to evacuation zones have been closed (residents may use these roads to exit only):

• • Campbell Ridge Road from Salyer Heights to Seeley McIntosh Road
  • Horse Linto Creek Road at Saddle Lane
  • Friday Ridge Road at Route 6
  • Titlow Hill Road (Route 1) at Horse Mountain Botanical Area–Due to a large presence of fire personnel and machinery working to build containment lines for the Ammon Fire, residents are asked to limit travel on Titlow Hill Road/Route 1 in zones HUM-E052 and HUM-E062 to essential traffic only.

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.

Evacuation and Meeting Information:

• Click here for the latest evacuation information from Humboldt County
• This is the latest Humboldt County Evacuation Map as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, August 18. However, click the map to go to the latest information on ZoneHaven.
• Click here for the latest evacuation information from Trinity County

Earlier:

• Six Rivers NF Lists More Fires] Lightning Storm Peppers Northern Humboldt, Multiple Fires Reported
• Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services Issues an Advisory to Willow Creek Area After Multiple Fires
• Evacuation Orders Issued for Residents east of Willow Creek by HCSO and Evacuation Warnings Issued for Residents Near Salyer by TCSO
• Evacuation Orders and Warnings Expand as of 7:36 p.m. for Residents of the Willow Creek Area
• Over 500 Acres Burning Around Willow Creek This Evening as Latest Info on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Released
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Grows, Threatening Homes and Forcing Evacuations
• Trinity County Sheriff’s Department Issues Evacuation Orders For Areas Near Salyer
• New Evacuation Warning Issued for North of Willow Creek
• Humboldt County Issues New Evacuation Orders at 7:37 p.m.
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Doubles in Size, 0% Containment
• More Evacuations Ordered This Morning as the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Takes New Ground
• Evacuation Orders Issued Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
• New Evacuation Warnings Issued Sunday by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 7:52 p.m.
• HCSO Issues Evacuation Order for Zone South of Willow Creek
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Expands to 6,773 Acres
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Grows Several Thousand Acres and Is the Number 1 Priority in the State Right Now (PHOTOS)
• Steady Growth and New Evacuation Warnings: Six Rivers Lightning Complex August 10
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Continues to Expand
• Firefighters Face Hotter and Drier Weather on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Today
• Good News from HCOES
• Evacuate! New Order Issued on August 12 at 5 p.m.
• Trinity County Reducing Salyer From Evacuation Order to a Warning
• Law Enforcement Searching for Suspects in Willow Creek
• Law Enforcement Seeking Looters in Willow Creek
• Good News as Firefighters Claw Out 12% Containment on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex
• Captured! HCSO Arrests One Suspect in Yesterday’s Looting of a Property Under Evacuation Order
• ‘Secure and Hold,’ Firefighters Strengthen Their Grasp on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex: 10 Days Nearly 20,000 Acres
• Six Rivers Lightning Complex Now the Second-Largest Fire in California This Year
• Storms Building in the Area of the Six Rivers Lightning Complex Today Worry Firefighters