South Fork Complex Quieter After Rains

Smoke wafts up from the South Fork Complex after the recent rains. [Photo from the US Forest Service]

With the wet weather Friday and Saturday, firefighters were able to evaluate opportunities to go direct on the fire due to the reduced fire activity. Dozers and hand crews were able to make good progress installing control lines along the northeastern perimeter in an area east of the Berry-Summit-Mad River Road (Route 1). Along this eastern flank, firefighters and heavy machinery worked to mitigate hazard trees so that firefighters can access the fire’s edge safely. Firefighters constructed hand line along the southern perimeter where difficult terrain prevents the use of heavy equipment while evaluating opportunities to go direct in the area east of Torrey Corrals. Crews worked diligently along the western flank strengthening existing control lines and mopping up smoldering material to secure the lines and increase containment. With warmer weather in the forecast, the lighter and smaller fuels will start to dry out and be susceptible to increased fire activity. As the ground dries out from the moisture received over the past few days, crews and equipment will work to make access deeper into the fire areas and continue building control lines to increase containment. Helicopters and air assets plan to assist ground crews with suppression efforts today as weather allows.

Below are details and links that might be helpful to those concerned about the South Fork Complex.

The Roads:

There are no closed major roads.

Weather:

Morning fog then becoming partly cloudy with a 10% chance of scattered showers. A stray thunderstorm is possible in the afternoon. Maximum temperatures are expected to be 62-67 ºF, and minimum relative humidities are expected to be 50-55%. Northwest winds are predicted to be 6-10 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. 

Evacuation and Meeting Information:

• In Humboldt County, an Evacuation Warning continues to be in place for Zone HUM E 114 A and Zone HUM E 114 B. In Trinity County, an Evacuation Warning continues to be in effect for Zone HYM-505 and Zone HYM-509. For the most up-to-date information on evacuations in Humboldt County use the evacuation map at https://protect.genasys.com/search. For the most up-to-date information on evacuations in Trinity County go to https://tinyurl.com/29f8uwmk

Other Important Information:

There is a forest closure order. Hunters and other folks who want to visit the area be aware. See here for the closure order. See Map of area here.

• Important links to also watch:
  • Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department
  • Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services
  • Trinity County Sheriff Department 
  • Trinity County Office of Emergency Services
  • Six Rivers National Forest Service
  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service
  • South Fork Complex–Trinity County Facebook page
  • InciWeb

Earlier:

• Red Flag Warning Issued as Lightning Strikes Pepper the Emerald Triangle
• Powerful Lightning Storm Leaves Multiple Fires to Combat in Northwestern California
• Lightning-Sparked Wildfires Stretch Resources in Northwestern California; Head Fire in Siskiyou County Estimated Over 3000 Acres
• Wildfires Unleashed on Northwestern California: Thousands of Acres Covered by Flames, Evacuations Ordered Following Lightning Storms
• Red Flag Warning Over the South Fork Complex Mostly Burning in Humboldt County But Threatening Hyampom in Trinity County
• The South Fork Complex, Burning Mainly in Humboldt County but Perched Near Hyampom in Trinity County, Grows
• Progress Being Made on the South Fork Complex Fires
• The South Fork Complex in Eastern Humboldt Near Hyampom Is Now 2,338 acres and Has 20% Containment
• Firefighters Worried About Wind and Rising Temperatures on the South Fork Complex
• Red Flag Warning Conditions Over the South Fork Complex Worry Firefighters
• South Fork Complex Cooler Today
• South Fork Complex Continues to Grow Though Slowly in Eastern Humboldt CO. on the Doorstep of the Hyampom Community in Western Trinity CO.
• Firefighters Use Cooler Temperatures to Build Containment Lines on the South Fork Complex Near Hyampom
• New Evacuation Warnings Issued for Areas of Humboldt County as South Fork Complex Increases Activity
• [UPDATE 8:14 a.m.: 400 Acre ‘Slopover’] South Fork Complex Fueled by Northern Winds, Edges Closer to Vital Hwy 36 Corridor
• No Major Movement on Southern Perimeter of the South Fork Complex