Happy Camp Complex Reaches 57% Overall Containment After East Side Lines Are Completed

A view from Bear Peak near the Elliot fire. A tree struck by lightning is unburned while smoke is visible above Pony Peak in the distance. [Photo USDA Forest Service courtesy Garrett Hazelton]

Tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., a transition of command will take place. California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 and Incident Commander Dustan Mueller will transition command of the Happy Camp Complex to Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 2, under the command of Incident Commander Scott Schuster. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,129 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,105 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,738 acres, 21%) 

Last night, fire activity was minimal on the west side of the Happy Camp Complex. Firefighters on the Elliot Fire observed less rolling debris near State Route 96. Crews will be working to build more fire line near Pony Peak south toward Dillion Creek, where the fire is holding. They will also work east toward Swillup Creek. Firefighters on the Ufish plan to carry out strategic firing operations with the goal of removing dense vegetation to reduce the chance of the fire making a run toward Happy Camp. Smoke from this operation may be seen in surrounding communities. More resources will be flown into the Hancock Fire today. Firefighters have already gained 21 percent containment and will be working on the plan to prevent the fire from moving to the north and east. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

As of last night, firefighters on the Head Fire secured the remaining section of open line and achieved 100% containment. Today, additional suppression repair work will take place on the Head and Scott fires. 

The remaining personnel on the Lake Fire will leave the area today. All fires on the east side of the complex will continue to be observed by infrared flights that can detect residual heat on the land.  

The Stats:

The fire:

28,381 acres, (an increase of 7,571 since August 29), now 57% contained, (up from 29% on August 29). 

The resources (per Klamath NF on 9/5):

• • 32 crews
  • 6 helicopters
  • 32 engines
  • 18 dozers
  • 22 water tenders
  • 8 Pumpzillas
  • 4 masticator
  • 1 skidgen
  • 9 excavators
  • 1,283 personnel

Virtual Public Meeting:

A virtual public meeting will be held today, September 6th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.

The Plan:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=829798605344005

The Roads:

 A press release from the California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 says, “No road work will be performed on State Route 96 through Wednesday, September 6th, at 7 a.m., to allow for holiday travel. Please keep in mind that one-way traffic control will remain in place from 2.8 miles west of Dillon Road to 8.8 miles east of Dillion Road, as this remains in an active fire area for the Elliot Fire. Motorists can expect up to 30-minute delays in this area. County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays“

For highway closures, visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.

The Map:

Click map to enlarge.

Evacuation:

• View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: https://community.zonehaven.com.
• Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system at:  www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR):

A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited.

Smoke Outlook:

Forest Closure Updates:

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: All Pacific Crest Trail closures within the Klamath National Forest have been reopened.

Two closure orders have been implemented:

• Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure No. 05-05-23-06 and No. 05-05-23-08. Additionally, fire restrictions remain in place to help minimize the chances of human-caused wildland fires. These restrictions prohibit campfires outside of designated improved recreation areas and wilderness. View closure orders, fire restrictions, and maps at: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices.

Important links to also watch:

• Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office
• U.S. Forest Service – Klamath National Forest
• Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services
• California Interagency Incident Management Team 15
• CHP – Yreka
• Caltrans – District 2
• 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
• Deadly Happy Camp Complex Battered With More Lightning Strikes
• Winds Create Another Active Day on the Happy Camp Complex
• Positive Shift in Happy Camp Complex, Several Evacuation Zones Downgraded to Warnings