Extreme Fire Behavior Possible on the Hill Fire Today Due to Weather Conditions

Hill Fire from the air [Photo by the USFS courtesy of Inciweb]

Current Situation:

Morning update from SRNF & CAL FIRE:

The Hill Fire is now being managed in Unified Command between the U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE. In addition, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team arrived today to assist with managing the fire and a Complex Incident Management Team and a CAL FIRE Incident Management Team has been ordered.

The fire is burning in steep and remote terrain making access challenging for ground resources within the Buck Creek and Mosquito Creek Drainages. Federal and state air resources including air tankers, helicopters, and air attack are on scene and will continue to perform retardant drops to try and slow the spread today. The fire is growing to the north in heavy timber.  

Due to dry and hot weather conditions today fire activity is expected to be high with the potential for a rapid rate of spread and extreme fire behavior.  

Crews will begin to provide structure protection along Route 1 and within the Friday Ridge communities. At this time there are multiple structures threatened. Firefighters are working to construct direct and indirect line to control fire spread to the north and the west.  Additional ground resources continue to be ordered and arrive on scene. 

Compelling Images:

California: Resources driving into the Hill Fire.

It’s going big.

Thanks to the subscriber who shared this view. ? #cafire #cawx #wildfire #hillfire pic.twitter.com/0y5xpibucB

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 17, 2024

The Maps:

• Operations Map –to see details either zoom or click on the map and download a pdf.

Evacuation Information:

• Click here for the latest evacuation information from Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department and Humboldt County OES and the Genasys Map.
• As of last night:

Mandatory Evacuation Orders have been issued for the following zones. Leave now!

• • • • HUM-E077-A

Evacuation Warnings have been issued for the following zones. Be prepared to leave!

• • • • HUM-E077-B
      • HUM-076-A

Here’s a screenshot of the map with the evacuation information at this time. Click on the image of the map to be taken to the latest map from Genasys.

Closures & Restrictions:

Closures: 

Road closure is in place at Friday Ridge Road at Forest Service Route 6N06. Fire

Restrictions: 

Forest fire restrictions currently in effect across the Six Rivers National Forest. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1188610.pdf.  

Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also have restrictions in place. 

Additional Fire Information:

The Hennessey 2, Ridge 2, and Waterman Fires are all staying within their fire perimeters of less than a quarter acre each. This will be the last update for the Hennessey 2, Ridge 2, and Waterman Fires unless significant activity resumes. 

Earlier:

• Lightning Activity Starts Fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
• At Least 50 Lightning Strikes in the Six Rivers National Forest Cause Multiple Fires
• Evacuations as the Hill Fire South of Willow Creek Grows
• [UPDATE 10:11 a.m.: New Evacuation Information] Hill Fire in Humboldt County Jumps to 3,437 Acres, 0% Containment