[UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: Forward Progress Stopped] Fire Spreads to the Surrounding Vegetation in Eastern Humboldt

Black smoke rising from the Valley Fire east southeast of Bridgeville. [Screenshot from ALERTCalifornia]

FlightRadar shows the air attack and Copter 914 above the fire.

Dispatch sent a number of agencies to the incident, now dubbed the Valley Fire,  including Cal Fire, Bridgeville Fire, Carlotta Fire, Fortuna Fire, Southern Trinity Fire, a High Rock crew, a dozer, Tanker 96, Air Attack 120, Copter 914, and possibly others.

Firefighters are currently working to contain the blaze and prevent further spread.

According to the resident, the neighbors have been notified.

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

UPDATE 6 p.m.: The air attack noted that the fire was burning at a moderate rate of spread. He said there were multiple greenhouses but no other structures in the immediate area. Three additional air tankers have been requested.

UPDATE 6:13 p.m.: Tanker 94 and Tanker 95 are nowon the incident. A Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe is also responding to the incident.

The Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe as shown on FlightRadar.

UPDATE 6:25 p.m.: According to the Air Attack, the fire is now only spreading slowly. The fire is either 3 acres or 4 acres. He also said that there were two structures that were burning in the fire. Ground crews are making good progress. Retardant is almost all the way around the fire.

UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: The Incident Commander on the ground says two structures are lost and one is threatened.

UPDATE 7 p.m.: As the sun sets, the aircraft is being released from the fire.

UPDATE 7:02 p.m.: Forward progress has been slowed, according to the Incident Commander. “We’re making good progress.”

UPDATE 8:41 p.m.: The Incident Commander reports that forward progress has been stopped. That means that firefighters have successfully halted the advancing edge of a fire, preventing it from spreading further. While this doesn’t mean the entire fire is extinguished, it signifies a major step towards containment. The fire is no longer growing in size or threatening new areas. Crews may still need to control hot spots or mop up remaining flames, but the immediate threat of the fire spreading has been mitigated.

Final update:  The Incident Commander reports the fire’s final acreage is 5.12 acres.

We won’t be updating unless something significant occurs.