Summit Fire Grows to 20 Acres as Lightning-Sparked Wildfires Spread Across Northern California

Firefighters continue to battle the growing Summit Fire and monitor numerous lightning-sparked wildfires across the Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests following multiple days of intense thunderstorms. With more lightning forecast for this afternoon and evening, fire crews remain on high alert.

We’ve gathered the most important information about lightning fires burning in the Klamath National Forest and organized it below for our readers.

Stats:

According to the Klamath National Forest:

Strong downdrafts from passing thunderstorms caused the Summit Fire to grow to 20 acres overnight. Aerial resources, including air tankers and helicopters, have been working the fire since morning. Smokejumpers are actively constructing line along the fire’s left flank, and three hotshot crews are expected to be inserted later today. The Summit Fire is located west of the Pacific Crest Trail in the vicinity of the upper Wooley Creek drainage about two miles west of Cliff and Campbell lake. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect, including a section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Of the 10 other fires burning on the Klamath National Forest, four are reported as contained. A 20-person crew is mobilizing to engage the No Name Fire today. Firefighters are working across the forest to secure firelines as additional resources continue to arrive from outside the area.

Forest visitors are urged to stay informed and exercise caution. Be aware of current fire activity and weather forecasts before entering the forest. Thunderstorms may bring gusty winds and lightning, and conditions can change rapidly.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest reports multiple fires started from over 3,000 lightning strikes:

Wildfire conditions continue to evolve after Tuesday’s storms, with several new starts reported across the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

The forest saw more than 3,000 lightning strikes on Tuesday. More than 15,000 were reported across Northern California.

Reported fires in the forest as of Wednesday morning are as follows:

• Bald Fire, 0.1 acre, southwest of Hayfork and northwest of Peanut; this fire is controlled

• Bone Fire, 0.1 acre, east of State Route 36 and Bramlet Road between Post Mountain and Wildwood; this fire is contained

• Brock Fire, 0.5 acre, south of Hayfork and west of State Route 3

• Butter Fire, 0.25 acre, west of Hayfork; this fire is controlled

• Cabin Fire, between Cabin Creek and Girard Ridge east of Castella; this fire is just north of the Pacific Crest Trail

• Campbell Fire, 0.1 acre, near the east bank of the McCloud River Arm of Shasta Lake and north of the Greens Creek Campground

• Chanchelulla Fire, 0.1 acre, southwest of the Chanchelulla Peak summit and northeast of Wildwood; this fire is contained

• Deer Fire, 0.1 acre, between the Weaver Bally summit and Rush Creek Campground north of Weaverville

• Fox Fire, 0.1 acre, north of Helena between the East Fork and North Fork of the Trinity River

• Friend Fire, 0.1 acre, east of Indian Valley Creek near Hayfork; this fire is contained

• Granite Fire, 0.1 acre, between the Long Canyon trailhead and Lake Anna, west of Covington Mill

• Green Fire, 5 acres, south of the Chirpchatter Campground between Shasta Lake and Potem Creek Falls; ground resources are working their way to the fire and air resources are actively engaged

• Hambone Fire, 0.1 acre, northeast of Hambone and west of Lakin

• Lake Fire, 0.1 acre, west of Lake Siskiyou; this fire is contained

• Oleo Fire, west of Hayfork between Oak Ridge Road and Butter Creek

• Powerline Fire, less than 0.1 acre, northwest of Weaverville near the Canon City historical landmark; this fire is controlled

• Sink Fire, 0.1 acre, northwest of Globe Mill in Ripstein Gulch

• Spring Meadows Road Fire, south of Spring Meadows Road near McCloud

Shasta-Trinity National Forest firefighters have been positioned throughout the forest in anticipation of wildfires caused by lightning strikes. Ground and aerial resources are responding to these fires, and a full-suppression strategy is underway, keeping these fires small. Firefighters will be monitoring the forest throughout the next few days looking for new fires that may start in the hours and days after this week’s lightning strikes. Shasta-Trinity firefighters are also responding to mutual aid calls from other firefighting agencies.

Images:

A photo of Lake Mountain Lookout with surrounding storms the evening of July 1. #nofilter
Photo credit: Tom Hasvold

Chris Yarbrough, Six Rivers National Forest Captain, Engine 343, lightning strike on Picketts Peak, Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Flame retardant being applied at the Green Fire, U.S. Forest Service

The Weather:  

According to the National Weather Service, another round of thunderstorms is expected this afternoon and evening, with the highest lightning potential focused on southern Siskiyou County (including the Trinity and Mt. Shasta areas) and stretching northeast into Modoc, eastern Klamath, and Lake counties. Around 1,000 cloud-to-ground strikes were recorded across the region yesterday, and dry lightning remains a concern due to elevated cloud bases and very dry fuels.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for these areas, where new fire starts are likely. Some storms may produce gusty outflows up to 60 mph and hail, particularly in eastern Lake County. Storm activity is expected to taper off after sunset.

The Maps:

Click on map to go to the interactive Fire Information for Resource Management System US / Canada map

Evacuation and Meeting Information:

Click on the screenshot image of the Genasys Protect Map to view current evacuation information.

Evacuation information from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office:

Due to fire activity on the #summitfire the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, with the support of our fire partners, is issuing an EVACUATION ORDER the following zone(s):

SIS – 1414

SIS – 2100 A

The following zones are now in an EVACUATION WARNING:

SIS – 2100B

Find your zone here: https://protect.genasys.com

If you are in the EVACUATION ORDER zone(s), LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.

Earlier:

• Thunderstorms Bring Fire Danger, Hail, and Striking Skies Across Northern California
• Lightning-Sparked Fires Spread Across North Coast Forests; Crews Responding Across Rugged Terrain