Single Publication

Happy Camp Complex Daily Update September 23, 2023

WEATHER: The winds from the southwest will continue today: expect smokey conditions along the Highway 96 corridor.  Most of this smoke is from the Six Rivers Complex fires not the UFish and Elliots fires. The rain coming in Sunday night through Monday will temporarily mitigate the smoke.  Please be advised the National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Siskiyou County beginning Sunday afternoon through Monday evening; camping near the local creeks and rivers is not advised over this time. Hunters, be aware!

FIRE BEHAVIOR:  Although the fire hasn’t moved beyond the containment lines in several days, there is still active fire burning within both fire footprints.  The southwest winds could move the fire, particularly in the areas of open line on both fires, both which have a southwest orientation. Specifically, this is the open line along Titus Creek of the UFish Fire and on the Elliot Fire the open line running from Dry Lake Rd to Swillup Creek and along the northeast side of Pony Peak 

UFISH FIRE: 7,650 acres at 70% containment. 

ELLIOT FIRE: 13,376 acres at 70% containment.  

The hazard tree mitigation along Forest System roads 17N11, 17N12 and 17N32 is a major part of the work of this fire and will continue for the next few days.  The other focus is on suppression repair in both fire footprints. Crews are water-barring dozer lines and handlines, spreading wood chips and pulling brush in over areas that are secure to protect the soil.  Mop up continues along Highway 96 on both fires.  Interior fuel islands continue to burn and produce the only smoke from these fires.  There is no active burning showing up on infra-red drone monitoring, although there are small spots of heat along Titus and Swillup creek drainages.

SMOKE EFFECTS: Smoke is expected to remain in the Very Unhealthy to Hazardous range for much of the day along Highway 96 and at Happy Camp. Southwest winds will bring smoke over our area late this afternoon and into the evening. Sunday is expected to show more clearing out of the smoke and there is a strong chance rain Sunday night into Monday that will wash out some of the smoke.  For more details on smoke movement, go to Wildfire Smoke Outlook

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting https://community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents, make sure you are signed up for the CodeRED emergency alert system at: https://bit.ly/SiskiyouCodeRedEmergencyAlert.

CLOSURES: A closure order has been implemented in the Klamath National Forest. Find more information at https://bit.ly/KlamathNFAlertsNotices. 

As hunting season continues, please be aware of area closures within our national forests. Contact local Forest Service offices for specific information.

DELAYS: One-way traffic control is on Highway 96 at various locations, from 5 miles east of Seiad to the Klamath River. https://roads.dot.ca.gov/