Single Publication

Yesterday on the Happy Camp Complex, fire activity increased significantly as the inversion over the area lifted in late morning. The increase in fire behavior challenged the firefighters and tested the fire lines around the complex. Fire behavior transitioned from smoldering surface fire to multiple trees torching and some short-range spotting. The change was a good indicator that the dead and downed fuels, the primary carriers of fire, have now dried out.

Later in the day, dry thunderstorms brought wind and dry lightning as they moved across the area. The thunderstorms moved over the complex’s center and west of the Elliot Fire. Even with the increased wind, primary fire lines held, except the dozer line off the 24 Road north of the Swillup Fire. Fire fighters were forced to pull out of that area due to a reduction in visibility and falling trees.

Overnight humidity increased to 90-100% over the area and fire behavior decreased. A new lightning fire was discovered north of the Gold Fire. Resources from the Happy Camp Complex made an initial attack on the new fire and held it to just over an acre.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (4,289 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,714 acres, 0%), Malone (276 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,161 acres, 0%)

Today, fire crews will focus on holding Dillon Creek and the Highway 96 corridor. The Elliot Fire continues to back slowly toward the highway. On the Swillup Fire, crews will be working to extinguish several spot fires that ignited across the line. They will address the area near Highway 96 corridor where the fire crossed the 24 Road. Indirect line construction will continue on the Ufish and Malone fires. Though the Elliot fire did not increase in size yesterday, the majority of the new acreage is due to it merging with Three Creeks and Canyon fires.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,648 acres, 19%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Gold (968 acres, 65%), Scott (367 acres, 50%), Lake (174 acres, 5%)

Today, direct line construction will continue around the perimeter of the Head Fire. An infrared survey of the fire overnight revealed that efforts are paying off. Much less heat was detected on the east flank of the fire. The fire was visible on the mountain above Hamburg. The greatest amount of work remaining on the Head Fire is across the north edge of the fire.

Crews will be mopping up the new lightning fire discovered last night, north of the Gold Fire, as well as securing fire lines around the Gold Fire. They Gold and Scott fires are slowly backing down slope on the west flank toward the Scott River.

The Townsend and Den fires are in patrol status. Fire crews have approximately 2,000 feet of fire line left to establish the primary line around the Lake Fire.

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

An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter.

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now OPEN after closure due to the Happy Camp Complex. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control will be up to 15 minutes. For the exact locations of where this work is taking place, please use quickmap.dot.ca.gov.  County Road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.

FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices to view the orders and maps.

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.

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: The Pacific Crest Trail has been impacted by the Happy Camp Complex and a portion of the trail is within an Emergency Closure Order on the Klamath National Forest. The trail is closed between Etna Summit and the Oregon border.

AIR QUALITY: For information regarding smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself, visit: https://www.airnow.gov/

• Fire Information:
• Public Phone: (530) 330-5441
• Media Phone: (530) 330-5452
• Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily
• Email: 2023.happycampcomplex@firenet.gov
• Incident Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov