Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Single Publication

Zoom to your location
Reset map zoom and position

Could not determine your location.

2023 Happy Camp Complex Klamath NF

Unit Information

1711 S. Main St 
Yreka, 
96097 
1711 S. Main St 
Yreka, 
96097 

Incident Contacts

Happy Camp Complex Incident Update for August 19, 2023 8:30 pm

2023 Happy Camp Complex Klamath NF
Publication Type: News 08/20/2023

CURRENT SITUATION

As more resources arrived and began working on each of the fires in the Happy Camp Complex, firefighters made good progress toward the goal of full suppression. The inversion remained in place until around noon and fire activity remained moderate.

Late this afternoon, a thunderstorm cell moved over the area, creating strong winds near the Elliot, Canyon and Three Creeks Fires by Highway 96 and the Dillon Campground. Bulldozers building line around the fires had to be pulled back while firefighters concentrated on protecting structures along the highway corridor.

Due to the storm, incident resources also helped to support Klamath National Forest operations on a new fire in the Scott Valley and on the Swillup Fire. The Swillup Fire had been in patrol status. With strong winds from the storm, the fire is now actively burning.

This evening, storms continue to move through the area. Little to no precipitation is resulting from the storms, particularly in the Scott River area where the Head, Scott and Gold Fires continue to burn.

The Lake Fire was added to the Happy Camp Complex as of this morning and was estimated at 165 acres with 0% containment. Smoke Jumpers, Hotshot and Hand Crews are now on this fire, using trails and natural features for containment lines, monitoring and managing any slops over the lines.

A Damage Assessment Team is working to evaluate the damage sustained to structures within the fires. Their assessment is ongoing. As of this evening, there are nine damaged or destroyed structures.

EVACUATIONSView current Siskiyou County evacuation orders, warnings and evacuation center locations by visiting: community.zonehaven.com

ROAD CLOSURES:  View road closures in the vicinity of the Happy Camp Complex on the Caltrans interactive map:  quickmap.dot.ca.gov

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

Fires remain at 0% containment until IR flights can confirm heat and estimated acreage:

  • Block - 1/100 acres                                        
  • Canyon - 788 acres
  • Den Fire - 348 acres
  • Elliot - 531 acres
  • Gold - 62 acres
  • Head - 5,617 acres
  • Lake - 475 acres
  • Malone – 66 acres
  • Scott – 41 acres
  • Three Creeks – 158 acres
  • Townsend – 80 acres
  • Ufish – 243 acres

Resources

  • Crews – 30
  • Engines – 91
  • Dozers – 17
  • Water Tenders – 16
  • Masticators – 4
  • Excavators – 1
  • Personnel - 1261