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Fire crews have been taking advantage of the recent changes in the weather and are making good progress on the Happy Camp Complex. Overnight relative humidity recovered to 80-90%, and fire behavior was minimal. The wet conditions have allowed firefighters to construct fire line directly on the edge of most of the fires in the complex.

Firefighters and bulldozers are going direct across the Head Fire’s perimeter, and the fire is 5% contained. Crews are constructing fire lines to the west and south from Collins Baldy Lookout. Crews and dozers have been working across the fire’s south end from Scott Bar, tying in several fingers and islands of unburned fuel along Scott Bar Road. The west perimeter is being addressed by crews working from the north out of Hamburg and the south out of Scott Bar.  

The Block and Townsend fires are 100% contained and the Den Fire is 95% contained.

The Gold Fire is 40% contained, and the Scott Fire is 35% contained. Fire line has been constructed down to Scott River, and crews are now working across the north and west sides of the fires. Holding Scott River Road is a priority for this portion of the complex.

The west side of the complex remained active yesterday, and helicopters were used to hold the Canyon Fire in Dillon Creek. The fires on the west side of Highway 96 are slowly backing down to the highway. Structures along the highway have been prepped, and crews are focused on holding fire to the west side of the road. Rocks and debris have rolled onto Highway 96 in the area of Dillon Creek and the highway is currently closed.

Today, on the west side, fire crews will begin working the eastern edge of the Swillup Fire and clearing roads to the north and west of the fire. Helicopters will be used to hold the fire in Dillon Creek. A drone flight is planned to check for additional heat in the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot, and Swillup Fires. A tactical firing operation is planned for tonight to bring the fire down to Highway 96. On the east side, firefighters will continue direct attack on all fires.

WEATHER: Drier air will move into the region, leading to sunny skies with higher temperatures and lower relative humidity. Fuels will start to dry out, and fire behavior will once again become more active over the next few days. Fire activity will increase on the west side of the complex prior to the east due to the high amount of precipitation received over the east side of the complex.

CURRENT ACRES BURNED:

Canyon (1,108), Three Creeks (320), Elliot (669), Swillup (576), Ufish (583), Malone (156), Head (6,419), Den (294), Townsend (81), Block (0.1), Gold (936), Scott (300), Lake (174)

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 CLOSURES: Highway 96 is closed from Seiad Creek Road to two miles east of Horse Creek.  Scott River Road is closed at Kelsey Creek Road. Fire and debris flow will continue to impact the Highway 96 corridor. Please check the Cal Trans website before traveling in the area, 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 . If you are traveling and encounter mud or debris flow across the roadway, do not attempt to cross over the flow. Vehicles can easily be swept off the roadway.

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