Single Publication

Fire Update

2023 SRF Lightning Complex

Saturday, September 16, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Eastern Area Type 2 Gold Team

Brian Jenkins, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 530-536-0767

Email: 2023.lightningcomplex@firenet.gov

Information Staffing Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Special Notes: The Eastern Area Incident Management Team took command of the fire on September 16, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. The 5 contained Redwood Lightning Complex Fires have been transferred back to the Redwood National and State Parks. The contained Lone Pine Fire has been transferred back to the local unit (see the accompanying Complex Overview for further details).  The Eastern Area Team is looking forward to the continued cooperation of local communities, agencies, and the Yurok, Karuk, and Hoopa Tribes during our stay here.

This update covers 9 of the 15 fires being managed as part of the SRF Lightning Complex. The remaining 6 fires are listed in the accompanying Complex Overview. Those fires, totaling 1,717 acres, are contained and in patrol status. They are checked daily, and their size and containment are unlikely to change.

Current Situation: The 15 fires in this incident total 23,811 acres and overall containment is 8%. This reduction in containment percentage is a result of which fires are now being managed under the Eastern Area Gold Team and not due to a substantial growth in fire acreage. The 9 uncontained fires described below total 21,326 acres. These fires are all on the Six Rivers National Forest. In total, 927 personnel are assigned to the incident.

Fire, weather, and fuels conditions on the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex continue to be favorable for using strategic firing operations to accomplish fire suppression objectives and protect communities, cultural resources, and other values. Strategic firing under current conditions is proving successful in cleaning up accumulated excess fuels on the forest floor with low intensity understory burns showing 2 to 4 foot flame lengths. Firing is progressing at a methodical pace that permits monitoring of effectiveness and making adjustments as needed. Engines are being deployed at night in locations where firing has occurred to guard against any unexpected fire behavior.

Pearch Fire (6201 acres, 9% contained) – Crews continue to patrol completed fire lines, mop up and secure the fire perimeter on the south and west sides of the fire. Tomorrow, a taskforce will finish the chipping operation along the west side. Structure Groups are present on the fire during both day and night shifts in the event they are needed. No firing operations occurred on the Pearch Fire yesterday. An area of active fire continues to back downslope into the Butler Creek and a portion of Somes Creek drainages on the northeastern side of the fire, well within indirect control lines. No fire movement occurred on the north side of the fire nearest Somes Bar. A night shift of engines continues to work the Pearch Fire. Today’s activities will be similar to yesterday.

Bluff #1 (3423 acres, 16% contained) and Mosquito (3671 acres, 15% contained) Fires – Due to hot temperatures and low relative humidity, strategic firing operations only occurred on 50 acres yesterday on the north end of Bluff #1. On the Mosquito Fire, no firing operations occurred yesterday due to low visibility.

A night shift of engines remained on the fires throughout the nighttime hours. Today, if weather and visibility are favorable, firing operations will continue near Bluff #1 and Mosquito Fires. Hand firing will continue to progress northward along Bluff Creek Road and Cedar Camp Road, and aerial firing will fill in the terrain between the two.

Blue Creek #2 (4128 acres, 0% contained), Marlow (1725 acres, 0% contained), and Copper (2092 acres, 0% contained) Fires – These fires are bounded by indirect control lines to the east and south and prior fire footprints where fuels are lighter. Fire growth over many days has been moderate, and no values are currently threatened. Blue Creek #2 and Copper Fires have now burned together, as expected. An 8-person Wildland Fire Module continues to monitor and assess conditions on the ground. Masticators are continuing brush removal work along the Nickowitz Road to open access to the south end of the fires.  Fire managers from the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex are coordinating daily with fire managers on the Happy Camp Complex due to the proximity of the Elliot Fire (part of Happy Camp Complex).

Monument (2 acres, 0% contained) and Let er-Buck (82 acres, 0% contained) Fires – Due to limited values at risk, the remote, steep terrain and associated safety concerns for our firefighters, and the low probability of success using standard suppression tactics, these fires are being addressed with a confinement strategy. Terrain, natural fire barriers such as rock outcroppings, and old fire footprints where fuels are limited will be used to confine fire growth until season ending precipitation extinguishes the fires. These fires are checked regularly by aerial patrols to ensure they remain within acceptable bounds, and very little fire growth has been observed.

Weather: The strong ridge which has been centered overhead the past several days will begin weakening and shifting to the east. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon and evening.  This may bring strong outflow winds near the complex.  Up-canyon winds 12-18 mph will develop this afternoon and evening in larger valleys. Highs will be in the lower 90s in the valleys and mid 70s to lower 80s on ridges. Onshore flow developing Saturday will cool temperatures 3-5 degrees.

For information on Closures, Evacuations, and Alert Notifications please see the accompanying Complex Overview.

Fire Information Contacts

Phone: 530-536-0767 | Email: 2023.lightningcomplex@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/casrf-2023-srf-lightning-complex

www.linktr.ee/srffitrpio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2023SRFRedwoodLightning

Redwood National and State Parks Information Hotline: Phone: 707-464-6101

https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Hoopa Information Hotline: Phone: 530-618-2995 | Email: serene.oes@gmail.com

More Fire Information Links: www.linktr.ee/srffirepio

NOTE: For information about the Elliot or Hancock Fires which are part of the

Happy Camp Complex, please visit https://linktr.ee/happycampcomplex2023 .