Single Publication

HILL FIRE INCIDENT UPDATE

Date: July 27, 2024

Fire Information: 530-414-9056 

Hours: 08:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Email:2024.Hill@firenet.gov

Incident Website:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casrf-hill-fire

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/16/hill-fire

Location: Humboldt County, CA

Size: 7224 acres

Cause: Under Investigation

Start Date: Monday July 15, 2023, at 5:40 PM

Percent contained: 45%

Personnel: 1578

CURRENT SITUATION: 

Yesterday, firefighters were able to keep the spot fire on Sugarloaf Mountain in check. Moderate weather helped keep fire activity to a minimum and the fire stayed within containment lines. While the suppression of Sugarloaf Mountain remains the priority, fire personnel continue to mop up and patrol other areas of the perimeter. 

Suppression repairs begin today with hand crews and excavators. Working closely with resource advisors, crews will restore dozer lines in the fire area to their natural condition. Repairs after wildfires are necessary to aid the process of healing the affected environment. These repairs include but are not limited to, returning roads to their original conditions, cleaning culverts for proper drainage, and clearing slash piles. Moderate weather conditions are expected to remain in the area today, supporting these recovery operations.

Many hazards still exist within the fire interior. Smoke may be visible as stumps, logs, and other materials continue to burn well within the containment lines. 

WEATHER:

A cutoff shortwave trough passing over the area today will create a complex but generally moderate fire weather environment. Southeast wind in the morning will generally enhance the surface inversion and delay afternoon sea breeze, similar to how it did Friday. That said, cool marine air easing into the area will continue to gradually decrease temperatures and increase relative humidity, especially in the afternoon. Winds will generally be terrain influenced, with gusts generally below 15mph. Marine influence will only increase Sunday, with slightly better smoke mixing.

CLOSURES:

Forest Closure Order currently in effect for the area impacted by the Hill Fire. It is temporarily prohibited to be on any national forest system land, trail, or road within the closure area. To view the closure order and map of closure area visit the following link www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1191963.pdf.

Road closures are currently in place on Friday Ridge Rd. at Forest Service Route 6N06, Friday Ridge Rd. at Forest Route 5N01 and Friday Fridge Rd. at Forest Route 5N04. For updated road closure information, visit protect.genasys.com or humboldtsheriff.org/emergency.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

Forest fire restrictions also went into effect on July 12th. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1188610.pdf.

Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also have restrictions in place.

EVACUATIONS:

Humbolt County: Evacuation order and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtSheriff and https://humboldtgov.org/2383/Current-Emergencies. 

Conditions are subject to change at any time, visit https://protect.genasys.com/search for a full zone description. 

Sign up for Humboldt Alert emergency notifications at https://humboldtgov.org/2014/Emergency-Notifications 

Trinity County: Evacuation warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064589806351 and https://www.trinitycounty.org/OES 

Evacuation Center:

For information on assistance available to those displaced by the Hill Fire, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS  (1-800-733-2767.)

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services in coordination with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services and the American Red Cross-Gold Country Region established an Evacuation Center for those impacted by the Hill Fire to receive fire information. The Evacuation Center is located at Trinity Valley Elementary School, 730 CA-96 in Willow Creek. The center is not open to the public, however information on how to request assistance is posted at this location.