Single Publication

Acres: 86,347

Containment: 21 percent

Cause: lightning

Start Date: Aug 15, 2023

Resources: 38 crews, 78 engines, 10 helicopters, 4 drones, 14 dozers, 18 masticators,

2 skid steers, 29 water tenders

Total Personnel: 1,844

ANNOUNCEMENT: Highway 199  between Sandy Beach (near milepost 21) and Oregon Mountain Road (near milepost 31) reopened to one-way piloted traffic Monday at 8 a.m. after being closed Sunday due to a rockslide. Updates from Caltrans provide current highway conditions here: roads.dot.ca.gov.

CURRENT SITUATION: A priority for firefighters Sunday was to continue the burning operation they had begun Saturday in three areas along US Highway 199. Because representatives from Caltrans and California Highway Patrol were very involved in the operation from the beginning, they were able to respond quickly with equipment and personnel when a nearby rockslide impacted the highway Sunday afternoon. Taking advantage of the temporary road closure, hotshot crews worked swiftly, completing the approximately 300-acre firing operation that afternoon—much sooner than planned. Night-shift firefighters patrolled the highway corridor and reported no issues.

Favorable weather and vegetation conditions also allowed crews to conduct three small-scale firing operations on the fire’s eastern, southeastern, and southwestern sides Sunday. Moderate- and even low-intensity burning operations can produce a lot of smoke that may be visible from a distance. The Hurdy Gurdy fire is also producing some visible smoke after days of dry weather. However, no communities are threatened.

FIRE BEHAVIOR AND WEATHER: The somewhat more active fire behavior observed Sunday indicates that vegetation and dead and down fuels—particularly at higher elevations and on south- and west-facing slopes—are becoming dry enough to burn and allow the fire to spread for a few hours in the afternoon. Monday’s cool, cloudy, humid conditions will be an anomaly in an otherwise hot, dry week, and no measurable precipitation is expected over the fire area.

CLOSURES: Six Rivers National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites in the vicinity of the complex are closed (Forest Order No. 10-23-06). View the Order and closure map on the Forest’s website: tinyurl.com/4atens8c.

AIR QUALITY: Smoke from firing operations on the Smith River Complex and other nearby fires could impact the area Monday. A daily Smoke Outlook with air quality information is available here: tinyurl.com/yb29zy6f.

EVACUATIONS: Del Norte County Level 2 (Get Set) and Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation orders remain in effect. An interactive evacuation map is available here: tinyurl.com/yp3d99sr.

FIRE INFORMATION: