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A community meeting will be held tonight at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds at 6:00 pm. This community meeting will be streamed live via Six Rivers National Forest Facebook page and simulcast on KCRE 97.6.

The Smith River Complex is now approximately 47,140 acres with zero percent containment. The Smith River Complex had more favorable weather conditions as a cooler and more humid airmass helped push marine air over the fire at all elevations yesterday. Conditions gradually warmed and dried throughout the day with highs reaching the low to mid 70s. Substantial clearing with reduced fire activity allowed for blue skies along the western portion of the complex. Firefighters took advantage of the more favorable conditions and applied aerial delivered retardant from a robust fleet of Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS). An estimated 300,000 gallons were delivered throughout the day by 5 VLATS. These drops were used to reinforce the work occurring by ground crews along the 305/Rowdy Creek Road on the western perimeter. Drops were also placed adjacent to the dozer lines created at the base of Stony Creek, near the 18N10 road that will be used to halt the southern progression of the Kelly fire as it nears the community of Gasquet.

An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) equipped with infrared cameras arrived at the incident yesterday, along with additional crews, engines, and equipment. The UAS model will be used to provide accurate perimeters to the ground crews.

Today is expected to be slightly warmer and dryer, with the overnight winds forecasted to be breezy from a northeasterly direction. The number of resources working overnight, including a fixed wing airplane with infrared cameras to coordinate with the ground crews, will be increased for this operation period to account for the anticipated adverse overnight conditions.