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Gasquet, Calif., August 25, 2023. Firefighters were on high alert yesterday afternoon as the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the fire area for a fast-moving thunderstorm system, predicted to produce dry lighting and erratic winds. Preparation efforts continued in and around the town of Gasquet throughout the day, as well as indirect line construction from the 305 road to the North Fork of the Smith River. Additionally, the indirect hand line was completed from the French Hill Road south to highway 199.

The thunderstorms arrived as predicted, bringing approximately 0.15” of rain to the weather station at the Camp Six communication site. Although wind gusts up to 35 mph arrived with the storm, they were for a short duration and the measurable rain helped keep fire activity less than what was predicted. During the gusty winds a spot fire was detected around the North Fork neighborhood but was quickly extinguished by firefighters who were patrolling the area.

Firing operations were conducted along the Highway 199 corridor in the Kelly Fire utilizing Hot Shot crews and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). This low intensity firefighting tactic will allow Pacific Power and Caltans access to affected areas to repair valuable infrastructure.

Low pressure lingering off the coast of Central California will help lift and push marine air inland over the complex. This will bring cooler, moister conditions with calm afternoon winds which will reduce fire behavior and spread. These favorable conditions will persist for several days into early next week to provide an extended window of beneficial weather so that firefighters will be able to work more safely and efficiently to fight the Smith River Complex fires.