Single Publication

Gasquet, Calif., August 26, 2023. In the wake of the thunderstorms over the area two evenings ago, a deep marine layer was pushed over the fire generating excellent overnight humidity recovery. The marine layer combined with persistent onshore wind created generated cooler and moister conditions. These conditions moderated fire behavior significantly for most of the day yesterday.

Given the location of the fire’s perimeter, mostly on the steep rugged terrain, it is impossible to complete a direct attack on most of the fires within the complex. Therefore, an indirect suppression strategy is being implemented to construct control lines that have the highest probability of successfully containing the fire. Many of these lines are along roads and ridgelines and often have been used on previous fires. Fire managers coordinate their burning operations closely with a National Weather Service Incident Meteorologist who provides both short and long-term weather forecasts to inform the best times to complete burnout operations.

Yesterday, crews utilized an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) equipped with a firing device to slowly bring fire down from the Elk Camp Ridge towards the Pacific Power corridor, northeast of the community of Gasquet. The plan is to take advantage of the current weather pattern to contain as much of the western portion of the complex as possible, before potentially adverse weather impacts the fire area later next week.

The fire currently has over 2,354 personnel, including 9 Type-1 handcrews. These hand crews completed construction of a fire line from French Hill Road north to Highway 199. This new line will help keep the main fire from impacting the residences on the south side of Highway 199, including those along French Hill Road.

Evacuations

All evacuation orders are issued by the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office. If you are in the Del Norte County, area please sign up for their Community Alert System to receive emergency notifications. Evacuation levels as of August 21, 8:00 a.m., as follows:

Level 3 “Go Now”: Low Divide at Highway 197 from mile marker 1 to mile marker 13.  Patrick Creek, Little Jones Creek, Copper Creek Drainage, Coon Creek/ 16n19 17n07, Washington Flat, Pioneer Road, Panther Flat Campground Area, all communities between Slant Bridge Road north to the Oregon Border along Highway 199, French Hill Road.

Level 2 “Be Set”: High Divide, Rowdy Creek, Big Flat/Rock Creek

Level 1 “Be Ready”: Hiouchi from Slant Bridge to the east end of North Bank Road

Closures

Low Divide Road is closed from mile marker 1 to mile marker 13.

South Fork Road is open to residents only. Resident must provide proof of residency.

Howland Hill Road (Residents Only)

County road 316, Shelly Creek,

County Road 315 Holiday Mine

County Road 311 Old Gasquet Toll Road

County Road 305 Weimer Road

Forest Service Roads 16N19 and 17N07

U.S. Highway 199 is closed in Del Norte County from Slant Bridge Road to Oregon Mountain Road (PM 16 to 31) due to the fire activity. A hard closure is in place on U.S. 199 at the Agriculture Station near the Oregon border. For the latest road conditions please visit quickmap.dot.ca.gov

Effective Sunday, August 20, 2023, the Six Rivers National Forest has issued a forest-wide closure order. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/notices/?cid=FSEPRD1096395

The American Red Cross has a shelter at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds (421 US-101 N, Crescent City, CA 95531) for those displaced by evacuations. Red Cross disaster workers are partnering with local officials to help ensure evacuees receive necessities, including food, water, and shelter.

More Information

Smith River Complex Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/casrf-smith-river-complex

Facebook

Six River National Forest: https://www.facebook.com/SixRiversNF

Del Norte Office of Emergency Services: https://www.facebook.com/DelNorteOfficeOfEmergencyServices     

Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office: https://www.facebook.com/DelNorteCountySheriffDepartment

Smith River Complex North: https://www.facebook.com/smithrivercomplexnorth

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest: https://www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF/

Josephine County Emergency Management: https://www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM

For an interactive evacuation map please visit: https://rvem.org/.