Single Publication

Start Date: Aug 15, 2023    Location: Six Rivers National Forest    Cause: Lightning
Acres: 83,974    Containment: 8%    Personnel: 3,838

Residents of Gasquet Return Home
Highlights: The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with the Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services and Southwest Incident Management Team 2, reduced evacuations to level 2 (Set) in Gasquet, and for Pioneer Road south to Slant Bridge Road. Repopulation of the Gasquet community began on August 31st, at noon. An Interactive Evacuation Map is available to keep residents informed on current evacuation levels. More updates and strategies will be discussed during the Smith River Complex - South Zone Community Meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Del Norte Fairgrounds, Arts and Crafts Building, 421 US 101, Crescent City. A live stream of the meeting will be available on the Six Rivers National Forest Facebook Page .

Operations: Friday was a busy and productive day around much of the fire perimeters. Operations worked closely in all divisions identifying potential contingency lines and continued prepping existing lines. The high relative humidity assisted with tactical firing operations in many areas as firefighters worked on shoring up containment lines (bringing fire to the line where beneficial and back burning when necessary to stop fire growth). With residents returning to Gasquet the structure protection group continues monitoring values at risk. We ask residents to be vigilant as evacuation levels could be raised again. https://www.co.del-norte.ca.us/departments/sheriff

Weather:  Marine influence will be evident today – fog in the morning, mixing with smoke, adding to low visibility. Potential heavy rain is expected Friday and Saturday over much of the fire footprint. Flash Flood Warning in effect: NOAA Flash Flood Warning

Safety: Heavy fog is expected throughout the day, please continue to use caution on roads due to increased fire traffic. Expect heavy traffic throughout the region. Please use extreme caution, especially along Hwy 199 West through Gasquet, Ca.

Restrictions/Closures: Closures will be adjusted based on fire activity.

Smoke Air quality information is available at https://www.airnow.gov/

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 31, 12:00 noon, as follows: Interactive Evacuation Map
Level 3 “Go Now”: Patrick Creek, Patrick Creek Lodge, Little Jones/Washington Flat Residential Area 
Level 2 “Be Set”: Gasquet, Rowdy Creek/Low Divide, Big Flat/Rock Creek
Level 1 “Be Ready”: Hiouchi 

Fire Information:2023.smithrivercomplex@firenet.gov
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/casrf-smith-river-complex
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SixRiversNF