Single Publication

Start date: Aug 15, 2023

Location: Six Rivers National Forest

Cause: Lightning

Acres: 70,716

Containment: 6%

Personnel: 2,661

Gasquet, Calif., August 28, 2023. Crews continued to work hard under favorable weather conditions to contain as much of the Smith River Complex as possible before an adverse weather pattern sets up for Wednesday and Thursday. Yesterday, the crews were able to increase containment lines along the Corral fire. The insertion of a helitack module to the Diamond fire was once again postponed due to poor visibility.

Hotshot crews continued their burning operations on the control line that connects French Hill Road south to Highway 199. This operation is anticipated to be completed today. Once this line is in place it will limit the western spread of the Kelly fire towards the structures along French Hill Road. Burning operations also continued on the northside of Highway 199 between the 18N10 Road and Highway 199. Once this operation is connected to the dozer line it will keep the main fire from impacting Gasquet in the North Fork area.

Although smoky conditions didn’t allow for much air support throughout the day, several fixed wing air tankers were able to place aerial retardant along the northeast flank of the Coon fire to keep it from crossing over to the eastern side of the 405, the planned control line for this portion of the fire.

Today, favorable weather should persist and crews are optimistic they will be able to finish the firing operations on both sides of the highway. Engine crews are aggressively securing the fires edge that can be accessed with hose to prepare for a switch to an easterly wind pattern early Wednesday morning as a trough moves inland to our north. Winds will remain offshore moving smoke more westward than previous days along with bringing warmer temperatures. This offshore wind pattern weakens by Thursday as another Pacific trough begins to develop off the coast with a return to southwest flow, increased cloud cover and a chance for showers headed into Friday.

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 27, 8:00 a.m., as follows:

Level 3 “Go Now”: 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”: Low Divide, 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

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

Rowdy Creek Road remains closed at the top of Low Divide.

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/.