Single Publication

SMITH RIVER COMPLEX—SOUTH
Incident Update Date: 9/14/23

Location: Six Rivers National Forest
Size: 87,740 acres
Percent Contained: 29%
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 6:01 PM
Vegetation: Timber (Litter and Understory) and Brush
Number of Personnel Assigned: 1,715

ANNOUNCEMENT: Beginning Thursday, September 14, US 199 in Del Norte County will be fully closed 
twice daily, Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 11 AM and from 1 PM. to 4 PM. During all open 
hours, traffic will be one-way and piloted between Madrona and Oregon Mountain Road. Motorists 
should anticipate delays during all open hours. Caltrans provides information on current highway conditions online (roads.dot.ca.gov), by phone (800-427-7623), and on Facebook (facebook.com/CaltransD1).

CURRENT SITUATION: With noticeably drier, warmer, weather crews observed some increased fire 
activity on Wednesday, particularly on the southwest side of the fire near Coon Creek where fire 
advanced up a south-facing hill. The fire remained active into the late evening hours, and 
night-shift crews contained three small spot fires. Along US 199, crews finished a firing 
operation. The highway corridor remains a high priority and crews will continue extinguishing 
hotspots and reducing hazards for a few more days. On eastern side from Idylwild toward Washington 
Flat, crews suppressed areas of heat directly on the fireline. On the southeast side of the fire 
crews continued constructing a shaded fuel break. Near the fire’s southwestern perimeter, crews 
completed a successful firing operation around Coon Creek, which they will continue to monitor and 
mopup lingering areas of heat. On the western perimeter near Stoney Creek, helicopters conducted 
water drops, which reduced the fire’s intensity in an area with many stumps and large logs. On the 
Hurdy Gurdy Fire, crews looked for places to directly suppress the fire, mopped up hotspots, and 
evaluated existing line.

Crews are expecting conditions to become more favorable for their planned burning operations 
through the weekend. Work priorities for Thursday continue to be the US 199 corridor, Stoney Creek, 
and southeast side where the Fulton Hotshots will attempt to use direct suppression tactics.
WEATHER: Very hot, dry conditions are expected Thursday, with temperatures 10 degrees above normal 
and humidities in the teens, creating conditions for moderate fire behavior that will persist 
through the weekend. Winds will be mainly terrain driven, upslope and up-valley, and generally no 
more than 12 miles per hour. Seasonal weather conditions should return early next week. Expected 
temperatures are forecasted at 88 to 94 degrees today with low relative humidity ranging 17 to 25 
percent.

EVACUATIONS: Information about current evacuation status can be found on the interactive evacuation 
map: tinyurl.com/29vv2wpm. Some Del Norte County evacuation zones remain under either a Level 2 
(Get Set) or Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation order.

AIR QUALITY: Smoke Outlooks with air quality and forecast information are available here: 
tinyurl.com/258mfms3.

FOREST CLOSURE: Six Rivers National Forest lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites in the 
vicinity of the complex are closed (Forest Order No. 10-23-06). View the Order and closure map on 
the Forest’s website: tinyurl.com/4atens8c.

Fire Information: 707-383-9727
Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Email: 2023.SmithRiverComplex@firenet.gov Incident Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident- 
information/casrf-smith-river-complex-
facebook.com/SixRiversNF youtube.com/@smithrivercomplex-srf