Redding, Calif – The Shasta-Trinity National Forest will remain closed until 11:59 P.M. on Friday, September 17, 2021. The Monument Fire area closure will remain in place, along with other local closure orders.  All Shasta-Trinity National Forest closures can be viewed on the forest website. Before going into the forest, please check the website and know what areas are open and where the forest is closed for public safety.

For questions about the River Complex Fire, please call the River Complex Fire Information Line at (707) 596-6075 or email 2021.river@firenet.gov.  Information about the River Complex can be found in InciWeb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7760

COMMUNITY MEETINGS: There will be two face-to-face community meetings today. The first will be at the Hyampom Volunteer Fire Department in Hyampom at 11 A.M. The second will be in Hayfork at Hayfork Park off Highway 3 at 3 P.M. The meetings will be outdoors and include operations information about the Monument and Knob Fires and an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

There will be a virtual public meeting on Saturday at 6 P.M. People will be able to attend on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Facebook page, on Zoom or by calling in. Links and additional information will be available tomorrow.

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 1,402 personnel, 26 hand crews, 95 engines, 12 helicopters, 16 dozers, 12 water tenders, 16 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 215,944 acres and 50 percent contained.

Yesterday fire behavior was active in the afternoon, after the smoke inversion lifted at approximately 4 P.M.  Fire flanked west into the wind above Hyampom Road and actively burned in pockets of green fuel inside the fire’s edge on the north side of the Hayfork Creek drainage.  The northwest side of the fire in the New River area began active burning earlier than other areas because smoke lifted and winds were brisk on the ridge tops. The clear air allowed aircraft to get over the fire, and fire retardant and water drops were successfully made in that area. Fire spread was limited in the drainage between Limestone and Backbone Ridge due to the north-northwest winds and smoke coverage but remained active.

Overnight the fire continued to be active until 4 A.M. this morning, when it moderated somewhat.  Crews were deepening containment lines on the southwest portion of the fire and caught and lined around one spot that went over the line. Burning debris rolling down hill near Hyampom Creek caused a 7-acre spot fire. Crews worked to prevent rollout in the Backbone Ridge area.  Burning around the Denny road was more moderate than other areas of the fire.

Today crews will continue to hold and mop up current lines, working to get ahead of rollouts and slop overs from last night, and preparing for an increase in fire activity once the smoke inversion lifts and winds increase this afternoon and evening.

KNOB FIRE: The Knob Fire remains at approximately 2,421 acres and 100 percent contained. Fire behavior continues to be primarily isolated low-intensity surface fire within the control lines. No growth has been reported as the fire slowly consumes unburned fuels within the containment lines.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Today the weather is expected to continue with similar temperatures and relative humidity as yesterday. Smoke is expected to moderate conditions again until early afternoon. Winds will blow from the west, so the first clearing and increase in winds is expected on the northwest corner of the fire near Trinity Village. The inversion is expected to lift on the northeast side of the fire an hour later. Winds may gust up to 20 miles per hour. A low-pressure trough will move through this weekend and is expected to cause gusty winds on Saturday and with a probability of some rainfall Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.

• Hyampom Road is closed between St John Road/Forest Service Road 10 and Lucky Jeep Trail (between Little Creek and James Creek.)

• Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency.

• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.

• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.

• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611.

• Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge

• Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge

• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road

• Warning:  All areas along both sides of Hyampom Road from Lucky Jeep Trail east to Cedar Gulch, including Fox Lane, Drink Water Gulch, Phares Lane, Turkey Track Road and Doctor Lane

• Warning: All areas in Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village north of State Route 299 between Suzie Q Road and Gray Falls Campground, including Suzie Q Road, Denny Road to Ziegler Point Road, Lone Pine Road, Big Oak Road, China Flat Road, Flame Tree Road, Coon Creek Road, Pony Creek Road, Gray Flat Road, Emerald City Lane, and Ammon Road

• Warning: All areas along Hyampom Road from Cedar Gulch to State Route 3 are under an Evacuation Warning. This includes Circle Drive, Highland Drive, North Vista Lane, Murray Lane and Bean Gulch and North Talco Way.

• Warning: All areas south of Hyampom Road along State Route 3 to Salt Creek Growers. All areas West on Tule Creek Road from State Route 3 to Jesse Lane

• Warning: All areas east of Hyampom Road, both north and south of State Route 3 to Big Creek Road. All areas south of Big Creek Road to Morgan Hill Road/ Coonrod Gulch. From Coonrod Gulch South West through Kingsbury Gulch to State Route 3.  This includes all of Hayfork proper

• Warning: Canyon Creek Road in Junction City

Monument Fire and Knob Fire Update

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Redding, Calif – The Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service will lift their closure of all National Forests in California two days before the current closure order expires. The Shasta-Trinity National Forest will remain closed until 11:59 P.M. on Friday September 17. The ongoing Monument Fire closure will remain in place until October 31, 2021, as well as other local closure orders.  All Shasta-Trinity National Forest closures can be viewed on the forest website. Before going into the forest, please check the website and know what areas are open and where the forest is closed for public safety.

As of 5 P.M. last evening, the Red Cross evacuation shelter at First Baptist Church in Weaverville was closed. The shelter in Fortuna at the Fireman’s Hall Pavilion will be closing at 10 A.M. this morning. For evacuation assistance, contact the Red Cross California Northwest Chapter at 707-832-5480.

For questions about the River Complex Fire, please call the River Complex Fire Information Line at (707) 596-6075 or email 2021.river@firenet.gov.  Information about the River Complex can be found in InciWeb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7760

COMMUNITY MEETING: There will be a face-to-face community meeting this afternoon at 1 P.M. at the Frances B. Matthews Rest Area on Highway 299 in Salyer, near Trinity Village. The meeting will be outdoors and include operations information about the Monument and Knob Fires and an opportunity for the public to ask questions.

On Thursday, September 16 there will be two face-to-face community meetings. The first will be in Hayfork at Hayfork Park off of Highway 3 at 11 A.M. The second will be at the Hyampom Volunteer Fire Department in Hyampom at 3 P.M. The format will be similar to today’s meeting.

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 1,391 personnel, 26 hand crews, 99 engines, 12 helicopters, 20 dozers, 12 water tenders, 14 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 214,576 acres and 46 percent contained. After several days of successful strategic burn operations and deep mop up of containment lines, the crews have been strengthening hand and contingency lines, widening the space between the lines and active fire, and continuing to prepare structures for defense if needed. Concerns remain about the dry fuels and possibility of wind-driven embers in the steep and rugged terrain along with expected changes in the weather.  Deepening and strengthening of lines to get ahead of the coming changes is the current focus.

KNOB FIRE:

Resources: 145 personnel, 3 hand crews, 20 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tender, 1 excavator

Current Situation: The Knob Fire is approximately 2,421 acres and 100 percent contained. Fire behavior has been primarily isolated low-intensity surface fire within the control lines. No growth has been reported as the fire slowly consumes unburned fuels within the containment lines.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: A modest improvement to temperatures and relative humidity is expected today. Smoke covering some areas may have a moderating effect on conditions as well. If the smoke clears, expect afternoon winds to gust out of the west-northwest and west-southwest up to 18 miles per hour. Otherwise, winds will remain light and terrain influenced.

Northern California is under a Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory with the potential for extreme fire behavior due to critically low live and dead fuel moistures. Fires burning in northern California are exhibiting extreme fire growth because of the critical fuel conditions. Fire spread is fuel driven and does not depend on wind to spread. On top of that, events with wind have led to extreme rates of spread. Surface fuels are very receptive to any spark or ember.

ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.

• Hyampom Road is closed between St John Road/Forest Service Road 10 and Lucky Jeep Trail (between Little Creek and James Creek.)

• Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency.

• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.

• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.

• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611.

• Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge

• Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge

• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road

• Warning:  All areas along both sides of Hyampom Road from Lucky Jeep Trail east to Cedar Gulch, including Fox Lane, Drink Water Gulch, Phares Lane, Turkey Track Road and Doctor Lane

• Warning: All areas in Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village north of State Route 299 between Suzie Q Road and Gray Falls Campground, including Suzie Q Road, Denny Road to Ziegler Point Road, Lone Pine Road, Big Oak Road, China Flat Road, Flame Tree Road, Coon Creek Road, Pony Creek Road, Gray Flat Road, Emerald City Lane, and Ammon Road

• Warning: All areas along Hyampom Road from Cedar Gulch to State Route 3 are under an Evacuation Warning. This includes Circle Drive, Highland Drive, North Vista Lane, Murray Lane and Bean Gulch and North Talco Way.

• Warning: All areas south of Hyampom Road along State Route 3 to Salt Creek Growers. All areas West on Tule Creek Road from State Route 3 to Jesse Lane

• Warning: All areas east of Hyampom Road, both north and south of State Route 3 to Big Creek Road. All areas south of Big Creek Road to Morgan Hill Road/ Coonrod Gulch. From Coonrod Gulch South West through Kingsbury Gulch to State Route 3.  This includes all of Hayfork proper

• Warning: Canyon Creek Road in Junction City

VALLEJO, Calif., — Sept. 14, 2021. The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region will end the regional closure order affecting National Forests in California at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 15, two days prior to the original end date of Sept. 17. However, forest-wide closures will remain in place and be extended until midnight on September 22nd on the Los Padres, Angeles, San Bernardino, and Cleveland National Forests in Southern California due to local weather and fire factors, as well as a temporary strain on firefighting resources supporting large fires in other areas of the state.

In addition to the four National Forests that will remain closed in Southern California, some National Forest System lands throughout the state will be closed under local closure orders in areas of ongoing wildfires to ensure public safety. This includes the Eldorado National Forest in Northern California, which has a forest closure order until Sept. 30. Fire restrictions also remain in place across all National Forests in California to prevent new fire starts. Please refer to the local National Forest that you plan to visit to obtain specific information on closures and restrictions.

Monument, Knob Operational Update for 9.14.2021 -  https://www.facebook.com/ShastaTrinityNF/posts/3074614766103895?__cft__[0]=AZVFWGINw5AMfWgrEfYKWyS_tksshsVrpe5QVlI6cYaPX27-AMBlQuznhjhMTF-CeuzDw6LwOBNe-ZNP1BNjBOqOayyE-MDge_k3Bm9eaNtTOmHtSWhS2Mi8IKnNL9QyU_k1g8wGPt-EKtXnBUiiWMYbJm94CeC-fljG549RHM_zNNVQX_6IprEpv3af1ujryqA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Monument, Knob Weather Briefing for 9.14.2021 -  https://www.facebook.com/ShastaTrinityNF/posts/3074614922770546?__cft__[0]=AZVToMNS2750d6Vxc7WQ4DElz1di79cm2ja17jc727US8bPn1VKsI-Dws6zSAqZuzwPiq7C5PL3admJIBUY7yaKjDeLLrXsE1SUCXn3qwCKO_WIU9a5JKKkm2N8m33XWKkIepPLf7Ms8na3OI6AxF_uBtLxt4ubCFPeeozHxXxDd04bQj0DwimI7vetITirQL58&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Redding, Calif – Unless conditions change, Monument Fire updates will be sent once each day in the morning. Today’s news release will be the last to include information about the Knob Fire. The fire is 100% contained and the fire’s size has not increased in several days. If conditions change, the information will be included in future updates and new information will be added to the Knob Fire InciWeb page. 

Yesterday evening at 4 P.M., the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office’s evacuation order for both sides of Hyampom Road from Lucky Jeep Trail east to Cedar Gulch Road was downgraded to an evacuation warning. This includes Fox Lane, Drink Water Gulch, Phares Lane, Turkey Track Road and Doctor Lane. The evacuation warning area is open to residents and emergency personnel only. Residents are reminded that there is residual fire activity, fire trucks and crews will continue to be working for days and maybe weeks in the area. Fire activity can change rapidly. In all areas near the fire, residents and the public need to stay vigilant and ready to move in case the evacuation status changes. See below for additional evacuation information. 

For questions about the River Complex Fire, please call the River Complex Fire Information Line at (707) 596-6075 or email 2021.river@firenet.gov.  Information about the River Complex can be found in InciWeb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7760 

MONUMENT FIRE:  

Resources: 1,527 personnel, 25 hand crews, 101 engines, 9 helicopters, 25 dozers, 11 water tenders, 14 masticators 

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 213,319 acres and 43 percent contained. A warming and drying trend has meant increased fire activity at the higher elevations on the north side of the fire. In anticipation of a weather and wind direction change later this week, crews have been strengthening current handlines and monitoring green areas within the perimeter for spotting and burning potential. The Hyampom Road continues to experience burning debris, trees and rocks rolling on to the roadway and remains closed to the public. 

Today crews will continue to prepare along the road towards Denny in the New River drainage on the northwest side of the fire. They will finish work on the contingency line along the 7N01 Road to limit fire growth and minimize impacts to the Trinity Village community and the Highway 299 corridor, keeping the fire’s edge north of the Trinity River. If conditions allow, helicopters will be used to drop retardant and stop progression of the fire in the Dyer Creek drainage. 

On the northeast side of the fire around East Fork Road and Hobo Gulch, crews continue to build direct handline where possible, assessing opportunities to secure the fire edge from Backbone Ridge west and south to the head of the Trinity River.  Contingency lines are being strengthened and structure defense operations are continuing to keep fire out of the Canyon Creek area. 

Humidity recoveries have remained better in Hayfork than in other areas of the fire, allowing for heavy mop up of the fire’s edge to the west of Hayfork from Hyampom Road south to Butter Creek Road. Direct line continues to be strengthened and mop up continues along the fire’s edge to the northwest. Work continues to minimize fire impact to the Hyampom Road in very steep and rugged terrain. 

KNOB FIRE:  

Resources: 163 personnel, 4 hand crews, 20 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tender, 1 masticator 

Current Situation: The Knob Fire remains at approximately 2,421 acres.  It has been 100 percent contained since the morning of September 12, 2021.  Crews will continue mop up to maintain containment and control the fire.  Minimal fire activity is expected and will be limited to the interior of the fire.  

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Today high pressure will continue to build over the fire allowing an on-going rise in temperatures and fall in relative humidity. Today should be the peak of the warming and drying trend. Slightly cooler temperatures are expected tomorrow with a modest increase in humidity.  High pressure will remain, allowing smoke to settle with little clearing in the afternoon. A significant change in the weather pattern is anticipated later this week, bringing the potential for strengthening winds and the possibility for precipitation. 

MONUMENT FIRE ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County): 

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road. 

• Hyampom Road is closed between St John Road/Forest Service Road 10 and Lucky Jeep Trail. 

• Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency. 

• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed. 

• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed. 

• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address. 

MONUMENT FIRE EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611. 

• Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary  

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge 

• Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide 

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge  

• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road 

• Warning:  All areas along both sides of Hyampom Road from Lucky Jeep Trail east to Cedar Gulch, including Fox Lane, Drink Water Gulch, Phares Lane, Turkey Track Road and Doctor Lane 

• Warning: All areas in Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village north of State Route 299 between Suzie Q Road and Gray Falls Campground, including Suzie Q Road, Denny Road to Ziegler Point Road, Lone Pine Road, Big Oak Road, China Flat Road, Flame Tree Road, Coon Creek Road, Pony Creek Road, Gray Flat Road, Emerald City Lane, and Ammon Road 

• Warning: All areas along Hyampom Road from Cedar Gulch to State Route 3 are under an Evacuation Warning. This includes Circle Drive, Highland Drive, North Vista Lane, Murray Lane and Bean Gulch and North Talco Way. 

 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 took command of the fire as of 6 A.M. this morning. Fire information phone numbers and emails will remain the same, and the InciWeb page will continue to provide fire information and be updated several times each day.

COMMUNITY MEETING: A virtual community meeting for the Monument and Knob Fires was held tonight at 7 P.M. The meeting was recorded and is available to watch on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s Facebook page.

Tomorrow morning at 6 A.M. Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 will take command of the fire.

For questions about fire activity and the status of the River Complex Fire, please call the River Complex Fire Information Line at (707) 596-6075 or email 2021.river@firenet.gov.  Information about the River Complex can be found in InciWeb at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7760

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 1,465 personnel, 22 hand crews, 100 engines, 9 helicopters, 25 dozers, 11 water tenders, 14 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 210,617 acres and 43 percent contained. Several days of stabilized weather conditions has allowed crews to make good progress on the active portions of the fire west of Hayfork, in the New River drainage, and along the East Fork North Fork Trinity River. A warming and drying trend in the next several days could increase fire activity.

Today, in the New River drainage on the northwest side of the fire, crews were able to hold and maintain the handlines for most of the day. In the later afternoon, the fire crossed the handline in the Bell Flat Creek area. With air support, the fire’s forward progression was slowed. Crews will patrol and hold the existing fireline overnight and are planning to access the very steep, rugged terrain after daylight tomorrow.

On the northeast side of the fire around East Fork Road and Hobo Gulch, crews were able to hold and maintain the constructed fireline today. The fire’s edge from Backbone Ridge to the North Fork Trinity River remains open, though with little heat or fire activity. This location on the slope is too dangerous for firefighters to attack directly, and helicopters were unable to provide support today due to smoke.

Near Hayfork, U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE continue to collaborate and coordinate suppression efforts to protect the residences west of Hayfork and prevent the fire from spreading east toward town. The section of Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Cedar Gulch Road was reopened today at 4 P.M., and the evacuation orders for the north side of the road in this area were downgraded to evacuation warnings. The south side of Hyampom Road in this section remains under evacuation order. See additional information below.

Firefighters continue to see active fire along the Hyampom Road east of Pattison Ridge. Large boulders and burning trees frequently slide, fall, or roll onto the roadway. Engines and crews are extinguishing hotspots and removing hazard trees along the roadway. To protect the public and firefighters, the road remains closed in the area east of Hyampom. Forest Road 10 has been graded and is open for residents to get in and out of Hyampom.

KNOB FIRE:

Resources: 161 personnel, 4 hand crews, 18 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tender, 1 masticator

Current Situation: The Knob Fire is approximately 2,421 acres and is 100 percent contained. There has been no change in acreage for several days. Today crews continued to monitor and mop up, seeing minimal fire activity limited to the interior.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Mostly clear skies with areas of smoke are expected across the fire area tonight through Monday. A strengthening of the inversion is expected as high pressure pushes back in from the south.  Winds are expected to remain light and terrain-driven through midday each day, becoming west-northwest with gusts of up to 18 miles per hour through the late afternoons and early evenings.

MONUMENT FIRE ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

·    Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.

·    Hyampom Road is closed between St John Road and Lucky Jeep Trail.

·    Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road is closed to everyone except those with proof of residency.

·    Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.

·    Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.

·    A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

Monument Fire and Knob Fire Morning Update

Sunday, September 12, 2021

COMMUNITY MEETING: A virtual community meeting for the Monument and Knob Fires will be held tonight, September 12, at 7 P.M. It will be livestreamed on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s Facebook page and on Zoom (meeting ID: 161 082 0265, meeting passcode: +tX1=6, meeting call-in number: 669-254-5252). Submit your questions prior to the meeting by emailing them to 2021.monument@firenet.gov.

Today, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CA IIMT 5) will be transitioning with a new Type 1 team, the Northern Rockies Mountain Team 2, that will take command of the fire tomorrow at 6 A.M. This has been a long and difficult fire season for so many of you, and CA IIMT 5 has appreciated your cooperation and assistance during our assignment on the Monument and Knob Fires. Thank you.

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 1,471 personnel, 25 hand crews, 97 engines, 9 helicopters, 27 dozers, 10 water tenders, 14 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 210,353 acres and 43 percent contained. This past week, firefighters were challenged by extreme fire behavior from a weather front that brought erratic, gusty winds. Weather conditions have now stabilized, allowing crews to make good progress on the active portions of the fire southwest of Hayfork, in the New River drainage, and along the East Fork North Fork Trinity River.

Today, in the New River drainage on the northwest side, the Hotshots will continue working to secure containment lines and keep the fire east of Denny Road.  With favorable weather conditions, crews should be able to make good progress completing containment lines and stopping the fire from moving westward.

On the northeast side, crews will continue constructing containment lines adjacent to the fire’s edge from the East Fork Road to the top of Backbone Ridge, stopping the fire from advancing south toward Barney Gulch Road. Crews have constructed handline and have fire hose around the spot fire on the east side of the East Fork North Fork Trinity River and will continue today to hold and strengthen those lines.  Backbone Ridge remains the primary containment line.

Near Hayfork, U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE continue to collaborate and coordinate suppression efforts to protect the residences west of Hayfork and prevent the fire from spreading eastward toward town. If conditions are favorable this afternoon, day-shift crews will continue the strategic firing operation along Butter Creek Road, further decreasing the likelihood that the fire will find an opening to advance into Hayfork. West along Butter Creek Road, crews are improving and widening handline and dozer line and vigilantly monitoring the area for spot fires.

Firefighters continue to find intense heat from burning trees and stumps along the Hyampom Road east of Grassy Flats and Pattison Ridge. Large boulders and burning trees frequently slide, fall, or roll onto the roadway. Engines and crews area working to extinguish hotspots and remove hazard trees that may fall on the roadway. To protect the public and firefighters, the road remains closed in the area east of Hyampom that is under an evacuation order issued by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office.

KNOB FIRE:

Resources: 181 personnel, 4 hand crews, 24 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tenders

Current Situation: The Knob Fire is approximately 2,421 acres and 100 percent contained.  Last night, crews completed the last section of containment line on Panther Ridge to secure the entire perimeter of the fire. Today, firefighters will still be in the area, looking for and extinguishing any smoldering trees, burning stumps and other hotspots.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: A warming and drying trend will extend into midweek. Relative humidity levels will trend lower today with increased temperatures. A weak shortwave weather pattern makes it way towards Northern California this afternoon, increasing winds this afternoon.

MONUMENT FIRE ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.

• Hyampom Road is closed between Cedar Gulch Road and St. John Road.

• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.

• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.

• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

MONUMENT FIRE EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611.

• Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge

• Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge of Oakridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road east of Drinkwater Gulch to Cedar Gulch Road, from Cedar Gulch south to Tule Creek Road at Green Gate Road, including all residences on Turkey Track Road, Doctor Lane, Digger Gulch, Shangri La Lane, Green Gate Road, and McAlexander Road

• Order: All areas along both sides of Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Drinkwater Gulch, including Fox Lane, Drinkwater Gulch, and Phares Lane

• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge

• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road

• Warning: All areas in Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village north of State Route 299 between Suzie Q Road and Gray Falls Campground, including Suzie Q Road, Denny Road to Ziegler Point Road, Lone Pine Road, Big Oak Road, China Flat Road, Flame Tree Road, Coon Creek Road, Pony Creek Road, Gray Flat Road, Emerald City Lane, and Ammon Road

• Warning: All areas along Hyampom Road from Cedar Gulch to State Route 3 are under an Evacuation Warning. This includes Circle Drive, Highland Drive, North Vista Lane, Murray Lane and Bean Gulch and North Talco Way.

• Warning: All areas south of Hyampom Road along State Route 3 to Salt Creek Growers. All areas West on Tule Creek Road from State Route 3 to Jesse Lane

• Warning: All areas east of Hyampom Road, both north and south of State Route 3 to Big Creek Road. All areas south of Big Creek Road to Morgan Hill Road/ Coonrod Gulch. From Coonrod Gulch South West through Kingsbury Gulch to State Route 3.  This includes all of Hayfork proper

• Warning: Canyon Creek Road in Junction City

EVACUATION CENTERS: American Red Cross, California Northwest Chapter, 707-832-5480

• Fireman’s Hall Pavilion, 9 Park Street, Fortuna

• First Baptist Church, 1261 Main Street, Weaverville

FOREST CLOSURE: The USDA Forest Service has temporarily closed all National Forests in California. Direct questions to 707-562-9113 or SM.FS.R5inquiries@usda.gov.

COMMUNITY MEETING: A virtual community meeting for the Monument and Knob Fires will be held on Sunday, September 12, at 7 P.M. It will be livestreamed on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s Facebook page and on Zoom (meeting ID: 161 082 0265, meeting passcode: +tX1=6, meeting call-in number: 669-254-5252). Submit your questions prior to the meeting by emailing them to 2021.monument@firenet.gov.

MONUMENT FIRE:
Resources: 1,471 personnel, 25 hand crews, 97 engines, 9 helicopters, 27 dozers, 10 water tenders, 14 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 209,287 acres and 43 percent contained. The fire did not make any large runs or exhibit extreme fire behavior today. Crews coming off the fireline tonight were encouraged with the progress and gains they made in multiple areas around the fire perimeter following some difficult days this week. The only strategic firing operation during today’s day shift occurred on the fire’s northwest side upslope from Dyer Creek. Crews proceeded methodically along a dozer line toward Bell Flat, successfully keeping the fire from advancing westward. They installed hose line around the fire west of Byoff Road and are increasingly confident that their plan to keep the Denny Road as the primary containment remains valid. No structures have been damaged. Tonight, crews will work directly on the fireline, securing and holding the gains made by the day shift.

Crews also had a successful day on the northeast side of the fire, completing handline construction adjacent to the fire’s edge from the East Fork Road to the top of Backbone Ridge, which should prevent the fire from advancing south toward Barney Gulch Road. Crews finished constructing handline and installing hose around the spot fire on the east side of the East Fork North Fork Trinity River. The plan to have Backbone Ridge be the primary containment line remains viable.

Near Hayfork, U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE continue to collaborate and coordinate suppression efforts to protect the residences west of Hayfork and prevent the fire from spreading eastward toward town. If conditions are favorable, night-shift crews will continue the strategic firing operation along Butter Creek Road, further decreasing the likelihood that the fire will find an opening to advance into Hayfork. West along Butter Creek Road, crews are improving and widening handline and dozer line and vigilantly monitoring the area for spot fires.

Some of the most intense areas of heat along and near fire perimeter are north and south of the Hyampom Road east of Grassy Flats and Pattison Ridge. Large boulders and burning trees frequently slide, fall, or roll onto the roadway. Emergency vehicles and firefighters are suppressing fire in numerous places immediately adjacent to the road. To protect the public and firefighters, the road remains closed in the area east of Hyampom that is under an evacuation order issued by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office.

KNOB FIRE:
Resources: 181 personnel, 4 hand crews, 24 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tenders

Current Situation: The Knob Fire is approximately 2,421 acres and 98 percent contained. With containment of the Knob Fire approaching 100 percent, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office lifted all remaining evacuation warnings this evening. There are no Humboldt County road closures or evacuations in effect that are associated with the Knob Fire. Of the entire fire perimeter, less than a quarter mile of the fireline is uncontained. From the top of Panther Ridge to the Bloody Nose Creek drainage, crews are extinguishing the last remaining hotspots near the fireline. As they patrol and monitor the fire perimeter, they are observing smoldering tree stumps that are well within the fire’s interior and do not pose a threat to containment lines. The fire will not be staffed tonight with crews taking suppression action but will be patrolled and monitored.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Today was the beginning of a warming and drying trend that will extend into midweek. Relative humidity levels around the fire area dipped into the teens today, which will likely result in the fire being active two to four hours after sunset. Weather conditions during the next two night shifts could potentially present crews with favorable conditions for completing the defensive firing operation west of Hayfork. On the northwest side in the New River area, light northwest winds are expected to push the fire back into itself, allowing firefighters to secure and hold the fire within existing handlines and dozer lines. The northeast side of the fire along the East Fork Road is in a wind shadow, so crews tonight will likely be able to hold the gains the day shift made.

MONUMENT FIRE ROAD CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS (Trinity County):

• Denny Road is closed at the intersection of Ziegler Point Road.
• Hyampom Road is closed between Cedar Gulch Road and St. John Road.
• Big Creek Road, Soldier Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road are closed.
• Big French Creek Road and Big Mountain Road are closed.
• A segment of State Route 299 between mile post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) and mile post 36.3 (just west of Helena) is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Overnight, from 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., the road is open only to residents with proof of address.

MONUMENT FIRE EVACUATIONS (Trinity County): The following information was taken directly from Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Evacuation orders and warnings can be issued or change suddenly; if you have questions about evacuation boundaries, call Trinity County Sheriff’s Office at 530-623-2611.

• Order: All areas along Denny Road northeast from Zeigler Point Road through Denny proper to the Trinity Alps Wilderness boundary
• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road from Grassy Flat Road west to St. John Road. This includes Bar 717 Camp. All areas south of the intersection of FS Road 10/ St. John Road south to Sydney Lane. From Sydney Lane northeast through FS Road 10/ St. John Road to Oak Ridge
• Order: Intersection Tule Creek Road at Jesse Road, south along Tule Creek Road to intersection FS Road 31N31, west on Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 to FS Road 7, west of FS Road 7 along Tule Creek Rd/FS Road 10 to Oak Ridge of Oakridge to FS Road 3N08. All areas along Tule Creek Road/FS Road 10 through Indian Valley. Roads and areas included are Land Acre Road, Mule Lovers Lane, Buck Gulch, Cow Gulch, and Tule Divide
• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road east of Drinkwater Gulch to Cedar Gulch Road, from Cedar Gulch south to Tule Creek Road at Green Gate Road, including all residences on Turkey Track Road, Doctor Lane, Digger Gulch, Shangri La Lane, Green Gate Road, and McAlexander Road
• Order: All areas along both sides of Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Drinkwater Gulch, including Fox Lane, Drinkwater Gulch, and Phares Lane
• Order: All areas along Hyampom Road between Lucky Jeep Trail and Halfway Ridge
• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road
• Warning: All areas in Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village north of State Route 299 between Suzie Q Road and Gray Falls Campground, including Suzie Q Road, Denny Road to Ziegler Point Road, Lone Pine Road, Big Oak Road, China Flat Road, Flame Tree Road, Coon Creek Road, Pony Creek Road, Gray Flat Road, Emerald City Lane, and Ammon Road
• Warning: All areas along Hyampom Road from Cedar Gulch to State Route 3 are under an Evacuation Warning. This includes Circle Drive, Highland Drive, North Vista Lane, Murray Lane and Bean Gulch and North Talco Way.
• Warning: All areas south of Hyampom Road along State Route 3 to Salt Creek Growers. All areas West on Tule Creek Road from State Route 3 to Jesse Lane
• Warning: All areas east of Hyampom Road, both north and south of State Route 3 to Big Creek Road. All areas south of Big Creek Road to Morgan Hill Road/ Coonrod Gulch. From Coonrod Gulch South West through Kingsbury Gulch to State Route 3. This includes all of Hayfork proper
Warning: Canyon Creek Road in Junction City

EVACUATION CENTERS:

• American Red Cross, California Northwest Chapter, 707-832-5480
• Fireman’s Hall Pavilion, 9 Park Street, Fortuna
• First Baptist Church, 1261 Main Street, Weaverville

FOREST CLOSURE: The USDA Forest Service has temporarily closed all National Forests in California. Direct questions to 707-562-9113 or SM.FS.R5inquiries@usda.gov.
 
View/download full update (.pdf file) 
 

VALLEJO, Calif., — August 30, 2021. To better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forests in California. This closure will be in effect from Aug. 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. through September 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. This order does not affect the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, which is not in the Pacific Southwest Region.

“We do not take this decision lightly but this is the best choice for public safety,” said Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien. “It is especially hard with the approaching Labor Day weekend, when so many people enjoy our national forests.”

Factors that led to this decision include:

1. By temporarily reducing the numbers of people on national forests, we hope to minimize the likelihood that visitors could become entrapped on National Forest System lands during emergency circumstances.

2. The closure order will also decrease the potential for new fire starts at a time of extremely limited firefighting resources, and enhance firefighter and community safety by limiting exposure that occurs in public evacuation situations, especially as COVID-19 continues to impact human health and strain hospital resources.

3. Due to state-wide conditions, any new fire starts have the potential for large and rapid fire growth with a high risk to life and property. The Forest Service and our partners are absolutely doing all we can to fight these fires and will continue to do so, but the conditions dictate the need for this region-wide closure order.

4. Forecasts show that conditions this season are trending the same or worse as we move into late summer and fall.

5. Although the potential for large fires and risk to life and property is not new, what is different is that we are facing: (a) record level fuel and fire conditions; (b) fire behavior that is beyond the norm of our experience and models such as large, quick runs in the night; (c) significantly limited initial attack resources, suppression resources, and Incident Command Teams to combat new fire starts and new large fires; and (d) no predicted weather relief for an extended period of time into the late fall.

The following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special use.

4. Commercial recreational special-use permit holders and their customers are not exempt from this Order. However, commercial recreational special-use permit holders, under the terms and conditions of their permit, may access their permit areas to conduct administrative functions and to protect property and related assets. Recreation residence permit holders are not exempt from this Order.

5. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.

6. Owners or lessees of land, and residents of such private landholdings, to the extent necessary to access their land.

7. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation. More than 6,800 wildfires have burned 1.7 million acres across all jurisdictions in California, and the National Wildfire Preparedness Level (PL) has been at PL5 since July 14, 2021, only the third time in the past 20 years that the nation has reached PL 5 by mid-July – indicating the highest level of wildland fire activity.

The Forest Service thanks our partners and the public for their cooperation and understanding of this extreme public safety and fire threat. Citizens with specific questions within their area should consult their local forest website or social media pages for more information.