Special Statement: 

The Fork Fire will continued to be monitored on this outlook - smoke from the fire will likely begin to impact our coverage area. It is estimated at 2,200 acres yesterday and is 7% contained. 

Fire: 

With so much smoke in the area, the fire was not very active yesterday on the western side of the perimeter. The total acreage reported last night was 23,023 with now 40% containment. The team is expecting active fire this weekend, and are trying to prepare containment lines around Mineral Mountain. Firing activities in this area are being considered to minimize the threat of the fire spreading in to the wilderness area and Bagley Valley. 

Smoke: 

Yesterday, with the dense cloud of smoke overhead, we saw smoky conditions throughout the area, but overnight and into this morning will remain high. The greatest impacts are communities close to the North Complex, , but that is projected to dissipate by the time it reaches Carson City. Once again, smoke will be with us for most of the day - late afternoon may to see slightly improved air quality in the area but not much ventilation is likely to occur. Overnight smoke will again impact the area, perhaps worse than last night if the fire becomes active. 

This will be the last evening update due to the decrease in fire activity,  unless any major event occurs on the incident. 

Bridgeport, CA. September 10, 2020– During today’s operational period, crews began scouting for opportunities in Corral Valley to contain fire spread to the south and west. Fire personnel will continue to protect the Little Antelope Pack Station, Soda Springs Ranger Station and Connell Cabin. Pumps and hose lays with sprinklers have been installed and will be used to protect the structures, if the fire were to threaten the area. Firefighters continue to improve indirect fire line along the East Fork Carson River in order to stay ahead of the fire burning on Mineral Mountain.

Fire planners have established six divisions for the fire. Alpha, Gulf, Lima, Mike, Sierra and Tango. This enables the Incident Management Team to divide the fire so firefighters are able to focus on specific areas of the fire. Fire personnel are assigned to specific divisions and are then given specific missions that will continue to suppress the fire spread and protect values at risk.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has temporarily closed all lands, including backcountry and wilderness areas, located in California on the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. All campgrounds (developed and dispersed), day-use areas, trailheads, trails, and roads are closed to the public. No recreational activities will be allowed, including camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or operating off-highway vehicles, etc. To view the closure order, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/Slink_Fire_BLM_Closure_09032020_508.pdf.

Bridgeport, CA. September 10, 2020– An Infra-Red flight was conducted last night, which determined the Slink Fire has reached 22,899 acres and a growth of 425 acres since yesterday. Due to suppression actions, the fire is currently 36% contained.

Firefighters will focus efforts on the NW and W sides of the fire today. Firefighters will continue to construct containment lines in the Mineral Mountain and East Fork Carson River drainages to contain the fire south of the Bagley Valley and east of the East Fork Carson River. A thermal belt has formed over the fire area overnight, creating warmer temperatures and lower humidity. These conditions allowed the fire to burn actively through the night. Firefighters expect active fire behavior and growth today on the NW and W sides of the fire. This activity and growth is due to extremely dry fuels and low relative humidity.

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has temporarily closed all lands, including backcountry and wilderness areas, located in California on the Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. All campgrounds (developed and dispersed), day-use areas, trailheads, trails, and roads are closed to the public. No recreational activities will be allowed, including camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or operating off-highway vehicles, etc. To view the closure order, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/. With the current fire activity across the west, fire resources are engaged in multiple incidents already and may not have the capacity to suppress new fire starts. With the combination of significant wind, extreme heat, and dry vegetation, any new fire will likely exhibit extreme behavior. This can create dangerous evacuation situations, especially for campers within the forest. The safety of the public and our firefighters remains our top priority, so it is important that the public follow these important closures for their safety, as well as the safety of our firefighters.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts.

Special Statement: The Fork Fire grew from 500 to 2,500 acres yesterday and is 0% contained. This fire will continued to be monitored on this outlook - smoke from the fire will likely begin to impact our coverage area.

Fire: Last night, the fire became active with crews working to fill in the area of containment down the western side of the perimeter. The total acreage on the fire is at 22,900 and remains at 36% containment. The team is expecting another active day around Mineral Mountain and backing down to the Carson River.

Smoke: We saw mostly clear conditions over the coverage area yesterday due to favorable winds from the NE. However, we are already starting to see the dense cloud of smoke from the Northern California fires overhead slowly work its way over our area. Models are showing that surface smoke will likely start impacting the area this afternoon and may hit some areas hard overnight.

To view an expanded Smoke Outlook Report, please visit https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks//Humboldt-ToiyabeNF

Bridgeport, CA. September 9, 2020–The hard work of all fire personnel on the Slink Fire made it possible for firefighters to continue to construct direct and indirect line on active areas of the fire. Containment lines on the east side of the fire above Highway 396 is well established. This allows the crews working along the line to move from fire suppression, to repair.

The western flank of the fire is still actively engaged in fire suppression and containment. The main focus of these efforts is in the areas of Mineral Mountain, as well as the East Fork Carson River drainage. To suppress and contain in these areas, crews are building and extending lines, utilizing aviation resources to apply water, and installing pumps and hose lays.  Fire Managers are utilizing all of the available resources to prevent fire from spreading to the west side of the East Fork Carson River.     

The Incident Management Team has utilized “Fire Apparatus” or Engines on the fire in a variety of ways. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) recognizes 7 classifications of engines. Based primarily on water capacity and pumping capability. Type 1 and 2 Engines are used for structure protection and carry 300 gallons of water, type 3 Engines carry, 500 gallons, type 4 Engines, 750 gallons, type 5 Engines, 400 gallons, type 6 Engines, 150 gallons and type 7 Engines, 50 gallons. Type 3 and 4 Engines were best suited for the terrain and fire behavior on the Slink Fire. Engines are a versatile tool for fire managers. On the Slink Fire, engines were used in the initial attack phase of the fire to protect homes in Walker and Coleville and they have continued to patrol and put out hotspots throughout the duration of the fire.

An expanded closure order has been put in place by the US Forest Service for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest due to the changing conditions of the Slink Fire. To view the updated closure order, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts.

Bridgeport, CA. September 9, 2020– There was a chilly start to the day, but temperatures will rise and the weather will be mostly sunny and very dry.

The fire is expected to be active once again on Mineral Mountain and Corral Valley Creek west of Antelope Peak. Good progress is being made due to the hard work of crews, engines, and aviators on the fire. Crews and engines will begin repair work on the east side of the fire above Highway 395. They will continue to patrol the fire’s edge but start to remove hose lays and repair fire line that was put in place during the initial days of the incident.

Personnel on the west side of the fire continue to use in-direct and direct tactics on Mineral Mountain and the East Fork Carson River drainage. They are building hand lines, using helicopters for water drops, laying hose and installing pumps to prevent fire spreading west of East Fork Carson River.

The Bureau of Land Management is increasing fire restrictions and prohibiting all uses of open flame including campfires, barbecues and stoves, on BLM-managed public lands in the state of California effective Sept. 8, due to high fire danger. These new restrictions are in addition to the year round statewide fire prevention order and local fire and target shooting restrictions already in place. You can find information regarding the order at: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/bureau-land-management-increases-fire-restrictions-throughout-california.

An expanded closure order has been put in place by the US Forest Service for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest due to the changing conditions of the Slink Fire. To view the updated closure order, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts.

Special Statement:The Fork Fire, a new 500 acre fire in Eldorado National Forest, may begin to impact our coverage area.

Fire:The Slink Fire is now just over 22,474 acres, under 1,000 acres of growth since yesterday, far less fire activity than expected during the Red Flag Warning. Containment remains at 36% with the fire perimeter still active on the western and northwestern sides along the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. The team is expecting active fire again today around Mineral Mountain and backing down to the Carson River.

Smoke:Winds from the northeast cleared out smoke in the valleys yesterday and we are seeing Good to Moderate area quality across most of the coverage area. Fortunately, smoke from the Slink Fire did not lay down into the valleys, staying aloft and dispersing out of the area. We will likely continue to see improved air quality today; however, winds are expected to shift from the NW tomorrow, and we will likely start seeing regional smoke impacts like we did on Monday.

To view an expanded Smoke Outlook Report, please visit https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks//Humboldt-ToiyabeNF 

Bridgeport, CA. September 8, 2020– A Red Flag Warning continued to be in effect for the fire. Gusty winds and low humidity were accompanied by a cold front that lowered the temperatures.  As of today the Slink Fire helibase has delivered 621,416 gallons of water to the fire, 78,583 pounds of cargo, and transported 372 firefighters. Aviation resources provide an incredible tactical advantage to firefighters on the line.  While recreational drones provide great views of local topography, drones flying over and around fires cause our air operations to cease completely.  The FAA has established temporary flight restrictions for the areas surrounding the Slink Fire. The public must heed these restrictions and refrain from flying drones anywhere near fire operations for the safety of our aviators and the crews.

In addition to firefighters, aviation resources, and engines, Resource Advisors fill an essential role on wildland fires. These specialists work alongside Incident Management Teams to provide recommendations during all phases of the incident. During active fire suppression, these advisors will coordinate with local specialists to identify potential impacts and determine environmental restrictions within the fire area. They will then provide direction to fire managers regarding appropriate suppression actions, while at the same time protecting valuable environmental resources as much as possible. The Resource Advisors will identify existing utilities, roads, pipelines, and other uses on the land that may be affected, as well as identify potential resource issues that may occur as a result of incident activities. The resource advisors will also develop a recommended fire suppression repair plan for the agency and the Incident Commander. 

An expanded closure order has been put in place by the US Forest Service for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest due to the changing conditions of the Slink Fire.  To view the updated closure order, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts. 

A Smoke Outlook report is continuing to be produced daily. The report will be posted to the Slink Fire InciWeb page, at: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/Humboldt-ToiyabeNF.  Please utilize this report, as smoke can be hazardous for children and people with breathing difficulties. In addition to the Slink Fire, multiple other fires in California have contributed to the dense smoke and poor air quality in the area. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/

Special Statement:
A Red Flag Warning issued today for the Slink Fire with a potential for extreme fire behavior. A dust advisory is also in effect for the area.

Fire:The Slink Fire now stands at 21,755 acres with 36% containment. Today, the team is expecting very active fire later in day until the Red Flag Warning is lifted at 8pm. The area of highest fire potential is on the northwest side of the fire perimeter into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.

Smoke:Yesterday, winds from the northwest did clear out local smoke, but regional smoke did impact the entire outlook area. Overnight, NE winds were strong in the higher elevations but did not clear out the smoke on the valley floors as expected - a low nighttime inversion caused some areas to see elevated levels of smoke. Today, under the dust advisory, we may see impaired visibility and hazy conditions, but smoke should be transported out with the winds. Overnight, if the Slink Fire does see more active fire, smoke may impact the surrounding areas along the 395 corridor. Any lingering smoke into Wednesday morning should begin lift by the afternoon.

To view an expanded Smoke Outlook Report, please visit https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks//Humboldt-ToiyabeNF

Bridgeport, CA. September 8, 2020– A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire. Gusty winds and low humidity will be accompanied by a cold front that will lower the temperature. Currently, there is a dust report for the fire area that will decrease visibility. Fire personnel, assisted by engines, continue to secure the line on the eastern side of the fire, above the communities of Coleville and Walker, California. Securing and improving the fire line includes “mopping up” or digging out hot, smoldering areas and mixing with cool soil or water, where available, until the area is cool to the touch. Firefighters will also “grid” or systematically search from the containment line, into the fire area, to find hot or smoldering fuels and extinguish them. They will complete this grid along the perimeter of the fire. This work helps keep hot materials from crossing the containment lines in strong winds and reigniting the fire in unburned grass and brush. Due to all the hard work of fire crews, the eastern side of the fire has been declared contained.

Today, additional crews are being shifted to the northwestern edge of the fire in the Mineral Mountain area to use direct line to prevent the fire from spreading. There are large pockets of mixed conifer that have the potential to burn and fire managers are increasing personnel to construct containment lines on the northwestern side of the fire. The public may see smoke coming from that area today due to vegetation burning near Mineral Mountain. Northeast winds will push the fire to the west and southwest, further into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness today. 

An expanded closure order has been put in place by the US Forest Service for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest due to the changing conditions of the Slink Fire.  To view the updated closure order, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7105/55024/. Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management issued a closure order for the fire area. For information on this closure, please go to: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-temporarily-closes-public-lands-support-slink-fire-suppression-efforts.  Heenan Lake remains closed to the public.