Update: August Complex (South Zone)

Start Date: August 17, 2020 
Cause: Lightning
Size: 1,029,110 acres (All Zones) 
Containment: 77% (All Zones) 
Personnel: 4,254 (All Zones)

WILLOWS, Calif. – October 14, 2020 – Coordinated suppression efforts continue with the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 and CAL FIRE Team 5 to protect the values at risk in the Covelo area.  Firefighters completed the dozer line in the Middle Fork of the Eel River area. Controls efforts in this area remain a priority. Aerial resources will be used to support firefighters on the ground as needed.

As fuels dry out, smoke may be visible in some areas within the fire’s perimeter. Fire will also likely be visible at night as it’s expected to remain active with the dry conditions. Remote sensing data helps inform firefighters where heat exists, to help them focus their efforts.  

Firefighters continue to mop-up and cold trail the fireline near Bloody Rock where heat was detected in dozer berms. Cold trailing is a method of controlling a partly dead fire edge by carefully inspecting and feeling with the hand for heat to detect heat, digging out that heat, and mopping it up.

Fire personnel and equipment are clearing road hazards, including downed and standing hazard trees, on the southwest side of the fire. This will allow access for heavy equipment in preparation for suppression repair activities. For information on the three phases of wildfire recovery visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7228/

WEATHER:   A Red Flag Warning has been issued starting late tonight through Friday early afternoon.  Strong winds and low relative humidity may affect fire behavior and increase fire activity in areas where unburned vegetation exists.  Temperatures are predicted to warm up Wednesday.

EVACUATIONS: For the latest evacuation information status in the South Zone, visit https://tinyurl.com/MendoEvac for Mendocino County, https://tinyurl.com/LakeCoIncidentViewer for  Lake County, and https://nixle.com/county/ca/glenn/ for Glenn County.

CLOSURES: Order No. 08-20-14 is in effect for the Mendocino National Forest. Private properties accessed via a Forest System road may require a permit from the USDA Forest Service. Please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 for more information. Hunting and recreation are prohibited within the August Complex South Zone Fire Area Closure area. Safety hazards in the area include unstable trees that may fall, loose rocks and boulders, burning stumps; and deep ash pits. 

CAL FIRE’s unified team and the U.S. Forest Service are engaged in a coordinated and collaborative response to take suppressive action on the August Complex, which has been reconfigured into four zones, to effectively provide a response for the communities at risk. Resources from across the state of California as well as Texas and Oregon have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 140,522 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 90% contained with approximately 1,500 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

Mop-up operations were successful today as firefighters continued to work mitigating any hazards, digging out any stump holes that might pose a heat source or threat, removing dead trees that are actively burning and strengthening containment lines. Smoldering islands and pockets of interior heat will continue to burn off until large fuels are consumed. Smoke may be visible throughout areas of the burn scar. Incident commanders remain diligent in evaluating opportunities to reduce evacuation orders and allow residents of the communities to return home.

Shasta Trinity National Forest Closure Order  

REDDING, Calif. — Shasta-Trinity National Forest officials have issued a Forest Closure Order for the area of the August Complex – North Zone Fire burning on the South Fork Management Unit. The closure order No. 14-20-09 prohibits public entry on to National Forest System lands in the closure area, including roads, trails, and recreation sites. It supersedes 14-20-08 and is effective September 19, 2020 until the August Complex – North Zone Fire is declared out. The closure order and map are posted online at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/stnf/forestorders. 

The area closed is the portion of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest south and west of the forest boundary at Highway 36 west of Platina, west of County Road 302 to its northern intersection with Highway 3, west and south of County Road 301 from outside Hayfork, and south and east of County Road 311 and Forest Road 3N10 to the forest’s western and southern boundaries, and all National Forest System land and roads within that area. State and County Roads, as well as private land within this area, are not closed by the Forest, however, may be closed by State and County officials. 

In addition to the above closures, the Pacific Southwest Regional Office eased fire restrictions for all national forests in the region with propane and gas stoves now permitted in developed recreation sites. Developed recreation sites are defined as areas that have been improved or developed for recreation such as campgrounds and day use sites. See Regional Order No. 20-18 for more information. 

The fires in the August Complex began on August 17, 2020 and were started by lightning. The multiple small fires have expanded and grown together in the Shasta-Trinity, Mendocino, and Six Rivers National Forests, as well as areas outside the forests. The fires are being managed in 3 zones (North, South, and West) by the USDA Forest Service and CAL FIRE. It is currently the largest wildfire in California history. 

For additional information about the August Complex – North Zone Fires, please visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/   
 

References: 

·       Sept. 19, 2020 Forest Service News Release

·       Closure Order 14-20-09

·       Forest Closure Map (Order: 14-20-09)

·       List of Roads and Trails

·       Trinity Co. News Release – Oct. 13, 2020 

The Trinity County Sheriff's Office has made adjustments to the current evacuation orders and road closures, effective at 1pm on October 13.

Please see the attached PDF for details.  

CAL FIRE’s unified team and the U.S. Forest Service are engaged in a coordinated and collaborative response to take suppressive action on the August Complex, which has been reconfigured into four zones, to effectively provide a response for the communities at risk. Resources from across the state of California as well as Texas and Oregon have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 140,522 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 90% contained with approximately 1,700 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

There with be an ongoing transition today with the CAL FIRE Humboldt Del Norte Unit, as they assume operations in the area of Kettenpom. Firefighters will remain in the area for the next several days continuing mop-up, improving the direct line and falling any hazard trees. Mop-up operations will continue on the fire line as firefighters work to mitigate any hazards, dig out any stump holes that may pose a heat source or threat, and remove dead trees that are actively burning. Smoldering pockets of interior heat will continue to burn off until large fuels are consumed. Smoke may be visible throughout areas of the burn scar. Incident commanders remain diligent in evaluating opportunities to reduce evacuation orders and allow residents of the communities to return home. 

August Complex Fire Update 
Northwest and Northeast Zones

October 13, 2020

Northeast Zone Incident Commander: Tony DeMasters

Northwest Zone Incident Commander: Evans Kuo      

Start Date: 8/17/2020                 

Location: Shasta-Trinity NF; Six Rivers NF; Mendocino NF   

Cause: Lightning

Fire Size (All Zones): 1,029,037         

Containment: 76%                

Personnel (All Zones): 4,437

Weather: A warming and drying trend will continue over the fire today. NW winds will gust to 15 mph this afternoon and increase fire behavior.  Temperatures will slightly increase with highs in the upper 70’s. A Fire Weather Watch was issued for this Wednesday through Friday across the fire, bringing NE winds of 25-35 mph, low relative humidity and poor overnight humidity recovery. All leading to potential for increased fire activity.  

Northeast Zone – Fire lines held well across the fire’s perimeter with dozers and crews strengthening primary and alternate containment lines. Near Progeny and the South Fork Trinity River firefighters installed hose along dozer lines to further secure the fire perimeter if firing operations are needed in the future. In Rattlesnake Creek, mop up led by U.S. Marine firefighters continued and additional fire line containment was achieved. Further west near Pony Buck Peak in the 2017 Buck Fire area, warming temperatures resulted in islands of unburnt fuels in the fire’s interior burning out. Near Round Mountain hot shot crews completed line construction in Beegum Creek and further secured line in the drainage. 

Today dozers near the South Fork Trinity River are working to complete critical lines west and northwest of Bear Wallow Mountain. Hot shot crews will continue to strengthen line near Round Mountain in Beegum Creek and build direct line in the Buck Fire scar down to the South Fork Trinity River. Helicopters will assist with target bucket drops of water on hot spots as needed. Backhaul of firefighting equipment continues on the east end of the fire today, approximately 10 miles south of Hwy 36.

Update: August Complex (South Zone)

CAL FIRE’s unified team and the U.S. Forest Service are engaged in a coordinated and collaborative response to take suppressive action on the August Complex, which has been reconfigured into four zones, to effectively provide a response for the communities at risk. Resources from across the state of California as well as Texas and Oregon have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 140,522 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 85% contained with approximately 1,700 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

Mop-up operations continued today in the area of Kettenpom. This area will be transitioning back to the CAL FIRE Humboldt Del Norte Unit tomorrow morning. Firefighters will remain in the area for the next several days continuing mop-up, improving the direct line and falling any hazard trees. Northeast of Covelo crews continued mop-up operations and mitigating any hazards that may pose a threat to containment lines. Smoldering pockets of interior heat will continue to burn off until large fuels are consumed. Smoke may be visible. Firefighters will continue working to mitigate any hazards, dig out any stump holes that may pose a heat source or threat, and remove dead trees that are actively burning while executing mop-up operations. Incident commanders are continuously evaluating opportunities to reduce evacuation orders and allow residents of the communities to return home.

Forest issues new August Complex fire closure, opens areas within Lake Pillsbury Basin
 
WILLOWS, Calif. — Oct. 2, 2020 — Mendocino National Forest officials issued a new closure for the August Complex effective Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. While the southern boundary for Forest Order No. 08-20-14 opens areas within the Lake Pillsbury Basin, it keeps other areas closed to protect the firefighters assigned to the August Complex and the public from potential injury caused by hazards in the August Complex. The August Complex totals 970,563 acres, of which 583,201 acres are within the Mendocino National Forest. The August Complex is 51% contained. Keeping this area closure in place will help keep the public out of harm’s way and fire personnel safe while they continue to work to suppress the fire.

The Lake County Sheriff reduced the evacuation orders to warnings in the Lake Pillsbury Basin on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. The EVACUATION ORDERS have been reduced to EVACUATION WARNINGS for all areas north of the fires edge, south and west of the Lake / Glenn County line, and east of the Lake / Mendocino County line. The EVACUATION WARNING remains in effect for all residents in the following area: All residents and areas south of fire’s edge, north of North Ridge and West Crockett Camp, east of the Lake / Mendocino County line and west of the Lake / Glenn County line. Please use this link for the County of Lake GIS map for reference:  https://lakecoca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0f7aa08cc4b74fc6a0c4308d4eace6b3

Hunting and recreation within the closure area is prohibited. Evacuation orders and advisories remain in Lake and Mendocino counties. Residents who need to access their property within the closure area via a Forest System road will require a permit from the US Forest Service. Contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 for more information.

Forest Order 08-20-14 and associated exhibits, including the map, are posted on the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd817158.pdf
 
The following recreation sites are open:
Grindstone district
Big Springs Day Use
Davis Flat
Deafy Glade
Fouts
Gray Pine
Letts Lake
Little Stony
Mill Creek
Nail Track
North Fork
South Fork
Wolf Creek
Mill Valley
Old Mill

Upper Lake district
Penny Pines
Middle Creek
Deer Valley 

Trailheads
Bathhouse
Bear Wallow
Summit Springs
Windy Point
West Crocket

August Complex Fire Update 
Northwest and Northeast Zones

October 12, 2020

Northeast Zone Incident Commander: Tony DeMasters

Northwest Zone Incident Commander: Rob Allen


Start Date: 8/17/2020                 

Location: Shasta-Trinity NF; Six Rivers NF; Mendocino NF   

Cause: Lightning

Fire Size (All Zones): 1,028,801

Containment: 75%               

Personnel (All Zones): 4,610

Weather: Today will begin a drying trend, combined with increased temperatures that will continue through the week. This could increase fire activity. Temperatures will remain cool today with highs in the low 70’s with NW winds at 5-10 mph. 

Northeast Zone – Gusty northwest winds and clear skies occurred over the fire yesterday. Higher humidity reduced fire activity and the fire held within its current footprint. Near Irish Mountain masticators cleared brush and heavy helicopters flew all day dropping retardant on the ridgeline above Bear Wallow Creek to reinforce dozer lines. Crews continued to add hose lays to fireline down a steep ridge toward Little Bear Wallow Creek near the South Fork Trinity River. In Rattlesnake Creek firefighters added more depth to their mopping up and firelines in these areas are providing good containment. In Beegum Creek hotshot crews used firing tactics to clean-up and strengthen fire lines east of Round Mountain. Helicopters assisted firefighters most of the day here and further south in the 2017 Buck Fire dropping water to extinguish and slow fire activity.