Start Date: August 17, 2020       Cause: Lightning
Size: 1,017,549 acres     Containment: 62%        Personnel: 4,799

WILLOWS, Calif. – October 8, 2020 – On Wednesday, crews worked diligently to construct line around a 300-acre slop-over northeast of Lake Pillsbury, over the M6 Road near Bloody Rock. Heat was captured by infrared data late in the night with direct suppression tactics starting after detection in the early morning hours yesterday. Aviation resources were used to restrict the fire’s progression and cool down the fire, to help ground crews safely work in the area. Helitack crews and helicopters are working in the Snow Mountain Wilderness to contain the fire’s progression. Aviation resources will be available again Thursday to drop water on the fire. As new resources are redirected to the South Zone to aid in firefighting efforts, there will be a significant increase in road traffic in fire affected areas, especially on Elk Mountain Road, as crews and equipment travel to new locations. The other areas of the South Zone remain in patrol status with engines and water tenders monitoring those lines. Through it all, the number one priority always remains firefighter and public safety.

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists from the U.S. Forest Service recently completed their data gathering and field work of the August Complex fire burn area. Their focus was to verify and finalize the soil burn severity map. Soil burn severity is classified into levels between unburned and high. BAER team members will now use the soil burn severity data to identify if there are areas or features of concern where increased soil erosion, accelerated surface water run-off, and debris flows have the potential to impact human life and safety, property, and critical natural and cultural resources from rain events. For more information on the BAER assessment please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7228/

EVACUATIONS: The Lake County Sheriff reduced the evacuation orders to warnings in the Lake Pillsbury Basin on October 2. The EVACUATION ORDERS were 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. Map reference: https://lakecoca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0f7aa08cc4b74fc6a0c4308d4eace6b3

CLOSURES: Order No. 08-20-14 is in effect for the Mendocino National Forest. Residents and property owners may return to their properties within the Mendocino National Forest in Glenn County and Tehama County, but access to the Forest Service closure area for other purposes, including hunting and recreation, is prohibited. 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.

August Complex Fire Update  

Northwest and Northeast Zones

October 8, 2020

Northwest Zone Incident Commander: Rob Allen 

Northeast Zone Incident Commander: Tony DeMasters
 
  

Start Date: 8/17/2020      

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

Cause:  Lightning 

Fire Size (All Zones):  1,017,546     

Containment: 62%      

Personnel (All Zones): 4,799

(Eureka, CA) – The August Complex is divided into four zones: Northwest, Northeast, South and West. Southwest winds are favorable in the Northwest Zone, pushing the fire back on itself. The Northeast Zone is monitoring and watching lines closely as winds come through. Temps will lower and relative humidity will increase in the coming days with a chance of rain on Saturday.

Northwest Zone – Structure protection groups worked in the Ruth Lake and South Fork Trinity River areas yesterday. Crews continued to hold dozer lines east of Hwy (SR) 36 to South Fork Ridge. Firefighters worked to improve containment and contingency lines from Ruth Lake through the Gobler and Lassic Fires burn scars to below Mule Ridge, with firing operations to eliminate unburned fuels between constructed lines and edge of the fire. Crews worked diligently to improve and build lines from Coffee Pot to Kettenpom. The smoke lifted yesterday, allowing for helicopter water drops near Eel River. 

Today, firefighters are monitoring and patrolling lines around the Ruth Lake area, including north of Journey’s End. Structure groups continue to work in Ruth Lake and South Trinity River areas. Fire personnel are constructing direct line from west of Van Duzen to Mule Ridge. With some fire activity in the old Lassics Fire footprint, crews in the area are focusing on improving lines from Coffee Pot north to Goat Hill and up to Mule Ridge. Aviation support will help crews in this area tomorrow. 

Effective 10/08/2020 at 1000 hours Trinity County Sheriff's Office plans to lift the evacuation order and place the communities of Van Duzen and Mad River under an Evacuation Warning. The Highway 36 road closure at the Humboldt County Line will be moved east to Highway 36 and the Mad River Road. The Van Duzen Road south to the Van Duzen River bridge will be placed under an evacuation warning with a hard closure located at the Van Duzen River Bridge on the Van Duzen Road. Highway 36 east of the Mad River Road to Highway 3 will remain on a hard closure. The Mad River Road South of Highway 36 will remain on a hard closure.

All other orders and closures remain in place.

Northeast Zone – Firefighters on Wednesday dealt with more active fire behavior in some locations due to clearer skies in the afternoon and low humidity.  The area of the fire south of Irish Mountain and west of Copper Hill was especially active as the decrease in cloud and smoke cover warmed the highly combustible vegetation.  Existing dozer and hand lines south of Post Mountain held well despite the weather change.  Throughout this area, firefighters are mopping up and holding the fire along containment lines.  Utility companies are hard at work inspecting and repairing infrastructure along Route 36, an effort expected to last several days.    

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. Due to resource draw down throughout the state, CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Team requested the California National Guard to assist with fire suppression efforts and as a result of CAL FIRE’s request, 138 National Guard personnel are assigned to the incident. Additionally, resources from across the state of California as well as Montana, Texas, Washington and New Jersey have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 135,866 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 70% contained with approximately 2,500 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

Aggressive fire behavior persisted overnight, with active fuel driven ground fire burning within containment lines. Critically low humidity levels; which are unprecedented for this area; continue to impede fire suppression efforts, with the relative humidity reaching single digits in areas over the fire. Fuels in the area can be described as explosive, combined with heavy timber and steep, rugged terrain, which continue to challenge firefighters.

Today will bring cooler temperatures with wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour in the afternoon. Crews will continue to improve direct lines, insert hose lays to support fire lines, mitigate any hazards, reinforce containment lines and protect structures. Collaboration continues with our counterparts from the August Complex – Northwest Zone, strengthening handlines and dozer lines north of Zenia. As the fire approaches our containment lines, firefighters will be using back firing tactics to control the spread of the fire. Incident Commanders continue to monitor the fire burning in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, which is part of the August Complex – North East Zone.

August Complex Fire Update 

Northwest and Northeast Zones

October 7, 2020

Northwest Zone Incident Commander: Rob Allen 

Northeast Zone Incident Commander: Tony DeMasters

Start Date: 8/17/2020      

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

Cause:  Lightning 

Fire Size (All Zones):  1,011,493      

Containment: 60%      

Personnel (All Zones): 4,914

The August Complex has been divided into four zones: Northwest, Northeast, South and West. Southwest winds will be favorable in the Northwest zone, pushing the fire back on itself. The Northeast zone will be monitoring and watching lines closely as winds come through. Temperatures will lower and relative humidity will increase in the coming days with a chance of rain Saturday.

Northwest Zone – Yesterday crews took advantage of favorable weather conditions, supportive smoke inversions, and southwest winds to secure the fire perimeter by burning pockets of unburned fuel between the edge of the fire and the established control lines. Firefighters made good progress in containing spot fires east of South Fork Ridge and north of Ruth Lake. Structure groups continued work in the Ruth Lake Area and near Journey’s End. Crews worked on constructing direct line from the Van Duzen Road east to Lake Ruth. 

Today if conditions allow firefighters will continue firing operations in conjunction with work of structure protection groups to defend areas near Ruth Lake. Crews will continue to hold dozer lines east of Hwy (SR) 36 to South Fork Ridge. Fire personnel will strengthen dozer lines and contingency lines from the west side of Ruth Lake through the previous Gobbler and Lassics Fire burn scars to below Mule Ridge. Crews will be working to improve containment lines from Round Mountain to Kettenpom. More air resources will be relocating to the northwest zone and will be available to support firefighting efforts as visibility improves. As smoke blanket lifts, fire activity may increase and columns may become more visible.   

Northeast Zone – Great Basin Incident Management Team 2 assumed command today, Wednesday, of the Northeast Zone of operations. The zone’s Incident Command Post continues to be based in Redding, CA.  On Tuesday, the Alaska team focused both on effective operations and transitioning information to Great Basin team to enable a full continuity of operations. The control lines along Route 36 beginning at the west end, mile marker 64, were improved to reduce the threat of northward spread. The team partnered with CalFire to continue structure assessments and protection north of Route 36. A drone was flown along the South Mountain ridge to assist with firing operations. 

A priority on Wednesday will be creating line along the fire perimeter near Round Mountain. The team continues its progress on contingency dozer lines northeast of the South Trinity River. Many hazard trees are being removed along the Route 36 corridor, with structure protection on the north side nearly completed. Two additional hand crews have arrived and are beginning work in the active Round Mountain area. 

Tomorrow, the U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton’s 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force will begin operations in this zone. They are forward-deployed to a spike camp and will field five 20-person strike teams comprised of ten 20-person crews that perform the full range of front-line firefighting tactics.  

For Trinity County Evacuation, please contact: 530-276-8034 or visit: trinitycounty.org/OES

For Humboldt County Evacuation, please contact: 707-268-2500 or visit: humboldtsheriff.org

Northwest Fire Information Line: (707)-867-0965 

Northeast Fire Information Line: (530) 628-0039 

Email: 2020.Elkhorn@firenet.gov  

inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/ 

www.facebook.com  @ShastaTrinityNF; @SixRiversNF; @MendocinoNF 

West Zone Update CAL FIRE Mendocino, Humboldt-Del Norte & Trinity Units:

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. Due to resource draw down throughout the state, CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Team requested the California National Guard to assist with fire suppression efforts and as a result of CAL FIRE’s request, 138 National Guard personnel are assigned to the incident. Additionally, resources from across the state of California as well as Montana, Texas, Washington and New Jersey have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 135,866 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 65% contained with approximately 2,500 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

Lively fire activity remained overnight with extreme fire behavior above the community of Zenia. Firefighters continued to work with our counterparts from the August Complex – Northwest Zone, strengthening handlines and dozer lines. Warm, dry temperatures are expected today with winds from the south in the morning, moving to southwest by the afternoon, followed by west winds late afternoon with wind gusts up to 18 miles per hour. Dangerously low humidity levels; which are unprecedented for this area; remain a hamper to fire suppression efforts, with the relative humidity reaching single digits in areas over the fire. Firefighters will continue to reinforce containment lines, identify and remove any hazards, improve indirect lines, insert hose lays to support fire lines and protect structures. Firing operations will continue near the communities on Kettenpom and Covelo. Challenging conditions remain with active spot fires within heavy timber and steep rugged terrain. Incident Commanders continue to monitor the fire burning in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, which is part of the August Complex – North East Zone.

(Redding, CA) – The August Complex has been divided into four zones: Northwest, Northeast, South and West. The dividing line between the Northeast Zone and the Northwest Zone is along South Fork Mountain, crossing State Route 36 near milepost 56 and continuing north along the South Fork Trinity River. The separation into two zones on the north will provide more supervision to personnel, increased oversight and improve the effectiveness of fire resources.

Smoke is still expected to stay in valleys throughout the day. Winds will be light out of the southwest. It continues to be hot and dry with a front approaching in the next several days.  

Northeast Zone – Yesterday, firefighters took advantage of favorable light easterly winds over the fire area. The fire north of Round Mountain continues to back down into terrain that is difficult to access. Crews are scouting for opportunities to go direct, if safe to do so. Hotshot crews were able to engage the fire edge north of Beegum Creek. As smoke cleared due to east wind, aircraft were able to fly and support these crews with retardant and water drops.  Crews will scout for locations to construct contingency lines.  The burned area of the Buck Fire continues to be a good holding feature. The fire perimeter east of Yolla Bolly Mountain is in patrol status.

North of Forest Glen, firefighters are going direct to keep the fire between State Route 36 and Forest Road 14 and are improving contingency lines. Fire is slowly backing down to SR 36 south of Post Mountain and work on the contingency lines continues around Post Mountain. Structure preparation work around Wildwood, Harrison Gulch and Platina is ongoing. The primary and secondary containment lines west of Rowdy Bear and Indian Valley to the South Fork Trinity River are being improved utilizing forest roads and old fuel breaks.  Heavy machinery is being followed by fire crews brushing along the lines. CalTran and fallers are clearing hazard trees along SR 36.

More than 250 Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton, Calif., will be arriving on the August Complex Northeast Zone on Wednesday, Oct. 7, after being reassigned from the Creek Fire on the Sierra National Forest. There will be five strike teams formed from 10, 20-person crews along with their overhead personnel and a medical unit. They have been trained in firefighting tactics and have utilized their new skills from the past two weeks on the Creek Fire. They have built fireline, conducted tactical firing operations; cold trailed and mopped up perimeters. They will be integrated into the ongoing suppression efforts on the Northeast Zone starting Thursday. The service men and women are assigned to Camp Pendleton’s 7thEngineer Support Battalion, 1stMarine Logistics Group, 1stMarine Expeditionary Force.

Northwest Zone – Good progress was made on putting out spot fires on the east side of the South Fork Ridge. Crews worked on a 50-acre spot fire north of Ruth Lake and west of South Fork Ridge, which is now stable. If conditions align, firing operations may be used to reduce fuels between the edge of the fire and containment lines in multiple locations across the Northwest Zone today. This will lead to better overall containment of the fire and allow crews to hold the fire within control lines. From SR (Hwy) 36 downhill to Ruth Lake, containment lines will be further secured to keep the fire from moving towards the northwest. Firefighters will work to secure a new dozer line north of Journey’s End and structure groups will continue to protect buildings as the fire backs downhill. Fire personnel will be working on dozer lines and contingency lines from the west side of Ruth Lake, through the previous Gobbler and Lassics Fires to below Mule Ridge. North of Zenia, if conditions cooperate, firefighters may carry out a firing operation near Big Meadow Creek to reduce fuel between the edge of the fire and the contingency lines that run from Coffee Pot to Round Mountain. Near Salt Creek, crews will improve containment lines around Little Round Mountain to hold the fire north of Kettenpom, in cooperation with CAL FIRE. Where crews cannot directly fight the fire due to terrain or safety concerns, they are using indirect techniques such as anchoring to road systems and using dozer lines for containment well ahead of where the fire is currently burning.

Trinity County: Evacuation Orders

·       Ruth and Ruth Lake

·       Forest Glen

·       Post Mountain/Trinity Pines

·       Three Forks

·       Hettenshaw Valley

·       Mad River

·       Zenia and Kettenpom

·       Island Mountain

·       The area of Kettenpom south to Kekawaka Creek

·       Bear Wallow and Friend Mountain, including Rowdy Bear

·       Indian Valley and Hidden Valley

·       All areas south of State Route 36 to the Trinity County line

Trinity County: Evacuation Warning

·       Wildwood area

Humboldt County: Evacuation Warning

·       Areas east of Alderpoint Road to the Trinity County border and south of Showers Pass Road to Mountain Creek

Evacuation Information

Information for evacuees in Trinity and Humboldt counties is available from the Red Cross at 530-276-8034.  Sign up for Trinity County Evacuation notifications and other emergency alerts at www.trinitycounty.org/oes/codered

Road Closures

·       State Route (SR) 3 at Rattlesnake Road

·       Rattlesnake Road at SR 36

·       Post Mountain at SR 36

·       SR 36 from Humboldt County Line to Bowman Rd

·       Zenia Bluffs Road at Humboldt County Line

·       Zenia Lake Mountain Road at Peaks Road

·       Kekawaka Creek Road to Mendocino County Line

Damage Assessments

Trinity County Office of Emergency Services has been conducting structure damage assessments when it is safe to do so. They may be contacted at: 530-623-8223. 

Forest Closures: Shasta-Trinity, Mendocino, and Six Rivers National Forests.

Each forest has closures in place. Individual forest closure information is available online:

·       Shasta-Trinity National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/stnf/forestorders

·       Mendocino National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mendocino/alerts-notices

·       Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices

Contacts

·       Northwest Fire Information: (707)-867-0965

·       Northeast Fire Information: (530) 628-0039

·       Email: 2020.Elkhorn@firenet.gov

·       inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/

·       www.facebook.com  @ShastaTrinityNF; @SixRiversNF; @MendocinoNF

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. Due to resource draw down throughout the state, CAL FIRE’s Incident Management Team requested the California National Guard to assist with fire suppression efforts and as a result of CAL FIRE’s request, 138 National Guard personnel are assigned to the incident. Additionally, resources from across the state of California as well as Montana, Texas, Washington and New Jersey have been assigned to assist on the August Complex-West Zone. The August Complex-West Zone has burned 134,836 acres, peaking at a span of 266 miles of fire line to date, and is 60% contained with approximately 1,600 firefighters battling the fire from the air and the ground.

Fire activity increased overnight with areas of isolated torching observed. Active fire behavior remained above the community of Zenia and continued to move towards the south and west in Buttermilk Creek. Dangerously low humidity levels; which are unprecedented for this area; remain a hinder to fire suppression efforts. Firefighters persevered as they continued to reinforce containment lines, identify any hazards, improve indirect lines, insert hose lays to support fire lines and protect structures.

Today will bring more high temperatures with low humidity. Terrain driven south, southeast winds will be present in the morning, with south, southwest winds and wind gusts up to 17 miles per hour in the afternoon and evening. Challenging conditions remain with active spot fires within heavy timber and steep rugged terrain as crews work to hold the fire within current control lines and strengthen containment lines. Assistance continues on the August Complex – North Zone. Incident Commanders continue to monitor the fire burning in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, which is part of the August Complex – North Zone.

The two Incident Command Teams on the August Complex North Zone Fire will host a Virtual Community Meeting TONIGHT, October 6th at 7:30 PM, live on the Shasta-Trinity, Six Rivers and Mendocino National Forest Facebook pages.They will share an update on firefighting efforts, a look at the strategies for the days ahead, and will also answer community questions posted in Facebook Comments. #AugustComplex

When wildfires are very active it is extremely difficult to say, in real time, where the active fire is. However this map will show you where the fire was when satellites monitoring fires last passed over the area, generally within the past 12 hours. Understand that, like all technology, this is not perfect and there can be irregularities. For instance, a herd of deer bedded down for the night can show up as a heat signature, even though it may be miles from where the fire currently is burning. The map has layers, including the history of past fires, that can be toggled on or off.

https://maps.nwcg.gov/sa/

Fire Update: August Complex (South Zone)

Size: 1,002,087 acres     Containment: 54%     Personnel: 2,327     Start Date: August 17, 2020
Cause: Lightning      Structures Threatened: 2,200      Structures Destroyed: 108

WILLOWS, Calif. – Oct. 5, 2020 – On Sunday, overhead teams continued to reassign resources, build strategy, secure communications, and move crews and equipment to strategic positions near the west and northwest perimeter of the August Complex. In the south zone, crews continued to patrol the fire perimeter, Lake Pillsbury and Rice Fork.

EVACUATIONS: The Lake County Sheriff reduced the evacuation orders to warnings in the Lake Pillsbury Basin on Oct. 2. The EVACUATION ORDERS were 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. Map reference: https://lakecoca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0f7aa08cc4b74fc6a0c4308d4eace6b3

CLOSURES: Order No. 08-20-14 is in effect for the Mendocino National Forest. Residents and property owners may return to their properties within the Mendocino National Forest in Glenn County and Tehama County, but access to the Forest Service closure area for other purposes, including hunting and recreation, is prohibited. Properties accessed via a Forest System road may require a permit from the US Forest Service. Please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 for more information.

WEATHER: Hot and dry weather with low relative humidity, light winds, and smoke/haze will continue through Wednesday, with increasing chances of precipitation Thursday evening and into the weekend.

SAFETY: If traveling near areas affected by the fire, please practice defensive driving techniques, as crews and equipment in transition will be using the road infrastructure.