Smoke Outlook for 10/19 to 10/20

NW California-Red Salmon Complex

Fire behavior is expected to remain moderate as it continues to back down into creek bottoms and drainages. The fire was active overnight, but there was nothing of real significance as smoke and some marine moisture helped to moderate activity. Locations to the West of the fire will continue to see worse impacts, along with Forks of Salmon who will continue to see levels ranging from Good to Hazardous.

Willow Creek, CA – Notice: Yesterday, there was an intrusion into the restricted airspace over the fire by a drone. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain over the entire Red Salmon fire area until further notice. This includes drones. Remember: If you fly, we can’t.

Yesterday: Fire activity continued in the South Fork of the Salmon River, Methodist Creek, Plummer Creek, and the East Fork of the New River. A previous spot fire outside of containment lines north of Barron Creek began reburning as fuel drying continued. Firefighter’s combined ground based suppression efforts along with aerial water drops to cool that hotspot.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Unseasonably warm temperatures will continue today. Fuel moisture levels continue to decline allowing the fire to remain active for the near future, with moderate fire behavior. No rain is forecast in the immediate future. With the dry weather, higher elevations with unburned islands are likely to ignite. Smoke impacting the area remains likely. For information on smoke impact, go to www.airnow.gov.

Today’s Operations: Along the western flank of the fire, crews will continue to monitor containment line in the Colgrove Branch drainage and repair fireline no longer needed. On the northeastern flank, crews will patrol and mop up along the Salmon River to keep fire south of the river. On the southeastern flank, firefighters are securing fireline to keep fire east of Miller Ranch and west of the East Fork New River. Structure defense crews are removing structure defense systems where the fire threat has been mitigated and maintaining systems where the threat remains.

Closures: For firefighter and public safety, fire officials remind visitors that areas and roads within and near the fire perimeter of the fire are closed. More information is available on forest websites: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/stnf/alerts-notices

Smoke Outlook for 10/18 - 10/19

NW California - Red Salmon Complex

Smoke Outlook for 10/17 - 10/18

NW California - Red Salmon Complex

Willow Creek, CA – Notice: For firefighter and public safety, fire officials remind visitors that areas in and around the fire remain closed. Information is available on Forest websites.

Yesterday: The Red Flag Warning from the past two days expired Friday at 6 PM. During the day, fire activity increased in the South Fork Salmon River, Methodist Creek, Plummer Creek, East Fork New River, and Horse Linto Creek. Firefighters used water from prepositioned firehose and drops from helicopters to aid in cooling hotspots. The fire remained within planned containment lines. Night and day crews remained vigilant near structures to provide protection in case fire moved closer to residences.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Warm temperatures, lower humidity, and light terrain driven winds are expected the next few days. No rain is predicted in the near future. With shorter daylight hours and a slight increase in humidity, fire behavior is expected to moderate, but higher elevations with unburned islands will continue to ignite. Smoke impacting the area remains possible.

Today’s Operations: Along the western flank of the fire, crews will continue to monitor containment line in the Colgrove Branch drainage and repair fireline no longer needed. On the northeastern side, crews will patrol and mop up along the Salmon River to keep fire south of the river. On the southeastern side, firefighters are securing fireline to keep fire east of Miller Ranch and west of the East Fork New River. Structure defense crews continue to evaluate needs for structure defense systems in Denny, Miller Ranch, Cecilville, Forks of the Salmon, Godfrey, Blue Ridge, and Black Bear and are beginning to remove systems where the fire is contained.

Closures: Areas and roads within and near the fire perimeter on the Klamath, Six Rivers, and Trinity National Forests are closed. More information is available on forest websites: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/stnf/alerts-notices. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain over the entire Red Salmon fire area, which includes drones. Remember: If you fly, we can’t.

Smoke Outlook for 10/16 - 10/17

NW California - Red Salmon Complex

Willow Creek, CA – Notice: For firefighter and public safety, fire officials remind visitors that areas in and around the fire area remain closed. Information is available on Forest websites.

Weather and Fire Behavior: The "Red Flag Warning" extends through 6 PM today. These conditions are expected to increase fire backing down slopes and ignition of unburned fuels within fire containment lines. Areas of smoke are likely and may limit some use of helicopter resources.

Today’s Operations: Firefighters will use helicopter water drops and prepositioned fire hose to keep fire within established containment lines. Along the western flank of the fire, crews continue to monitor fireline in the Colgrove Branch drainage. On the northeastern side, day and night crews will patrol and mop up along the Salmon River to keep fire south of the river. On the southeastern side along the East Fork and the main New River, both day and night shift firefighters are securing fireline to keep fire east of Miller Ranch and Denny. Structure defense crews continue to test installed sprinkler systems in Denny, Miller Ranch, Cecilville, Forks of the Salmon, Godfrey, Blue Ridge, and Black Bear. Where containment lines are fully secured, crews will inventory and remove equipment (hoses, pumps, etc.). To rehabilitate fireline within the Wilderness and minimize soil erosion throughout the fire area, fire suppression repair is being completed on the north, west and some interior areas of the fire. Resource advisors help direct this work to protect sensitive natural and cultural resources.

Evacuation Warning remains for Forks of Salmon, Cecilville, and nearby residences (www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/sheriff).

Closures: Areas and roads within and near the fire perimeter on the Klamath, Six Rivers, and Trinity National Forests are closed. More information is available on forest websites: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/stnf/alerts-notices. Temporary Flight Restrictions remain over the entire Red Salmon fire area, which includes drones. Remember: If you fly, we can’t.

Red Flag Warning for portions of northwest California, Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning. See National Weather Service website for more details.

WILLOW CREEK –  Clear skies for most of Monday allowed aircraft to fly and provided crews with bucket water drops to assist with fire suppression efforts along the eastern flank. The positive effects of last weekend’s rain will start to wane in the next few days as fine fuels such as leaves and grass begin to dry out.  A” Fire Weather Watch” has been issued for Wednesday and Thursday.  This means weather conditions will continue to get warmer, drier and windier.

Safety:  Temporary Flight Restrictions remain over the entire Red Salmon fire area, which includes drones. Remember: If you fly, we can’t. Please drive slowly around fire resources on Cecilville Road.

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Weather forecasts indicate an increase in northeast winds coupled with hot and dry weather arriving in the area as early as Wednesday and continuing through Friday that will produce critical fire conditions. Temperatures will start increasing from the 70s to the 80s, humidity dropping as low as 12%, and wind gusts up to 30 mph later in the week. Skies should remain relatively clear with isolated areas of smoke near the fire today.

Today’s Operations: Crews will continue to monitor and improve containment lines on the Colgrove Branch drainage along the western flank of the fire.  On the eastern side, crews will continue to hold the fire south of the Salmon River.  Additional smoke may be visible as crews continue to conduct defensive burning in the Methodist and Plummer Creek areas bringing the fire down to the Salmon River.  In the Forks of Salmon and other areas where there is containment lines, crews are starting to remove equipment.

In areas where the fire is contained, fire suppression repairs are underway to restore hand and dozer fire lines, roads, staging areas, safety zones and drop points in order to minimize erosion. Repair and road work includes installing water bars and pulling woody debris over disturbed soils.

Evacuation Warnings remain for Forks of Salmon, Cecilville, and nearby residences (www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/sheriff) and Denny to include the Miller Ranch area (www.trinitycounty.org/OES).

Closures: Areas and roads within and near the fire perimeter on the Klamath, Six Rivers, and Trinity National Forests are closed. More information is available on forest websites: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/srnf/alerts-notices | www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/stnf/alerts-notices.