UPDATE: MORE FIRE UPDATES: Your Tuesday Rundown on Wildfires Burning Near Hoopa, Orick and Orleans

Press release from the South Fork Complex Incident Management Team:

Current Situation: People and Equipment:

  • 3-9 Fire: 1,430 acres with 0% containment 522 personnel, crews, engines, dozers, water tenders
  • Pilot Fire: 879 acres with 10% containment and air support
  • Pelllitreau Fire: 3.4 acres with 100% containment
  • Sulphur Fire: 26 acres with 95% containment

20% overall containment for the Complex

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Crews continued to construct indirect dozer line on the southern perimeter of the 3-9 Fire. Resources will continue to assess Pilot Creek and the road system on the southwestern area of the 3-9 fire area to improve the road system coming up to the Dan East Trail. Yesterday firefighters looked for opportunities to directly fight the fire on the east side and were still working on a 30-acre slop-over from Sunday night. They’ll continue to improve dozer and handlines up to the fire’s edge. Firefighters will go direct when safe to do so in the Bear Creek area in effort to stop the fire’s progression to the north. Crews will continue to improve dozer line areas in anticipation of any movement that could move east towards Hyampom.

Pilot Fire crews continue to secure and mop up the western and southern portions. The northern portion of the fire cooled down with yesterday’s moisture, allowing dozers to improve current lines. Crews have been successful with the handline around Grouse Creek, on the eastern portion of the fire line. Some challenges on the east side include steep terrain and roll out as firefighters continue to go direct. Operational plans for today continue to secure and mop up the perimeter of the Pilot Fire and continue to construct direct handline on the northeast side to secure the edges. Dead and standing timber may roll down and leave spot fires. Fuels are wet from yesterday’s rain, but will be drying out over the next several days which could increase fire behavior.

The Pellitreau fire is 100% contained and the Sulfur fire has 95% containment. Crews will continue to mop up the area and monitor and patrol to ensure fire remains within the containment lines. Most equipment has been pulled from these fires to assist the Pilot and 3-9 Fires.

Please note: With Inciweb being unstable throughout the country, a Facebook page has been established for this fire. We are able to update this page more quickly: SouthForkComplex

Weather and Fire Behavior

Residual moisture from post-Tropical Cyclone Hilary will continue widely scattered showers and possible thunderstorms this morning. Rain showers will likely end by mid-morning today, clearing to partly sunny this afternoon. A warming and drying trend begins on Wednesday extending into Thursday. The fires did not receive as much precipitation as other communities near the fires.

Community Meeting on Tuesday:

A community meeting is being held today, Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the at the Veteran’s Hall - VFW Post 9546 located at: 9201 CA-3, Hayfork, CA. This meeting will be in-person.

Evacuation Warning:

These remain in effect. Please continue to check the Trinity County Wildfire and Evacuation site for up-to-date status and locations: Trinity County Wildfire and Evacuation Map

Forest Closure: There are new Forest Closure orders for the South Fork Complex Fire that have been posted on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest website home page and on the Six Rivers National Forest (click on Forest Closures). Please avoid the closed areas.