UPDATE 7:10 P.M.: Cal Fire’s Facebook page states, “Firefighters have contained a 11 acre fire off Bell Springs Rd, east of Garberville (Humboldt County). #PaloFire”

Original post below——————-

“We thought the fire season was over,” says George Monroe of the Southern Humboldt Fire Chiefs Association. But now there are two reported fires in Southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino.

A fire in Palo Verde was called in about 2:45 P.M. It has a helicopter and three tankers on it already.  A second helicopter was called but diverted to a fire in Laytonville.  The Palo Verde fire has a “full on response,” Monroe said.   Alderpoint Fire Dept., Palo Verde Fire Dept., Redway Fire Dept.,  and, now Rio Dell Fire Dept. have all headed towards the flames. (One of the Cal Fire engines is on a strike team in the south and local fire companies have been hired to take their place.)

The Palo Fire, as it is now being called, is 10 acres.  It is burning downhill in grass and has begun burning into timber.  There is a hand crew working on the left flank and the air support is working on the right flank. There is a moderate rate of spread.