UPDATE 9:22 p.m.:

Arcata Fire Protection District press release:

At approximately 1:54 P.M. this afternoon Arcata Fire Protection District was dispatched to a brush fire at the marsh between I Street and South G Street. Upon arrival the first engine reported a 50 foot by 50 foot spot fire that rapidly spread to approximately one acre within ten minutes. “This was a fast moving, wind driven fire,” stated Incident Commander (IC) Alan Davis. The estimated size of the fire at the time of this press release was three acres.

The fire was located in the marsh between Allen Marsh and Log Pond. Multiple crews fought this fire on the ground and in the air. The ground crews were divided up into two divisions. One division attacked the fire from the north and moved south and the second ground crew attacked the fire from the south and moved north. Meanwhile, Cal Fires’ Air Attack airplane (A102) was in the air giving the Incident Commander updates on the progress firefighters were making and Cal Fire Helicopter (H102) helped extinguish the fire by dumping water from the marsh onto the fire. “Cal Fires’ air attack and helicopter were extremely helpful in fighting this difficult fire.” says IC Davis. The fire was contained around 4:00 P.M. No structures were damaged, however, the Interpretive Center was threatened, but quick work by the fire crews stopped the spread of the fire in that direction. There was one bench that burned, but no other damage or injuries have been reported. At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown and still under investigation. 

Arcata Fire Protection District (AFPD) responded with three chief officers, three engines, and one water tender. AFPD would like to thank all the agencies that responded. Humboldt Bay Fire provided two chief officers and three engines. Cal Fire and Redwood National Park provided one Air Attack (A102), one Helicopter (H102), four engines, and one hand crew. Samoa Peninsula Fire District provided one engine for station coverage, and Arcata Police Department assisted with traffic control. We would also like to thank our City of Arcata personnel for assisting and coordinating with the crews and supplying necessary information for them during the incident. 

Arcata Fire Protection District would like to remind everyone to be extremely careful this time of year. The ground is very dry and when the winds pick up in the afternoon it causes small fires to grow and spread very quickly. Please be sure that your camp fires, cooking, and warming fires are completely extinguished before you leave.  

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: A view of some of the damage at the Arcata Marsh.

Photo by JM Photography.

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: Per scanner traffic, engines are being released from the Marsh Incident.

UPDATE 3:53 p.m.: The new fire is around the 1500 block of Old Arcata Road. Arcata Fire tweeted,

UPDATE 3:49 p.m.: According to scanner traffic the new fire is burning in a backyard. The helicopter has been released to get fuel.

UPDATE 3:46 p.m.: Scanner traffic is calling the new fire Anvick presumably after Anvick Road which is off Old Arcata Road.

UPDATE 3:44 p.m.: Scanner traffic indicates there is another fire in Arcata that is threatening a structure.  

UPDATE 3:42 p.m.: Great videos linked in the comment section. See here, here and here. Videos courtesy of Pinky Caruthers.

UPDATE 3:08 p.m.: Fire personnel are saying on scanner that “for the most part it looks like the forward movement has slowed.”

Helicopter and crowd shots below courtesy LoCO friend Will Startare.

# # #

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: A large crowd of people has gathered to watch what is turning out to be a large and potentially dangerous fire. Here is the view from the Bay from another reader.

UPDATE 3:05 p.m.: Scary photo!

UPDATE 3:02 p.m.: Video 

UPDATE 2:54 p.m.: Readers have provided more photos from the fire.

# # #

Original Post:

Smoke from fire in Arcata. [Photo provided by reader.]

According to numerous reports, there is a vegetation fire burning near I Street in Arcata. The Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center on south G Street in Arcata has an engine stationed near there to protect it. There is traffic control requested for G Street.

“The fire has jumped the path and the head of the fire is headed towards to Interpretive Center,” said a fire official on scene. 

According to scanner traffic, a helicopter has been requested.

Arcata resident, Jolian Kangas, says, the fire started about 2 p.m. “Scanner traffic suggested a blackberry brush fire started it.”

Another view of the smoke. [Photo provided by reader.]