‘A helicopter-based firefighter looks at different fingers of the fire before starting to use aerial ignitions.’: Source: Inciweb.

Out in Siskiyou County, along Highway 96, almost 2,000 firefighters continue to battle the Gap Fire, which has now grown to more than 25,000 acres in size — the largest fire in northern California this year.

Highway 96 is still open as of this writing, but mandatory evacuations are in effect on both sides of the road as the fire heats up along the highway and the Klamath River. Two structures have been reported destroyed. They’re calling the fire 30 percent contained as of right now, with no official target date set for full containment.

Though the fire is way over on the other side of the Coast Range — far closer to the Central Valley than Humboldt — some smoke made its way into our region over the weekend, and may continue to do so.

The Gap Fire started on August 27 — just over a week ago. There is still no word about what caused it.

Detailed information is available at the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s “Inciweb” page for the incident, from which the photos below are taken.

‘Helicopter drops water to extinguish a tree on fire with precision.’ Photo: Mike Theune, via Inciweb.

‘Fire slowly creeps along the northern edge of the Klamath River near Hamburg, California.’ Photo: Inciweb.

‘Firefighters work with local rafting guides to gain safe access across the Klamath River to the fire.’: Photo: Inciweb.

‘Cattle move to safer ground at the Gap Fire.’ Photo: Inciweb.