UPDATE, 5 p.m.: Six p.m. is a go, say incident commanders:
Fire Managers confirm that a CalTrans vehicle will assist those waiting to get through Highway 96 at 6:00 p.m. today. Be on time and ready to go.
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UPDATE: Incident commanders say:
With fire operations happening on Highway 96 the decision was made that we will not use the pilot vehicle that Cal Trans has been operating to assist the public through the fire at 12:00 (noon) today. I would appreciate that you would help us get this message out through your channels. We will see how the day goes, re-assess and make sure it is safe to go at 7:00. We will use this method to let the public know.
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Press release from Mill Creek One Fire incident command:
Date of Detection: August 16, 2018
Current Size: 2,921 acres
Location: Mill Creek North of Hoopa California, Hoopa Indian Reservation
Legal Description: Latitude: 41ᵒ 8’ 24” Longitude: 123ᵒ 39’ 36”
Cause: Arson
Containment: 42%
Resources on Fire: There are currently 370 personnel on this incidentFIRE UPDATE: Air quality in Hoopa Valley continues to be poor. Air quality measurements measured Unhealthy (Red) to very Unhealthy (purple). These levels affect not only smoke sensitive people but also the rest of the population. Unhealthy or worse air quality is expected to continue until the Mill Creek 1 Fire stops actively growing. Peak impacts occur around midday when the air has been as high as Hazardous for a number of hours. You can find a detailed description of the Air Quality Index at this site:
wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/HoopaValley-EurekaArea.
HIGHWAY 96: California State Highway 96 is closed from Bull Creek to Mill Creek due to fire behavior. Traffic is being redirected through Dowd Road. This is for the safety of the public as well as for crews and aerial resources working on the fire. However, if fire conditions permit, and it is safe to do so, an opportunity for the public to drive Highway 96, through the Mill Creek 1 Fire Road Closure has been established. Interagency co-operators are going to provide three openings daily, one in each direction at the designated time. Timeframes: 7:00 a.m. 12:00 (noon) and 6:00 p.m. A pilot car will escort travelers through the fire area. Please, be on time or you will miss the opportunity. Public safety is our priority. If there is an increase in fire activity or a possibility of falling / rolling debris dangers, travel through may be delayed or cancelled. As soon as it is safe for public travel the highway will be reopened.
OPERATIONS: Today on the fire, firefighters will continue to patrol and secure the southern flank and the Highway 96 corridor. Crews will construct direct fireline and conduct firing operations on the northeast corner of the fire to prevent further spread east of Mill Creek Road. Resources will continue to mop-up and secure completed line as conditions allow. Crews will prepare for future firing operations that will allow containment of the fire south of Deerhorn Road. A priority on the northeast flank is to prevent further impacts to the timber management areas.
Attention - The Mill Creek 1 Fire was caused by arson on Tribal lands near Hoopa, California. There is a $10,000 reward offered for information regarding the fire. Calls will be taken on an anonymous hotline by calling 1-800-468-4402.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Get the latest fire updates on the Hoopa Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/HoopaOES/
or check fire updates for Mill Creek 1, and throughout the country on Inciweb at:
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