From the United States Department of Agriculture:

Current Situation: A hotter, drier weekend weather forecast over the Red Salmon Complex brings the potential for significant fire growth as humidity drops and the inversion layer that has been holding the fires in check weakens. The complex – the Red and the Salmon fires – totals 4,617 acres and is 12% contained. These fires were discovered on July 27, lightning caused, burning in the Trinity Alps Wilderness on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Crews are utilizing minimum impact suppression techniques in the wilderness as well as control lines from past fires outside the wilderness as contingency lines. A new forest closure is in effect today. 

Red Fire: The fire is 3,866 acres and 0% contained. Crews are making significant progress along the fire’s northern edge through strategic firing operations. Firefighters have been able to put fire on the ground from just east of Black Mountain heading west along Lubbs Trail and Forest Road 10N0 to the Salmon Summit Trailhead. From there they’ve turned south and are working to connect the firing operations with the Salmon Fire to just south of Salmon Mountain. These firing operations are conducted by ground crews as well as an unmanned aircraft system that is equipped with an ignition device to help build the width of the line and prevent fire from spreading across it. 

Salmon Fire: This fire is 751 acres and 12% contained. The fire is holding along lines in the Eightmile Creek drainage and Backbone Ridge. Crews worked to bolster lines along Salmon Summit Ridge and the fire is staying within the footprint of previous fires.  

Weather: Today will be warmer and drier. This warm, dry trend coupled with unstable air will continue into Sunday and Monday which can combine for a significant increase in fire behavior. 

Air quality: The heaviest concentrations of smoke will remain in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Forks of Salmon, Orleans, and Somes Bar are likely to be impacted. An air resource advisor is providing daily smoke forecasts and air quality information. Refer to fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NWCalifornia. 

Closures: The Red-Salmon Fire Complex Forest Closure takes effect

on August 8, 2020. All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge). All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit). Big Rock River Access.  

COVID-19: COVID-19 precautions are a priority at all incident camps with daily temperature screenings of personnel and implementing measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread. Community and firefighter safety are a top priority of both the incident management team and the National Forests.