Highway 36 Now Fully Open; McFarland Fire 51% Contained
Evacuation warnings in remain in place for various communities in southern Trinity County, but you should at least be able to travel through with no problems.
Late Wednesday the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office announced that the previously impacted area of Highway 36 — from its intersection with Highway 3 to Wildwood Road — is now “open without restrictions” but cautioned that “[d]rivers should drive with caution as emergency crews may still be working in the area.”
Progress continues to be made on the McFarland Fire which, as of Thursday morning, has burned 37,779 acres just south of Highway 36. An update on current conditions from Shasta-Trinity National Forest can be read below:
The column of smoke seen from the fire yesterday was in the southeast portion of the fire near Paul’s Day Road and 35 Road. Firefighters continued to fight and contain the fire in this section that is near Middle Fork of Beegum Creek and Pole Corral Creek. The fire is burning towards the August Complex burn scar. On the west side of the fire line, fire remains south of Dubakella Mountain. Firefighters will continue to work to increase containment along Highway 36.
Current fuel conditions are critical and may lead to rapid growth. Dozers and heavy equipment will continue to reopen dozer lines from last year’s August Complex and will look for opportunities to safely fight the fire by ground on the east and southeast portions of the fire. Burnout operations will continue along the east and southeast portions of the fire to prevent fire spread.
Retardant continues to be strategically dropped by fixed wing aircraft in an effort to slow the fire spread. Helicopters will be dropping water to support firefighters on the ground. Additional resources continue to build indirect and contingency line. Aerial firefighting support will be subject to smoke conditions and weather.
Temperatures are expected to be in the highs of 93-98 and low 66-71 degrees. Winds will be light and terrain-driven in the morning, becoming west/northwest 4 to 8 mph with gusts to 15 mph in the afternoon. Weather forecasts predicted isolated afternoon thunderstorms with a chance of dry lightning.
ROAD INFORMATION: Highway 36 is open without restrictions as of 8PM on August 11, 2021.
EVACUATION WARNINGS remain in place for the following communities:
Community of Wildwood
Community of Post Mountain near the junction of the 36 and the 3
Community of Trinity Pines
Shields Road
White Rock Road
Harrison Gulch Road from Hwy 36 to Deerlick Springs Road
Community of Platina:
Both sides of Highway 36 from Sunday Gulch Road to the Shasta/Tehama County line.
All roads to the south of Highway 36 from Sunday Gulch Road to the Shasta/Tehama County line including: Beegum Gorge Road, Platinum Lane, Secluded Glen Lane, Shady Nook Drive and Beegum Road
FOREST CLOSURE IN EFFECT FOR MCFARLAND FIRE AREA:
All residents and visitors are reminded that the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has issued a closure order for the McFarland Fire, located in Trinity, Tehama and Shasta Counties. The order, Forest Order 14-21-22 (McFarland Fire Closure Order) was issued to protect public health and safety. Please check the Shasta Trinity National Forest Webpage under Alerts and Notices for the order and the map.
Forest visitors are reminded that fire restrictions remain in effect prohibit building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire.
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