Monument Fire

The Monument Fire burning along Highway 299 in Trinity County between Burnt Ranch and Weaverville is now 154,344 acres in size and remains 20 percent contained.

A team of 1,915 firefighters is currently working on the fire, including 26 hand crews, 148 engines, 14 helicopters, 52 dozers, 47 water tenders, 3 skidgines, 3 masticators and 21 excavators.

After several days of minimal spread due to a thick layers of smoke blocking out the sun, firefighters say clearer skies are now allowing solar radiation to influence the fire’s behavior.

“This fire still has lots of potential,” Alaska Incident Management Team Operations Section Chief Karen Scholl said. “Smoke has kept a lid on the fire for the past few days.”

Slightly cooler temperatures and stronger winds are forecast for today.

The Trinity County Office of Emergency Services is urging people to sign up with the CodeRed emergency alert system for the latest evacuation information.

Evacuation Orders: In effect for Hayfork north of Highway 3, Sky Ranch Road and Dutch Creek.

Evacuation Warnings: In effect for Big Bar, Big Flat, Burnt Ranch, Douglas City, Junction City, Weaverville, areas south from Barker Mountain to Haystack, the north side of Hyampom Road from Hayfork to 9-mile bridge, Denny, Hawkins Bar and Trinity Village. For detailed evacuation information, visit the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook.

Evacuation Centers: American Red Cross Shelters have been set up at Shasta College, 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, Redding CA; Willow Creek Bible Church, 39 Brannan Mountain Road, Willow Creek, CA; and Fireman’s Hall Pavilion, 9 Park Street in Fortuna.

Animal Evacuation: (Domestic animals)  Trinity County Animal Shelter, 563 Mountain View St, Weaverville, CA (530- 623-1370).  (Domestic + Large Animals)  Hoopa Rodeo Grounds on Pine Creek Rd, Hoopa, CA. (Large Animals with the exception of Swine): Redding Rodeo Grounds, located at 715 Auditorium Dr., Redding, CA (Sandy Ekman (530) 739-8469)

Clean Air Center:

Trinity County has established a Clean Air Center at the Trinity County Library, 351 Main Street, Weaverville. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1-6 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Clean Air Center at the Murray Building at 6641 Highway 3 in Hayfork has been closed due to fire activity.

Highway 299 remains closed Between Berg Road and East Fork Road.

A damage assessment team confirmed that 50 structures have been destroyed by the fire. For information regarding property damages, contract the Trinity County Office of Emergency Services at (530) 623-1116.

McFarland Fire

The McFarland Fire burning along Highway 36 in Trinity County is now 119,560 acres in size and is 73% contained.

A team of 875 firefighters are currently working to contain the blaze, including 17 hand crews, 69 engines, 7 helicopters, 45 dozers, 20 water tenders and 3 masticators.

“Overnight, crews were able to finish burning operations, completing solid containment lines in Beegum Gorge and patrolled the rest of the fire,” the fire’s incident management team stated this morning. “Today, crews will continue to strengthen lines in Beegum Gorge and along Highway 36. If conditions permit, they may burn out some green islands inside the perimeter. Firefighters will watch for and extinguish any hots spots near containment lines and mop up.”

A damage assessment team has confirmed that 24 homes and 22 other structures have been destroyed by the fire. One additional home was confirmed to be damaged by the fire. Damage assessments are ongoing. A map of the destroyed structures and images of the properties can be found by clicking this link: visit:https://arcg.is/1Pu8GW

Evacuation Orders and Warnings:

Highway 36 remains closed between Harrison Gulch to Vestal Road.