U.S. Forest Service press release:

COMMUNITY MEETING: On Monday, September 6, at 8 p.m., a virtual community meeting for the Monument and Knob fires will be livestreamed on the Shasta-Trinity and Six Rivers National Forests’ Facebook pages. Prior to the meeting, submit questions about either fire to 2021.monument@firenet.gov.

MONUMENT FIRE:

Resources: 2,053 personnel, 37 hand crews, 126 engines, 4 helicopters, 38 dozers, 42 water tenders, 30 masticators

Current Situation: The Monument Fire is approximately 183,371 acres and 37% contained. Suppression efforts will be implemented to protect the values within the Trinity Alps Wilderness, the Trinity Wild and Scenic River, Inventoried Roadless areas and habitat for anadromous fish and other endangered and sensitive species. With control objectives achieved around the Hayfork area, the fire will no longer be in Unified Command. California Incident Management Team 5 will continue to coordinate suppression efforts with CAL FIRE’s Shasta Unit. CAL FIRE resources will continue patrolling and mopping up in the Hayfork area.

As containment increases on the Knob Fire, fire managers will shift firefighting resources to the southwest perimeter of the Monument Fire. The highest priority will be to secure the containment line along Hyampom Road. Over the next 5 to 7 days, hotshot crews will be conducting firing operations along Hyampom Road in order to reduce the available fuel in front of the advancing fire. The firing operations will intermittently restrict vehicle access into Hyampom.

Today, on the southwest perimeter, crews continue to improve containment lines along Hyampom Road for the planned firing operation. They are also working along Pattison Ridge to keep the fire in check as it moves downslope towards the Hyampom Road. On the northeast side at the North Fork Trinity River, resources continue to complete a section of handline along Backbone Ridge. The fire has not crossed to the eastern bank of the North Fork Trinity River and crews will continue to monitor fire activity. In all other areas of the fire, crews will continue to monitor and patrol existing containment lines and extinguish any hot spots.

KNOB FIRE:

Resources: 222 personnel, 7 hand crews, 23 engines, 3 dozers, 2 water tenders.

Current Situation: The Knob Fire is approximately 2,414 acres and 82% contained. Fire behavior was minimal throughout the night and crews continued to patrol and mop up hot spots within the existing containment lines. Today, crews will continue to strengthen existing containment lines and patrol for any hot spots 300 feet within the fire perimeter area.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: A strengthening high pressure system remains over the area bringing hotter and drier conditions. Ridgetop temperatures may reach 90 degrees and humidity will be in the single digits. These conditions, combined with expected wind gusts of 20 mph, have the potential to increase fire activity.

ROAD RESTRICTIONS AND CLOSURES:

Monument Fire:

• A segment of State Route 299 - from Mile Post 36.3 (just west of Helena) to Mile Post 7.4 (near Burnt Ranch at Berg Road) - is open to through traffic and residents on the following schedule: Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., an escort vehicle leads traffic through the closure every 1.5 hours. Exception: On Monday, September 6, the escort will operate every hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Overnight, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., the road is open only to residents with proof of address. 
• Northeast of Hayfork: Big Creek Road, Barker Valley Road, Barker Creek Road, and Carr Creek Road 
• West of Junction City: Big French Creek Road, Big Mountain Road, and Soldier Creek Road 
• South of Willow Creek: Hodgson Road, Burwood Drive, Panther Road, and Butterfly Creek Road

Knob Fire:  

• China Creek Road at Hodgson Road, Burwood Drive, Gypo Lane, Friday Ridge Road, Panther Road and Butterfly Road.

MONUMENT FIRE EVACUATIONS:

• Order: Helena/East Fork Road, Hobo Gulch Road, Big Mountain Road, and Big French Creek Road.
• Warning: Denny Road east from Ziegler Point Road through Denny to the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area boundary 
• Warning: Section of Campbell Ridge Road and Woods Lane near the Trinity River along the Humboldt/Trinity County line
• Warning: Canyon Creek Road in Junction City
• Trinity County evacuation information: Trinity County Sheriff’s Office Facebook, 530-623-2611

KNOB FIRE EVACUATIONS:

• Order: Areas east of Brushy Mountain Lookout Road/FS Road 6N08A to State Route 299, south of Victor Creek to China Creek
• Order: Areas east of Brushy Mountain Lookout Road/FS Road 6N08A to the eastern perimeter of the Knob Fire south of China Creek to Friday Ridge Road
• Order: Areas east of Brushy Mountain Lookout Road/FS 6N08A to the South Fork Trinity River, south of Friday Ridge Road to the end of the FS Road 6N20
• Warning: Areas of Boise Creek to the Humboldt/Trinity County line, south of the Trinity River to Victor Creek 
• Warning: Areas east of Highway 299 to the Humboldt/Trinity County line, south of Victor Creek to China Creek
• Warning: Areas east of the Knob Fire perimeter to the Humboldt/Trinity County line, south of China Creek to Friday Ridge Road
• Humboldt County evacuation information: humboldtsheriff.org, tinyurl.com/humcoevacmap, 707-268-2500

EVACUATION CENTERS:

• McKinleyville Seventh Day Adventist, 1200 Central Avenue, McKinleyville
• Fireman’s Hall Pavilion, 9 Park Street, Fortuna
• First Baptist Church, 1261 Main Street, Weaverville

FOREST CLOSURE: The USDA Forest Service has temporarily closed all National Forests in California. Direct your questions to 707-562-9113 or SM.FS.R5inquiries@usda.gov.