Approximately 703 residences and 100 commercial buildings in Humboldt County are currently threatened by the Six Rivers Lightning Complex — a group of six lightning fires covering 10,781 acres to the north and south of Highway 299 near Willow Creek. 

Amanda Munsey, spokesperson for the fire’s incident management team (Incident Management Team 11), told the Outpost this afternoon that the fire remains 0 percent contained. However, firefighters anticipate some level of containment in the coming days.

“[Firefighters] are optimistic that they should get containment on the map soon,” Munsey said.

Incident Management Team 11, comprised of the U.S. Forest Service and Calfire, stated in its daily fire update that the complex is actively threatening communities along the Trinity River.

“Primary areas of focus are the communities along the 299 corridor, Waterman Ridge, Friday Ridge Road, and Ammon Ridge,” Incident Management Team 11 stated. “Evacuations continue around Willow Creek, Friday Ridge, Salyer and Trinity Village. Additional fire growth could impact communities and residences along Route 1.”

The latest evacuation information is available on the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services website.

The growth of the Bremer Fire north of Willow Creek.

Approximately 1,245 firefighters are currently assigned to the complex, and are carrying out individual strategies to contain each of the six fires.

On the Bremer Fire, burning directly north of Willow Creek and east of the Trinity River, firefighters are working to develop control lines and protect a threatened cell tower that provides communication services to the Willow Creek area. 

Firefighters forecast that winds will push the Bremer Fire — and the Waterman fire burning northeast of Willow Creek — toward residences in Salyer Heights, Willow Creek and Trinity Center.

Firefighters anticipate that the largest fire growth will occur to the west and south of the Oak, Ammon and Charlie Fires burning well south of Highway 299 and west of the Trinity River.

Growth of the Campbell Fire burning southwest of Willow creek.

On the Campbell and Ammon Fires, firefighters are working to complete dozer lines to halt the anticipated growth. Fire retardant has also been dropped in the Ammon Ridge are in an effort to keep the fire north of Ammon Ridge, south of Waterman Road, east of the FS-1 road and west of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest boundary.

“Most of the smoke production has been coming from [the Ammon Fire],” the Incident Management Team stated. “Areas south of this fire are hot and dry. Yesterday firefighters saw increased fire activity when good clean air from southwest winds presented. This area is not expected to be as active today.”

Growth of the Ammon Fire burning south of Willow Creek, parallel to Humboldt Bay.

Warmer, drier weather and up-canyon winds are expected to create more hazardous fire conditions in the Quimby Creek area. Fire conditions in the fire’s northern zone, meanwhile, are expected to be less severe due to higher humidity levels.

“Overnight, hard work by firefighters, in combination with high humidity, kept fire growth to a minimum,” the Incident Management Team stated. “Higher humidity is expected today on the northern end of the fire and there is not a lot of anticipated movement today.”

According to the U.S. Air Quality Index, today’s air quality is “hazardous” to “very unhealthy” in the Burnt Ranch and Hyampom areas. Conditions are also “unhealthy” in Willow Creek. The air quality in Hoopa and Coastal Humboldt remains “good.”

An evacuation shelter has been set up at Trinity Valley Elementary School at 730 Highway 96 in Willow Creek. A shelter for evacuated animals is also available at the Hoopa Rodeo Grounds at 1767 Pine Creek Road in Hoopa.

No structures are reported to have been destroyed in Humboldt County at this time. The number of threatened and destroyed structures in Trinity County is unknown.