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Smith River Complex (via U.S. Forest Service):

Acres: 85,501
Containment: 19 percent
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: Aug. 19, 2023
Resources: 57 crews, 171 engines, 10 helicopters, 4 drones, 18 dozers, 16 masticators, 6 skid steers, 37 water tenders
Total Personnel: 2,528

Current Situation: Firefighters on an aerial reconnaissance mission Monday observed minimal smoke and hotspots on the west side of the Kelly Fire from the state line south to Gasquet. The southern portion of the fire had scattered areas of heat. On the fire’s eastern perimeter south of the Caltrans Idlewild Maintenance Station, most heat was limited to a burning stringer of timber where the fire is creeping downslope to the Siskiyou River.

Several days of minimal fire activity have allowed crews to refine a full-suppression plan that involves using both direct and indirect suppression tactics. Where it is safe to do so, crews have been and will continue to extinguish hotspots directly on the fire’s edge. Elsewhere, they must rely on an indirect suppression strategy, which involves using dozer lines, handlines, roads, rivers, and other natural features to contain the fire.

Crews have been identifying and preparing those containment features—which are as close to the fire as possible—by masticating brush, installing hose and pumps, and widening roads and firelines. As weather conditions allow, they will conduct firing operations from the containment features toward the main fire. This indirect suppression strategy is necessary due to the unsafe, extremely steep, rugged terrain and long times required to transport personnel during emergencies.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Dry, breezy weather will continue through the week. New fires from last weekend’s lightning strikes may become apparent. The incident has an initial-attack crew that can quickly respond to new fires. No significant fire growth is expected on any fire in the Smith River Complex South on Tuesday.

Smoke and Air Quality: Low levels of smoke are expected until firing operations commence later this week. A daily Smoke Outlook that includes air quality information is available here: tinyurl.com/yb29zy6f.

Closures: US-199 is now OPEN to all traffic. However, an 11-mile segment—currently between Sandy Beach (near milepost 21) and Oregon Mountain Road (near milepost 31)—has one-way, piloted traffic control. Delays up to 45 minutes are possible. The piloted segment will expand or contract as crews repair the burned guardrails, clear rocks off the roadway, and remove hazard trees.

Six Rivers National Forest lands, roads, and trails surrounding the Complex are closed (Forest Order No. 10-23-06). The Order and closure map can be viewed on this Six River National Forest web page: tinyurl.com/4atens8c. Evacuations:

Evacuation orders issued by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office remain in effect. View the interactive evacuation map online for the most current evacuations: tinyurl.com/yp3d99sr.

• LEVEL 3, GO: Rockland
• LEVEL 2, Get Set: Rowdy Creek/Low Divide, Gasquet, Big Flat/Rock Creek, Patricks Creek Lodge, Little Jones/Washington Flat Residential Areas, Oregon Mountain Road Area, Sun Star
• LEVEL 1, Get Ready: Hiouchi

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Lightning Complex & Redwood Lightning Complex (via InciWeb):

The 19 fires in this incident total 17,551 acres and overall containment is 21%. The nine un-contained fires described below total 15,804 acres. Hog Fire and Lost Fire are in Redwood National and State Parks. All other fires described in this update are in Six Rivers National Forest. Fire managers have begun rightsizing staffing for current fire conditions. Minimal smoke was reported from fires in the Complexes yesterday, but a warming, drying trend beginning today may produce more smoke as fuels on the interior of the fires are consumed. The increase in acreage is due to more accurate aerial infrared mapping rather than actual fire growth.

Hog Fire (0.2 acres) – This new fire was detected on Saturday in the southern end of the National Park. It was an initial attack assisted by the Rocky Mountain team and is not an official part of the Complex. The fire is a lightning strike in a single cedar tree. The burning tree has been felled and the fire is lined and in mop up status.

Lost Fire (722 acres, 68% contained) – Indirect line construction has been completed on the north side of the fire. A portion of the fire perimeter in the northwest corner is too steep and rocky to safely put firefighters in. Backhaul of unneeded equipment is in progress and suppression repair work has begun. An unmanned aerial systems aircraft (UAS) will be used today to search for remaining hotspots using infrared technology.

Pearch Fire (5099 acres, 8% contained) – Crews continue to mop up, secure, and patrol firelines in the southern portion of the fire in Divisions Z and J. Crews are targeting hotspots identified by aerial infrared imagery. No additional firing operations are planned on the fire. The structure protection group continues structure assessments along the Salmon River corridor to the east of the fire in Division Y. The assessments, totaling 284 so far, will be compiled into a product that will be useful to local agencies in the event of any future emergencies. Hoses, sprinklers, and other structure equipment have been deployed in some locations as a preventative measure, and unneeded equipment is being backhauled. A night shift of 5 engines is continuing to work the fire.

Bluff #1 (2033 acres, 26% contained) and Mosquito (2557 acres, 24% contained) Fires – Mastication and chipping on an indirect fireline north of Mosquito Fire is done. A dozer line along a portion of Bean Ridge has been cleaned up, and hand crews completed the line northeast to Highway 96. A combination of masticators, fallers, and hand crews will work on extending the line further north. The east side of Mosquito Fire is contained by direct line along the Cedar Camp Road in Division M. An indirect line has been completed westward from the southeast corner of Mosquito Fire in Division M. Mastication has been completed along an indirect line that runs from north of Bluff #1 Fire, along the west side of that fire, and southward in Division N. Crews are working on connecting the south end of this line down into Bluff Creek and across to the line running west of Mosquito Fire with handline. This should take 3 to 4 days to complete. Four chippers are working to remove slash from the masticated indirect lines, with about four days of work remaining.

Blue Creek #2 (2986 acres, 0% contained), Marlow (1540 acres, 0% contained), and Copper (792 acres, 0% contained) Fires – These fires are being patrolled by aerial resources as weather conditions allow. They are bounded by indirect control lines to the east and south, and significant movement of these fires is not expected.

Monument (2 acres, 0% contained) and Let er-Buck (73 acres, 0% contained) Fires – Due to limited values at risk, the remote, steep terrain and associated safety concerns for our firefighters, and the low probability of success using standard suppression tactics, these fires are being addressed with a confinement strategy. Terrain, natural fire barriers such as rock outcroppings, and old fire footprints where fuels are limited will be used to confine fire growth until season ending precipitation extinguishes the fires. These fires are checked regularly by aerial patrols to ensure they remain within acceptable bounds, and little to no fire growth has been observed.

Weather: A slow warming and drying trend will occur this week. Highs will be in the upper 70s to mid 80s, warming to near 90 by late in the week. Winds will be light from the west. Overnight lows will be in the 40s and 50s. A stable weather pattern will be in place over the next week, with seasonal temperatures and a dry forecast.