Above: This morning’s video briefing on the Orleans Complex fire, with a particular focus on the spot fire on the east side of the river that prompted an evacuation of Forks of Salmon.

Below: Press release from National Forest Service Orleans Complex firefighting management:

Butler Fire: 10,833 acres; 2% containment

Red Fire: 116 acres; 95% containment

Operational Updates:

Butler Fire: The Butler Fire spotted over the Salmon River July 17 into the Boyd Gulch area. Additional aircraft were brought in to drop water and retardant, while a surge order of firefighters and equipment arrived early in the evening to provide additional protection for structures in the vicinity, including Forks of Salmon two miles upstream of the fire. Among responding crews were those from the Six Rivers National Forest, Klamath National Forest, and CAL FIRE’s Siskiyou and Humboldt-Del Norte units. A night-flying helicopter was also supplied by CAL FIRE, which dropped water up until 1 a.m. as crews aggressively worked to suppress the fire.

A contingency line completed the previous day off Yellow Jacket Ridge initially held the spot’s progression south toward Forks of Salmon. However, the fire grew to more than 700 acres overnight, spilling over the ridgeline.

Crews continued to strengthen reopened containment lines from previous wildfires around Horn Creek and McNeal Creek ahead of the main fire’s southern edge.

The western fingers of the fire began to naturally converge on one another as fire moved slowly downslope into the Hammel Creek drainage around Orleans Mountain. Butler Creek remained effective in holding the fire’s westerly growth, with scars from the 2024 Boise Fire and 2023 Pearch Fires serving as backstops.

Firefighter priorities today are gaining control of the Boyd Gulch spot fire, protecting structures around Forks of Salmon, Sawyers Bar and Godfrey Ranch, and preparing control lines south of the main fire west of the Salmon River.

Evacuations:

Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has issued additional evacuation orders July 17 to include SIS-1710 and SIS-1808. They join existing evacuation orders for FRK-1709 (Forks of Salmon), SIS-1703, SIS-1704 (Butler Creek, Lewis Creek, Bloomer Mine residents and Nordheimer Campground), SIS-1707-A, SIS-1707-B, SIS-1708, SIS-1803-A, SIS-1804 and SIS-1805.

The Siskiyou Office of Emergency Services has established a dedicated phone number to assist people with their evacuation needs: 530-340-3539.

Zones SAW-1713, SIS-1705, SIS-1712, SIS-1802, SIS-1811 and SIS-1906 are under an evacuation warning, where residents are advised to be prepared to evacuate if conditions become more threatening. The latest evacuation information can be found at https://protect.genasys.com.

Closures:

  • Butler Fire: The road between Butler Flat and Nordheimer Campground remains closed as rocks and burning debris continued to fall into the roadway.

  • National Forests: The Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests issued a joint closure order July 16 within the vicinity of the Butler Fire. The closure includes Nordheimer and Oak Bottom campgrounds.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

  • While slightly cooler, temperatures will stay in the low 90s and winds are expected to come mostly come out of the west with occasional gusts up to 20 miles an hour for another active day on the fire line.

Fire Safety and Prevention:

  • Persistently high temperatures will keep fuels dry and increase potential fire danger. Forest users are reminded to prevent wildfires: Make sure your campfire is DEAD OUT before leaving it, don’t park on dry grass, and be careful with anything else that can start a wildfire.

The Butler Fire perimeter as of last night, with heat spots on east side of the Salmon River in the south.