Press release from the fire management team:

Public Information: 530-625-2124
Hours: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Email: 2026.mp18@firenet.gov
Incident Website: linktr.ee/MilePost18Fire
Acres Burned: 4605 | Containment: 5% | Start Date: 8/7/2026 | Personnel: 1,134

Operational Update:

Fire held overnight in the Mill Creek drainage as firefighters engaged the advancing flames north of the dozer line along Big Hill Ridge. The retardant lines that were laid down yesterday by large air tankers on the ridge continue to improve chances at containment. The handline on the west side of the fire in Mill Creek is almost complete with hoses and pumps making their way down to the creek from the road above. All these efforts are to prevent further spread toward communities in Hoopa.

Big Hill Lookout in being wrapped in a special protective foil as dozers and handcrews work to protect the communications infrastructure there.

Structures closest to the fire in the Marshall Lane neighborhood received sprinklers, pumps and portable water tanks as precautionary measures ahead of any potential threats coming from the Mill Creek area. Structure protection teams will continue community defense measures today in eastern Hoopa neighborhoods.

The fire continues to hold east of the Trinity River as fire managers assessed the burned areas along the river by boat. Mop-up will continue along the highway corridor. On the northern river section of the fire, dozer line is in place north of Skunk Creek and contingency line will continue being constructed south of Weitchpec.

Please keep all personal drones grounded. Drone activity forces firefighting aircraft to land, stopping critical air operations.

Weather:

Relative humidities reached their peak near 100 percent last night at the Big Hill Remote Area Weather Station (RAWS), but drought-stricken trees and dead-down fuels will dry out quickly as the marine layer peels away earlier than previous days.

Evacuations:

Evacuation Order: HIA-E002-A

Evacuation Warnings: HIA-E001-B, HIA-E002-B, HIA-E003, HIA- E004, HIA-E006, and HIA-E014-C,    HIA-E014-D, HIA-E014-E

Road Closures:

Highway 96 remains closed north of Hoopa due to fire activity. Closures also are in place for Hostler Ridge Road, Mill Creek Road and Big Hill Road.