(UPDATING) Vegetation Fire Burning Along Highway 299 Near Blue Lake

Photos by Ryan Burns.


UPDATE: 5:50 p.m.:
The Outpost spoke with Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Peter Cress moments ago, who said the fire is made up of multiple fires burning a few miles East of Blue Lake.
Outpost reporter Ryan Burns reports that Highway 299 has been reopened. See photos of fire crews still working to knock down the flames above.

Photo of the fire provided by a reader.
UPDATE: 5:27 p.m.:
Outpost reader Glenn Hulbert sends us these photos of the scene.



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UPDATE: 5:22 p.m.:
CHP Sgt. Peter Cress told reporter Ryan Burns that a second main fire is still burning near Lord Ellis Summit along Highway 299.
We will have more information soon.
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UPDATE: 5:15 p.m.:
Outpost reporter Ryan Burns spoke with a park ranger on scene who told him that Highway 299 remains completely closed is the area. The ranger said that emergency personnel are still unsure if the fires are accidental or intentional, but that the fires appear suspicious.
Another fire has also been reported along Highway 96 near Hoopa.
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UPDATE: 4:56 p.m.:
An air tanker has been dispatched to the area as more fires have being reported east of Blue Lake along Highway 299.
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UPDATE: 4:43 p.m.:
Firefighters just confirmed over the scanner that there are no other fires burning in the Blue Lake area.
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UPDATE: 4:40 p.m.:
The first fire found in the area is reportedly out. Calfire in on scene and requesting the closure of the eastbound 299 at Blue Lake Blvd. Traffic is reportedly being diverted in the area.
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UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.:
Firefighters are reporting from the scene that the Blue Lake fire may be 5 to 10 acres in size.
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UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.:
Firefighters in Eureka are also responding to another small grass fire in the King Salmon area, not far from the Humboldt Bay power plant. According to scanner traffic, firefighters on scene report that there’s a small grass fire with a slow rate of spread.
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UPDATE: 4:30 p.m.:
According to the CHP incident report, officers have been advised to be on the lookout for a vehicle dragging chains in the area.
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UPDATE: 4:25 p.m.:
According to scanner traffic, Highway 299 is being blocked off at Glendale Blvd. and first responders are evacuating residents form the area.
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Multiple engines are currently responding to a vegetation fire reported in the Blue Lake area Near Highway 299 and Blue Lake Blvd.
According to the CHP Incident report, reporting persons passing by the scene say the fire is getting out of control.
According to scanner traffic, a separate vegetation fire has been reported east of the area.
See: Common CHP Codes and Shorthand