Single Publication

River Complex Fire Update
Friday, August 27, 2021

Etna, CA — End of day Thursday, fire activity became mildly active across the River Complex due to wind and dissipating smoke.  Overnight, temperatures dropped and humidity increased and all three fires moderated.  Fire resources in the Trinity Alps are utilizing MIST tactics (Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics) in an effort to leave the smallest footprint possible.  Crews will take advantage of reduced smoke by utilizing Air Operations, and will be using UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) to limit uphill runs and bring fires down towards perimeter lines. Additional resources continue to arrive and are being assigned to critical areas of the fire.   On the Haypress fire, the Parker Meadow spot fire to the southeast remains a high priority. 

Weather:  Warm, dry, and breezy conditions will continue Friday across the River Complex. Smoke is likely to thin as the inversion breaks, allowing for areas of clear air. This clear air coupled with the dry and breezy conditions will result in elevated fire weather potential through Friday night. Breezy northerly winds will continue Friday night, strongest at ridgetops and upper slopes.  Smoke from the River Complex and the McCash fire will linger in the region.

Today:       

• Scout, perform structure triage assessments, and build control line west of Coffee Creek,
• Trinity Center, and Hwy-3 corridor to protect these values.
• Insert resources and construct direct fire line on the spot fire in the Parker Meadow to mitigate threat to       
• the Hwy-3 and Trinity Center areas.
• Construct and improve fire line in all areas, where conditions allow and personnel and equipment are available. 
• Point Protection in the communities of Coffee Creek, Summerville, and Cecilville.    

Fire Behavior:

 Haypress:  The fire operation continues, and crews are focusing on preventing spot fires north of the Cecilville/Callahan Road.  Crews have been making good progress on the Parker Meadow spot fire on the southeast side of the Haypress, which showed little growth yesterday.  Crews will continue containment efforts today.

Summer Fire:  Increased fire activity is expected to continue in Saint Claire Creek yesterday and is expected to grow to the south and west toward the 2020 Red Salmon Complex.  Fire growth will continue as the fire backs down towards the North Fork Trinity River and Rattlesnake Creek.  This portion of fire is consuming dead and down fuels left from the 2006 Bake Oven Fire.  

Cronan Fire:  Continue to hold and secure the control lines.  Pay close attention and look for opportunities to secure the unburned spots near the containment lines. 

Fire Statistics: Total complex 93,247 acres, 19% containment.  Haypress 63,784 acres.  Summer 23,538 acres. Cronan 5,888 acres.

Evacuations: 

Evacuation Order: Cecilville, Summerville, Petersburg, and Coffee Creek Road Past Sugar Pine Trailhead in Trinity County.

Evacuation Warning: Sawyers Bar, Coffee Creek, Trinity Center

For specific information regarding evacuations, please visit https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices or https://www.trinitycounty.org/OES

An evacuation order means there is an immediate threat to life and is a lawful order to leave immediately.   An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life or property.  Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave now.

Road Closures: Trinity County has issued a hard closure of Coffee Creek Road at North Fork Trailhead west of Hwy 3. The Callahan-Cecilville Road is closed from approximately one mile west of the community of Callahan to Cecilville.  The Sawyers Bar Road is closed from Forks of Salmon to Forest Road 40N51. 

Forest Closures:  The following National Forests are under Emergency Forest Closure, effective from August 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. through September 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.: Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Six Rivers National Forest, Modoc National Forest, Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Plumas National Forest, Mendocino National Forest, and Lassen National Forest.

For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/

Resources:  783 Personnel • 14 Crews • 9 Helicopters • 50 Engines • 2 Dozers • 25 Water Tenders • 7 Masticators

Smoke Report:  https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/NorthernCalifornia