Single Publication

River Complex Fire Update
Monday, August 23, 2021

Etna, CA — The fire crews had tremendous achievements overnight with the Cronan fire.  After working for over three weeks to contain the fire, the crews are currently completing what is expected to be the final section of the Cronan.  This will allow fire managers to reallocate some of the resources, including two-hotshot crews, to provide much needed assistance to the Haypress and Summer fires. The Cronan fire is situated between Yellow Jacket Ridge to the north, and Sawyers Bar road to the south.  Last night the crews held the fire along the planned control line on the western perimeter, along 21 road near Murderers Gulch.   The crews have been able to fight several spot fires, to include a large four-acre spot.  Crews will continue to hold and secure the perimeter for the next several days to ensure the fire stays within the control lines.

Fire crews are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions across the River Complex, including smoke inversion, lower temperatures, and higher humidity.   New fire growth on all three fires was minimal overnight, and crews are continuing firing operations along control lines and mop-up operations where appropriate. Fire crews will continue these operations today, as favorable weather and decreased fire activity will remain.

Weather:  Smoke continues to dominate the weather across the River Complex. A stout overnight inversion will help the smoke settle in the steeper drainages. Smoke transport winds will be modest and out of the west-southwest, shifting the high-level smoke off to the east. However, the low-level smoke will linger across the fire area through the day, moderating the fire weather conditions. Some clearing is possible across the higher elevations, where an uptick in winds and lower humidity are possible.

Today:  

• Continued assessment of fires and fire locations.  Continue point protection of values at risk.
• Scout, perform structure triage assessments, and build contingency lines on private timber stands in the Trinity Center, and Hwy-3 corridor.
• Continued implementation of structure defense plans throughout the day in fire-threatened areas.
• Continue mop-up and patrol of existing control lines, monitor for spot fires and slop-overs on all River Complex fires.  Construct and improve fire lines in all divisions where conditions allow, and personnel and equipment are available.
• Conduct firing operations where feasible to strengthen containment lines and remove available fuels for the fire to consume.
• Continue direct and indirect line construction and firing operations on the north side of the Summer and the south side of the Haypress to keep the fire from moving towards communities.

 Fire Behavior:

Haypress:  The main potential for growth in the will be in the east side of Haypress in Hickory and Deacon Creeks, off the Upper Coffee Creek Road near the Three Sisters Gulch.  Most perimeter growth will be in the areas between I Am Ridge and Dog Pow Gulch as the fire backs down the Cecilville/Callahan road. The 210-acre spot fire southeast of the main Haypress fire appears to be holding in Parker Creek to the north but will continue to back down the ridge near Sandy Gulch towards the Swift Creek area.

Summer Fire: The Summer fire is showing little growth along the northern perimeter and is holding along the 16 road, which was burned off several days ago. Growth will continue the western perimeter towards Sainte Claire Creek and to the southwest as the fire backs down Grizzly and Whisky Creeks towards the Pfeiffer Flat area.

Cronan Fire:  Crews will continue to hold and secure the perimeter for the next several days to ensure the fire stays within the control lines.

Fire Statistics: Total complex 86,492 acres, 10% containment.  Haypress 59,935 acres.  Summer 20,727 acres. Cronan 5,830 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:  729 Personnel • 16 Crews • 7 Helicopters • 43 Engines • 8 Dozers • 18 Water Tenders • 3 Masticators

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