Single Publication

Location: Siskiyou County, CA

Size: 9,234 acres

 Cause: Under Investigation 

Start Date: Wednesday July 3, 2023, at 1:27PM

Percent Contained:   0%      

Personnel: 2,488

CURRENT SITUATIONS:                                                                                            

Last night, specialty equipped helicopters were utilized to support engines and hand crews in strengthening containment lines. Overnight fire activity was in the Patterson creek area and held as the fire laid down. Firefighting personnel continue their round-the-clock efforts to enhance structure defense in local communities.

Yesterday, the fire's most active front was along the eastern edge near Patterson Creek. Crews worked tirelessly to fortify lines from Patterson Ridge to Whiskey Butte, aiming to halt the fire's eastward progression. Aerial resources were consistently deployed to reinforce these efforts. On the northern front, crews concentrated on reinforcing lines in the Shackleford drainage area and actively engaged in firefighting operations.

Substantial resources are dedicated to structure defense, with additional reinforcements arriving to protect surrounding communities. Concurrently, crews are focused on establishing and strengthening contingency lines from Scott Bar Road in the north to Sawyers Bar Road in the south.

Minimal growth has been observed in the southern and western sections of the fire. Efforts on the southern front are centered on completing hand and dozer lines from Sawyers Bar Road to the Pacific Crest Trail and Snoozer Ridge.

Evacuation orders or warnings are in place for 4,200 people in the area, with over 3,800 residential and 300 commercial structures threatened.

WEATHER:

Hot, dry, and unstable conditions are expected to persist through the rest of the week, with continued low minimum relative humidity and overnight recoveries in the 40-45% range along the ridges. Terrain-driven up-canyon winds will continue each afternoon, with westerly down-canyon winds in the 15-20 mph range pushing through channeled terrain gaps in the late afternoons and evenings. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening, with isolated dry thunderstorms becoming more likely on Saturday and potentially into Sunday.

EVACUATIONS:

Multiple Evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES

Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Genasys site at: https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=41.550694%2C-122.905589

SHELTERS:

Kahtishraam Wellness Center - Yreka

1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 96097

Showers and cots are available.

RV Dry Camping/Parking

West Webb St. and Hoag St. in Montague

Please note, at this time, there are no extra services (sewage/water/power hookups). This is currently set up for DRY camping.

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Animal shelters are available at the following locations(s) for those who have pets and animals that been displaced due to the Shelly Fire:

Dog Evacuation Shelter: 

Rescue Ranch Yreka

2216 East Oberlin Road, Yreka CA 96097

Contact: John Golay 541-698-7526

Livestock Animal Evacuation Shelter (Horses, pigs, sheep, goats, birds): 

Siskiyou Golden Fair

1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097 

Contact: Tom Taylor 530-340-1038 

Cat Evacuation Shelter: 

Siskiyou Golden Fair - Armory Building

1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097

Contact: Becca 530-340-0656

CLOSURES: 

An official closure area around the Shelly Fire went into effect on July 4th. Hikers are not permitted in the area and will be asked to leave the area. For details and a map of the closure are, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1187463.pdf.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: 

Forest fire restrictions also went into effect on July 4th. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices/?aid=88596. Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also has restrictions in place.

Pacific Crest Trail Information: https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures