Start Date: July 11, 2024

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 2,037 acres

Percent Containment: 8%

Helicopters: 6

Scooper Planes: 2

Engines: 14

Crews: 9

Total Personnel: 346

The diligent efforts of fire crews have resulted in achieving 8% containment on the Bench Lake Fire. Structure protection efforts at Redfish Lake Lodge and adjacent facilities are proving successful. Pumps and hoses continue to spray water increasing the relative humidity, making it harder for any fire embers to ignite adjacent fuels. Crews near the upper Bench Lakes have made substantial progress building containment lines in the extremely rugged terrain. 

Yesterday, the national wildfire preparedness level reached its peak. During this time national resources such as hotshot crews and aviation resources are shared or assigned to incidents with the greatest need. Mapping regularity on the Bench Lake Fire may be impacted by competing priorities for infrared fire detection flights. However, specialized aviation resources dedicated to the fire including scoopers continue to support firefighting efforts on the ground. 

If you see firefighters driving on road systems near your home or property, don’t be alarmed. Crews are proactively assessing road systems and strategically identifying contingency plans well in advance of potential fire growth. 

Restrictions: The Sawtooth National Forest has initiated Stage 1 fire restrictions within the National Forest System lands boundaries on the Sawtooth and Cassia zones. Under these restrictions, campfires are allowed only in recreation sites within metal or concrete fire pits. Fires of any kind are not allowed in any dispersed camping areas.

Miller Peak Fire Community Meeting

Date: July 19, 2024 7-8PM

Location: Gymnasium at the Lolo Elementary School 

5305 Farm Ln, Lolo, MT

Falls Fire Community Meeting

Where: 106 Avenue A

Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Start Time: 6:30 PM

The public is invited to a meeting this Tuesday evening to hear a report on the Falls Fire that is located on the Malhuer National Forest northwest of Burns and Hines. Incident Commander Kevin Stock, and Complex Incident Management Team 8 staff, will be giving a fire operations briefing. Local, state, and federal officials will also be in attendance. There will be time for questions.

The meeting will be recorded and posted afterwards on the Falls Fire 2024 Facebook page.

For more information, please call the Fire Information phone at541-208-4370.

Evacuation Warning

The Tulare County Sheriff's Office has issued an evacuation warning for the area north of Canebrake Road, south of Sacatar Trail, west of Inyo County line, east of the South Fork and Kern Rivers.

An evacuation warning means you should prepare to evacuate the area should the fire approach your home or if ordered to do so. 

Please stay clear and out of the areas affected by the fire.

Zones under an evacuation warning:

E261-B

E274-B

Search for your address or zone in the interactive evacuation map.

Effective 7/18/24 at 6:00pm, evacuation warnings for the Horse Gulch Fire have been lifted.

- Canyon Ferry Road is open to through traffic

- Court Sheriff, Chinaman Gulch, Hellgate, Jo Bonner, and Riverside Campgrounds will open on 7/19/24

-When recreating on the lake, be aware of fire helicopters and other air resources and avoid lake areas where they are operating

While it is safe to open campgrounds and some roads to public access, this is still an active fire with heavy fire traffic.

- Residents only access on Jimtown Road from Riverside Road to Trout Creek Road

- Residents only access on Black Bear Road

- Stay out of the burn area. Roads are Closed within the fire perimeter.

- USFS Forest Closures are still in place including Vigilante Campground

We thank you for your cooperation!

Sheriff Leo C. Dutton

The Washington State Department of Transportation has reopened Highway 20 as of 4pm on Thursday July 18, 2024. The highway was closed between MP148-158 for firefighting operations on the Easy Fire. Current trail closures remain in effect. 

Lake Fire Start: Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos, California

Size at time of update: 38,663 acres

Containment: 63%

Personnel: 2,783

Full Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

North and South Zone: The fire remains under Unified Command with California Complex Incident Management Team 13, CAL FIRE, Santa Barbara County Fire, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff. 

North Zone Fire Report: Firefighters continue to extend containment line along the fire edge and add to the percentage of containment. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is in use to detect heat from the air to assist crews in locating and extinguishing hotspots and smoldering embers. Shifting winds today and an extreme heat warning tomorrow may increase fire behavior. The use of fire retardant from aircraft has been very successful in assisting ground crews.

South Zone Fire Report: Fire held to control lines with no further growth expected, crews continue to mop up and pull hose. Small, isolated instances of heat remain interior. For more detailed information related to the Lake Fire, visit the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management External Link.

Forecast for Thursday: Warming conditions continue with widespread afternoonhighs in the 90s under sunny skies. Humidity continues to decrease. Northwest onshore wind gusts of 15-20 mph are anticipated.

Donations: We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. We ask that any donations or volunteer efforts be directed to local food banks to assist the community. Lake Fire Incident Command posts cannot accept donations.

Lake Fire Area Closure: Roads and trails within the closure are closed. Refer to the Closure Order & Closure Order Map.  This will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded. 

Smoke: As air quality conditions improve, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) —Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have lifted the Air Quality Alert in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Air Quality Watch will remain in place countywide, and air quality conditions are forecasted to be good to moderate throughout the county.

Evacuation Areas: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff has reduced some of the evacuation orders and warnings.  See the most recent updates: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024 Register for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org.

  Road Closures: Visit the County Road Closure Map for details.

• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary
• Figueroa Mountain just north of Midland School
• Forest Route 10N06 
• Zaca Lake Road east of Foxen Canyon Road

Location: Siskiyou County, CA
Size: 15,460 acres
Cause: Under Investigation

Start Date: Wednesday July 3, 2024, at 1:27PM
Percent Contained: 18%
Personnel: 2,958

CURRENT SITUATION:

Yesterday, conditions were favorable allowing excellent progress in the Kidder Creek and Patterson Creek Drainages. The afternoon winds brought increased fire activity in the southern portion of the fire. Small pockets of interior fuel caused more smoke to be visible, however does not pose a threat to containment lines. Heavy use of helicopters in the afternoon aided firefighters on the ground to strengthen the line.    

Today, firefighters will work on connecting portions of containment line between Mill Creek and Patterson Creek. Air support will be available to cool flare ups and allow crews to work the fires edge. Pack mules are staging at the Six Mile Camp providing equipment and supplies to crews working in the Right Fork of the North Fork of the Salmon River. 

Hwy 3 is now open to thru traffic. Evacuation Order areas have been reduced or decreased to warnings. Please visit the Siskiyou County Sherriff Office webpage for a list of currently affected areas and map. Drivers in the Shelly Fire area should exercise caution and remain alert for heavy equipment and fire personnel on or near the roadways. 

WEATHER:

Today it will be a little cooler today with dry and breezy conditions. A warm, dry pattern with enhanced terrain-driven winds will continue for the next several days. 

EVACUATIONS:

Multiple Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. For current list of 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.

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 have restrictions in place. 

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