Six Rivers National Forest

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News Release:
No New Lightening Fires on Six Rivers National Forest
[Shield]: US Forest Service

US Forest Service
Six Rivers National Forest

Contact:
Julie Ranieri
(707) 441-3673
jranieri@fs.fed.us

Eureka, June 30, 2008

The predicted thunderstorms this past weekend skirted Six Rivers National Forest to the east and north. Although we received some lightening strikes on the north portion of the Forest, no new fires have been reported.

Ukonom Complex
Great Basin Interagency Type 2 Incident Management Team
Beth Lund, Incident Commander

  • Public Meeting
    The Ukonom Incident Management Team held our second public meeting on June 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Junction School in Somes Bar with 23 community members in attendance. Team members provided updates on fire activities and mitigation strategies. Tom Lavagnino, Information Officer on the Siskiyou Complex, briefed the audience on that incident and shared some important statistics on the scope and significance of the June 2008 California fire siege. For information on the Siskiyou Complex contact (530) 493-1518.
    Our next public meeting for the Ukonom Complex is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2 at 6:00 pm at the Junction School at Somes Bar.
  • Community Liaison Network:
    Prior to the general meeting Ukonom Incident Public Information Officers met with a small group of community leaders to organize a community outreach network using email to facilitate an information exchange between affected residents and the team.
  • Facility and Road Closures:
    Due to increased fire activity, the following areas, roads, trails and facilities will be closed until further notice:
    • Camp 3 Road
    • Wooley Creek Trail
    • Bridge Creek Trail
    • Portuguese Peak Trail
    • Nordheimer Campground
    • Dillon Creek Campground
    • The area between the Salmon River Road and the Salmon River from Wooley Creek to Nordheimer Campground.
    For more information on closures contact the Orleans Ranger District Office, Six Rivers National Forest at 530-627-3291.
  • Highway 96 Reopens:
    Highway 96 a critical transportation link between Willow Creek and Happy Camp was reopened to traffic as of 4:00 pm, Sunday, June 29. Currently traffic is being escorted through a section of the road by a pilot car. Delays of 15 to 20 minutes can be expected.
  • Fire Information:
    The Ukonom Complex is at 6,256 acres and is currently 2% contained overall. Acreage on the following fires is from the June 30 morning information:
    • Jake Fire: 1,706 acres
    • Merrill Fire: 3,983 acres
    • Blue Fire: 567 acres
    • There are 348 firefighters committed to the effort.
  • Major Concerns and Issues:
    • Blue Fire
      A Division Supervisor and 14 firefighters are implementing tactics to keep the fire from crossing the G-O road to the north until further actions can be taken.
    • Merrill Fire
      The Merrill Fire continues to threaten important cultural resources and fisheries. An archeologist and heritage resource advisors are working with local Native American tribes to protect cultural resources. The Merrill Fire is putting some private lands to the west of the fire at risk. When conditions permit, a burnout will be conducted along Road 12N07 to reinforce the western flank of the Merrill Fire to prevent movement towards the Highway 96 corridor.
    • Jake Fire
      The Jake Fire continues to threaten structures along the Salmon River drainage. The fire also is threatening cultural resources and anadromous fisheries.
    Southerly winds across the ridges and a lower relative humidity will continue to spread fire to the north. Although there is an outside chance of a thunderstorm, organized convection is not likely.

    For more information contact Tom McCampbell, James Stone or Mark Wurdeman, Fire Information Officers at 530-627-3981.

Hells Half Complex
Northern Rockies Interagency Type 2
Incident Management Team
Jess Secrest, Incident Commander

  • There are currently two active fires within the Complex. On the Half Fire, located approximately 3 miles southwest of Burnt Ranch, CA, fire activity on June 28 contributed to significant growth in the southeast corner of the fire. The fire is within one mile east of the Underwood Mtn. Road (Road 60). The Grouse Fire is located 6 miles SW of Burnt Ranch, CA. Dangerous terrain, heavy fuels, dense smoke, and limited access into many areas continue to hamper fire suppression. Sunday’s fire activity picked up again on the Half Fire, forcing a temporary halt to fireline construction along the east flank. The smoke inversion is causing poor visibility over the complex and limits the use of aircraft.
    • Grouse Fire - Burnout was successfully completed on the eastern edge of the fire. Fireline construction was started on the southern edge.
    • Half Fire - Ground reconnaissance and construction of hand built fireline continues.
    • Firefighting crews are staged at the Salyer Guard Station for responding to new fire starts. No structures have been lost, and no evacuation orders have been issued.
  • Today’s Planned Activities:
    • Grouse Fire - Secure the SE corner and begin fireline construction to the east. Move dozers to the south edge of the fire for line construction.
    • Half Fire - Continue with dozer prepping road to the north of the fire.
  • Fire Information
    The Hells Half Complex is estimated at 2,080 acres and 25% contained and has 356 personnel assigned.
    For more information on this complex contact (530) 629-2184.

Mad Complex

  • Fires on the Mad River Ranger District have been combined into the Mad Complex. Four hand crews continue to build fireline in the inaccessible steep terrain on the Bonanza Fire. Mop up operations continue on the Neilson, Swim, North/Van Horn and Travis fires
    • Total acres: 2,528
    • 25 fires are 100% contained
    • 323 personnel are assigned to the fire
    • Bonanza Fire – 300 acres and is 10% contained. Hand crews are building firelines both day and night.
    • Swim Fire – 210 acres and is back to being 100% contained.
    • Travis Fires – 1,700 acres (acreage increase due to more accurate mapping) and is 80% contained. Today a 20 person crew continues building fireline and securing that line.
    • Eight fires are not staffed

Closures

Until further notice, some areas, roads and trails are closed due to the fires or fire fighting activities. Information on closure orders can be found at the website www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/conditions/.

Fire Information: 707-441-3623

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