2023 Happy Camp Complex

Happy Camp Complex, Klamath NF, USFS. Twenty-one miles west of Yreka, CA. Timber and brush. Minimal fire behavior. Area closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.

September 25, 2023 at 10:08 AM

Much needed rain will dominate the fire area today into Tuesday morning accompanied by a cooler, windier trend. Monday afternoon the wind will be 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25mph and up to 30mph on ridgetops. Significant rainfall is expected within this system with 0.50-0.75-inch likely, and up to 1.25 inches in isolated areas and in higher terrain. The heaviest rainfall is expected Monday morning and will continue throughout the day.

FIRE BEHAVIOR: Wind from this weather system is expected to have little impact over most of the fire area. Available fuels will continue to be consumed within the perimeter before and during the rainfall.

UFISH FIRE: 7,603 acres at 75% containment.

ELLIOT FIRE: 13,649 acres at 70% containment.

Firefighters will get a much-needed break today as forecasted rain will provide them a chance to evaluate the ability to access the fire line safely in the Titus Creek drainage. Resources will evaluate the at-risk cultural and natural resources, the community of Happy Camp, critical infrastructure that serves Happy Camp, Highway 96, the Klamath National Wild and Scenic River, and the Siskiyou Wilderness. The Titus Creek drainage remains a priority for the Ufish Fire. Open lines are being monitored by firefighters on the ground. Swillup Creek to Pony Peak and into Dillon Creek is a priority for the Elliot Fire. No significant movement or fire growth is anticipated in this area.

Hazard tree removal remains a priority. Crews are working in the Bear Creek area.

Weather permitting, suppression repair will continue along multiple areas of the incident as crews continue to backhaul equipment and pull hose off the line on the Ufish Fire. Patrolling and mop-up will also continue as weather permits today.

September 25, 2023 at 8:27 AM

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established by the Klamath National Forest (KNF) to begin a post-fire burned area emergency assessment of the wildfires within the 2023 Happy Camp Complex. The BAER assessment team is coordinating with other federal, state, and county agencies, as well as local Tribes to assess potential post-fire impacts to these burned watersheds. Forest Service BAER team assessments typically take approximately two weeks to complete.

These rapid assessments evaluate the burned area to identify watersheds having increased potential for post-fire flooding, sediment flows and rockslides. The team focus is on potential emergency impacts to life and property on federal land.

BAER teams generally consist of scientists and specialists including hydrologists, geologists, soil scientists, road engineers, botanists, biologists, archaeologists, and geographic information specialists. BAER teams conduct surveys to collect field data within burned areas to analyze through mapping (GIS) and computer models. Findings are presented along with recommended emergency stabilization treatments in a BAER assessment report.

The team utilizes satellite imagery and specialist data to analyze and produce a runoff map that shows the levels of hydrological potential flows during rain events. This is the first step in assessing potential watershed impacts from wildfires to any federal values that may be at risk from potential increased flooding, sedimentation, debris flows, and rockslides. The BAER team will produce a report that describes potential threats associated with the burned area’s post-fire conditions and often include recommended emergency stabilization measures and actions. BAER emergency response efforts are focused on the protection of human life, safety, and property, as well as critical cultural and natural resource values such as the water quality of streams and wetlands on federal lands.

BAER reports are shared with interagency cooperators such as California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), NRCS, and Siskiyou County who work with downstream private home and landowners to prepare for potential post-fire flooding and debris flow impacts. Homes or businesses that could be impacted by flooding from federal land burned in wildfires may be eligible for flood insurance coverage from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Information about NFIP is available through FEMA at www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program, or www.floodsmart.gov/wildfires. Other flood preparedness information is available at www.ready.gov/floods at www.floodsmart.gov/.

BAER SAFETY MESSAGE: Everyone near and downstream from the burned areas should remain alert and stay updated on weather conditions that may result in heavy rains and increased water runoff. Flash flooding may occur quickly during heavy rain events – be prepared to act. Current weather and emergency notifications can be found at the National Weather Service website: https://www.weather.gov/mfr/.

September 19, 2023 at 10:02 AM

WEATHER: A weak cold front is approaching from the northwest bringing cooler and drier conditions. A low pressure system approaching from the central California cost will create winds from northeast and should lose some velocity on Wednesday.

FIRE BEHAVIOR: Clear skies continue to dry live fuels, dead fuels are available to burn, and fuels in the recently fire altered landscape contain significant dried grass. Fortunately the continued pattern of general cooling and increasing relative humidity and smoke will somewhat buffer the clear skies.

LIGHTNING STARTS: Twelve named fires were started during the recent lightning activity. The largest of them has been named The Grant Fire is near Wild Lake in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and is about 25 acres in size. A full report on these fires is available on the Klamath NF Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KlamathNF

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (acres/containment): Elliot (13,592 acres, 52%), UFish (6,577 acres, 38%), Hancock (1,729 acres, 100%).

On the Elliot Fire crews will reinforce firelines on the 24 Road System. Resource advisors continue to work with crews to determine and implement appropriate suppression repairs.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (acres/containment): Head (6,954 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%),

Lake (200, acres, 100%), Kings (2 acres, 100%).

All fires on the east side of the Complex continue to be patrolled by infrared flights, as needed, to detect residual heat in the fire areas. Due to fires on the Happy Camp Complex, the Six Rivers Lightning Complex, Smith River Complex, and fire activity occurring as far away as the Canadian region, increased smoke can be expected in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, and surrounding communities.

September 18, 2023 at 10:26 AM

WEATHER: Slightly cooler conditions with breezy northeast winds are forecast through the week. In the Happy Camp and Scott Bar areas, air quality has been poor and limits visibility for driving and aircraft.

FIRE BEHAVIOR: Minimal fire activity expected, but prepare for increasing winds. Fuels continue to dry out and are ready to burn. The Forest received numerous lightning strikes and so far there are 12 reported fires. The largest fire is approximately 28 acres near Wild Lake. Resources assigned to the fire are assisting with initial attack.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (acres/containment): Elliot (10,017 acres, 52%), UFish (6,545 acres, 38%), Hancock (1,729 acres, 100%).

On the UFish Fire, burnout operations may be necessary to keep fire within established firelines. Crews will continue to improve roads as contingency lines. Crews will continue to patrol and mop-up between Pony Peak, Browns Creek and the Klamath River. Resource Advisors continue to work with crews to determine and implement appropriate suppression repairs.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (acres/containment): Head (6,954 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (918 acres, 100%),

Lake (200, acres, 100%), Kings (2 acres, 100%).

All fires on the east side of the Complex continue to be patrolled by infrared flights, as needed, to detect residual heat in the fire areas.

Due to fires on the Happy Camp Complex, the Six Rivers Lightning Complex, Smith River Complex, and fire activity occurring as far away as the Canadian region, increased smoke can be expected in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley, and surrounding communities. For more information on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex, go to http://www.linktr.ee/srffirepio.

September 15, 2023 at 9:28 AM

Planned actions

Den Fire: Continue to patrol for heat near line.

Head Fire: Continue to patrol for heat near fireline in all divisions. Continue mitigate hazard trees and assist in suppression repair in accordance with READ’s specifications.

Townsend Fire: Monitoring by air and infrared

Lake Fire: Monitoring by air and infrared

Scott Fire: Continue to patrol.

UFish Fire: Defensive firing actions may be necessary to keep fire within established control lines in Div K and J. Continue to monitor by ground and air, particularly in the Titus and Buzzard Creek drainages, and use aviation assets to keep fire NW of Titus Creek. Continue to improve roads as contingency lines and mop up along Elk Creek Road.

Elliot Fire: Reinforce indirect line in DIV C and DIV E/H. Partnering with READs to establish specifications and begin implementing suppression repair.

Continue to patrol and mop-up dozer and hand line between Pony Peak towards Browns Creek to the east and the Klamath River to the SSE. Implementing firing operations as needed and when weather and fuel conditions allow.

Hancock Fire: Monitor via air and infrared. Air resources utilized to keep fire within control lines.

Kings Fire: Monitoring via air and infrared.

September 11, 2023 at 10:48 AM

The weather today will be slightly cooler and more humid with the arrival of a weak cold front moving through from the north. Temperatures will range from the low 70s on the ridges to the upper 80s in the valleys, with a relative humidity of 20% to 33%. Winds will come from the northwest with the possibility of 10 to 15 mph gusts. Winds will increase from the north/northwest on Tuesday, turning into northeasterly winds starting Thursday. It will start to warm up again on Wednesday and continue to get hotter and drier as the week goes on, potentially increasing fire behavior and smoke production.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (8,971 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,281 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,740 acres, 100%). Work continues along the State Route 96 corridor. On the Ufish Fire, tactical firing operations using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS/drone technology) were conducted. These ignitions helped secure the northern horseshoe area of unburned fuel to the fireline along the 96 corridor, which contributed to smoke in the Happy Camp area. These firing operations will continue today if conditions allow.

On the Elliot Fire, crews are continuing to mop up and patrol indirect containment lines around Pony Peak and improving line on the north portion of the fire, while also monitoring for additional spotting. The fire is currently slowly backing down Pony Peak and being monitored by air resources. Aircraft will be ready to respond if necessary. All remaining personnel on the King Fire were extracted yesterday and are being reassigned to other priority areas on the Complex. If smoke conditions allow for proper visibility, the last remaining crew on the Hancock Fire will be extracted today via aircraft.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,942 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (918 acres, 100%), Lake (200, acres, 100%), King (2 acres, 100%) Suppression repair work and patrolling will continue on the east side of the Happy Camp Complex, along with hazard tree abatement. Lingering smoke may still be present in some areas, but does not pose major threats to containment lines. Some heat was reported on the Head Fire near Sarah Totten Campground, but crews confirmed the line was intact and remains unthreatened. All fires on the east side of the Complex will continue to be patrolled and observed daily by infrared flights to detect residual heat on the land.

Due to the proximity of fires on the Six Rivers Lighting Complex, in combination with Happy Camp Complex fire activity, increased smoke can be expected in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley and surrounding communities.

September 10, 2023 at 9:53 AM

The weather today remains warm and dry with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will range from the low 70s on the ridges to the low 90s in the valleys, with a relative humidity of 15% to 30%. The winds were slope-driven for most of the day, but exposed locations saw general west to northwest winds gusting as high as 12 MPH. Exposed areas may see gusty winds in the afternoon. This warm, dry weather is expected to continue today. A weak cold front will move through to the north, and winds will increase from the northwest by Tuesday. It will start to warm up again on Wednesday and continue to get hotter and drier as the week goes on, potentially increasing fire behavior and smoke production.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,273 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,631 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,738 acres, 100%). Work continues along the State Route 96 corridor. On the UFish Fire, tactical firing operations using Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS/drone technology) is planned for mid-day, if conditions allow. These ignitions will work to secure the northern horseshoe area of unburned fuel to the fireline along 96 corridor. These activities may significantly increase smoke in surrounding communities and smoke columns may be present.

On the Elliot Fire, crews are continuing to patrol and mop up indirect containment lines between Pony Peak and Browns Creek to the east, and the Klamath River to the southeast. The fire is currently slowly backing down Pony Peak and being monitored by air resources. Aircraft will be ready to respond if necessary. Some spotting was detected in the northwest area and crews are griding the area, looking for additional heat.Yesterday, the Hancock Fire was fully contained, and personnel from both Hancock and King Fires are being extracted and reassigned to other priority areas on the Complex.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%), King (2 acres, 100%) Suppression repair work and patrol will continue on the east side of the Happy Camp Complex. Lingering smoke may still be present in some areas, but does not pose major threats to the containment. All fires on the east side of the complex will be patrolled and observed daily by infrared flights to detect residual heat on the land.

Due to the proximity of fires on the Six Rivers Lighting Complex, in combination with Happy Camp Complex fire activity, increased smoke can be expected in the Happy Camp, Seiad Valley and surrounding communities.

September 7, 2023 at 11:10 AM

As of 7:00 a.m. today, the Happy Camp Complex transitioned to the Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 2, under the command of Incident Commander Scott Schuster.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,160 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,331 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,738 acres, 21%)

Fire behavior on the Happy Camp Complex was minimal last night. Firefighters on the west side of the complex continued to patrol and mop up, extinguishing hot spots along the State Route 96 corridor. Surrounding communities may see smoke from strategic firing operations that occurred on the west side of the Ufish Fire yesterday evening. If conditions allow, firefighters will continue strategic firing operations today. Crews on the Elliot Fire are observing increased fire behavior on Pony Peak, and firefighters are actively constructing additional fire line south toward Dillion Creek to prevent fire spread. Aerial resources will continue to support the Hancock fire today. Crews continue to make progress on holding the fire at Wooley Creek, where the terrain is extremely steep, difficult, and unsafe to access.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%), King (2 acres, 0%)

Today, firefighters, alongside resource advisors, will continue suppression repair work on the east side of the Happy Camp Complex. Lingering smoke may still be present in some areas but does not pose major threats to containment. All fires on the east side of the complex will be patrolled and observed daily by infrared flights that can detect residual heat on the land.

September 6, 2023 at 9:47 AM

A virtual public meeting will be held today, September 6^th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.  

Tomorrow at 7:00 a.m., a transition of command will take place. California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 and Incident Commander Dustan Mueller will transition command of the Happy Camp Complex to Northern Rockies Complex Incident Management Team 2, under the command of Incident Commander Scott Schuster.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,129 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,105 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,738 acres, 21%) 

Last night, fire activity was minimal on the west side of the Happy Camp Complex. Firefighters on the Elliot Fire observed less rolling debris near State Route 96. Crews will be working to build more fire line near Pony Peak south toward Dillion Creek, where the fire is holding. They will also work east toward Swillup Creek. Firefighters on the Ufish Fire plan to carry out strategic firing operations with the goal of removing dense vegetation to reduce the chance of the fire making a run toward Happy Camp. Smoke from this operation may be seen in surrounding communities. More resources will be flown into the Hancock Fire today. Firefighters have already gained 21 percent containment and will be working on the plan to prevent the fire from moving to the north and east. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

As of last night, firefighters on the Head Fire secured the remaining section of open line and achieved 100% containment. Today, additional suppression repair work will take place on the Head and Scott fires. The remaining personnel on the Lake Fire will leave the area today. All fires on the east side of the complex will continue to be observed by infrared flights that can detect residual heat on the land.  

September 5, 2023 at 10:35 AM

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING RESCHEDULED: The virtual public meeting previously scheduled for September 5^th will now be held on Wednesday, September 6^th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.  

WEATHER: Warmer and drier weather with low humidities will continue today. As temperatures and fire activity increase this week, prevailing winds may bring smoke back into some areas.
 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,107 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,056 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,720 acres, 0%) 

Last night, firefighters on the Elliot and Ufish fires patrolled along State Route 96 and reported minimal fire activity. Today, crews on the Elliot Fire will work on the west side of the fire to continue improving fire line and assessing options for connecting the fire line to Dillon Creek. If conditions are favorable, firefighters on the Ufish Fire will conduct strategic firing operations to hold the fire east of State Route 96. More resources will be flown into the Hancock Fire today. Crews will begin to work on the east side of the fire with the mission of developing tactics that support the overall strategy. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 91%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

Minimal fire activity was observed on the Head, Scott, and Lake fires last night. Suppression repair will continue today on the Head Fire. Firefighters will work to secure fire lines on the west side of the fire where they continue to find small pockets of heat near open line. The Scott Fire will be patrolled by crews and equipment no longer needed on the fire line is being removed and will be redeployed to other fires on the complex. The extraction of crews from the Lake Fire will begin today. The fire is 100% contained and mop up has been completed. The Lake Fire will be patrolled by air after firefighters have left the area.  

September 4, 2023 at 9:33 AM

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING: A virtual public meeting for the Happy Camp Complex will be held on Tuesday, September 5^th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.  

WEATHER: A forecasted warming trend and dry conditions are expected on the Happy Camp Complex this week. Warmer weather and increased will affect smoke conditions and air quality. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (12,104 acres, 51%), Ufish (5,036 acres, 33%), Hancock (1,720 acres, 0%) 

Minimal fire activity was observed on the Happy Camp Complex last night. The Elliot Fire is holding at State Route 96. Today, firefighters will be looking for opportunities to build more fire line on the western edge towards Dillon Creek. Crews on Ufish will be prepping unburned areas for potential strategic firing operations to protect the Highway 96 corridor. The fire is currently holding at Titus Creek. Yesterday, smokejumpers and fire line supervisors were flown to the Hancock Fire to assess and prepare the area to support additional fire crews. Due to the challenging terrain of the fire located in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, firefighters are being supported by aerial resources.  

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 91%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

Today, firefighters will continue to secure the last section of open fire line and the suppression repair work on the Head Fire. Patrol and mop up will be ongoing for both the Scott and Head fires today. Due to progress made in containment on the east side of the Happy Camp Complex, crews will be moving equipment to higher priority areas of the complex. As of yesterday, the Scott Fire is 100 percent contained. 

September 3, 2023 at 9:29 AM

HORSE CREEK COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting and fire operations update will be taking place today, September 3^rd, at 5:30 p.m. at Klamath River Elementary School, located at 30438 Walker Road, Horse Creek, CA 96050. 

WEATHER: Chances of rain and thunderstorms will decrease over the Happy Camp Complex today. Drier and warmer conditions are expected next week. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (11,723 acres, 51%), Ufish (4,849 acres, 9%) Hancock (1,653 acres, 0%) 

With recent rain over the Happy Camp Complex, firefighters saw minimal fire activity on the west side last night. Today, smokejumpers will be transported by helicopter to the Hancock Fire to evaluate the conditions and values at risk. The fire is burning in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and is most active on the east side. Today, firefighters on the Elliot Fire will continue to scout locations to build additional fire line on the west side of fire. Crews are mopping up along State Route 96. The Ufish continues to hold east of State Route 96 where firefighters are constructing fire line to prevent further spread. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 91%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 100%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

Firefighters on the Head Fire continued to secure the last open section of fire line. Crews will begin removing equipment such as pumps and fire hose from the line. Suppression repair work will be ongoing. As of this morning, the Scott Fire is 100 percent contained. 

September 2, 2023 at 9:02 AM

HORSE CREEK COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting and fire operations update will be taking place Sunday, September 3^rd, at 5:30 p.m. at Klamath River Elementary School located at 30438 Walker Road, Horse Creek, CA 96050. 

WEATHER: Cooler temperatures and a decreased chances of rain are forecasted on the Happy Camp Complex today. A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service has been extended through 11 p.m. tonight for the McKinney (2022) and Head fire burn areas. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (11,723 acres, 51%), Ufish (4,849 acres, 9%) Hancock (1,653 acres, 0%) 

Last night, fires on the west side of the complex received around 1/4” of rain. Today, hotshot crews on the Ufish will take advantage of wet conditions and construct fire line directly on the southern edge of the fire. Firefighters will continue working on the southwest side of the Elliot Fire towards Dillon Creek. 

The Hancock Fire, located in the Marble Mountain Wilderness near Bear Skull Camp, northwest of Hancock Lake, was added to the Happy Camp Complex this week. Most of the fire remains in previous burn scars. Clear skies will allow fire managers to fly and assess the fire today. They plan to insert fire crews tomorrow after a day of drying. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 91%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 89%), Lake (199, acres, 100%) 

Firefighters on the east side of the Happy Camp Complex saw minimal fire activity last night. The remaining priority on the Head Fire remains to increase containment on the west side. The Lake Fire was declared 100 percent contained last night.  

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system at: www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert 

The evacuation center at Kahtishraam Wellness Center closed yesterday.  

The following animal shelter locations continue to be available in the event of additional evacuations: 

Dog Shelter
Rescue Ranch Yreka
2216 East Oberlin Road, Yreka, CA 96097
Contact: 530-842-0829

Cat Shelter
SNIP of Siskiyou County
Armory Building
1712 Fairgrounds Road, Yreka, CA 96097
Contact: 541-531-1086

Livestock Animal Shelter (Horses, pigs, sheep, goats, & birds)
Siskiyou Golden Fair
1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097
Contact: 530-340-1038 

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is open. Please keep in mind that one-way traffic control will remain in place from 2.8 miles west of Dillon Road to 8.8 miles east of Dillon Road, as this area remains in an active fire area for the Elliot Fire. Motorists can expect up to 30 minute delays. Scott River Road is open with the exception of the area between Mill Creek to Highway 96. County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays 

FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. View closure orders and maps at: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited. 

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL: The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Shelly Fork Junction and Seiad as part of an area closure under Forest Order 05-05-23-07.  

AIR QUALITY: For information regarding smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself, visit the Siskiyou County Air Pollution Control District Fire and Smoke Information Website at: www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/airpollution/page/fire-and-smoke-information or AirNow.gov 

August 31, 2023 at 8:17 PM

Cooler temperatures and a chance of precipitation are forecasted this evening into Friday on the Happy Camp Complex. A flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service is now in effect through Friday evening for the McKinney (2022) and Head fire burn areas. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (11,459 acres, 25%), Ufish (4,651 acres, 3%) Hancock (1,653 acres, 0%) 

As of this morning, the Ufish and Malone fires have merged and will now be referred to as the Ufish Fire. Today, firefighters worked to secure the perimeters of the Ufish and Elliot fires to ensure that the fire lines hold, preventing the fires from moving to the north. Tonight, crews will continue to hold and improve the fire lines. 

This evening, the Hancock Fire, located southwest of the Elliot Fire, was added to the Happy Camp Complex. Fire managers are assessing the fire and planning suppression efforts.  

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,940 acres, 75%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 55%) 

Today, firefighters on the Head, Scott, and Lake fires continued to secure containment lines. Crews are working to complete the last two sections of uncontained fire line on the north and west sides of the Head Fire. Crews will patrol the areas tonight.  

August 30, 2023 at 10:20 AM

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING: A virtual public meeting for the Happy Camp Complex will be held tonight, August 30^th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.

WEATHER: Today will be the last dry day before moisture moves in on Thursday, bringing a chance of precipitation to the Happy Camp Complex.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (9,915 acres, 21%), Malone (741 acres, 15%), Ufish

(2,148 acres, 0%)

The main objective on the west side is to hold and secure the fire lines on all three fires. Firefighters worked throughout the night to secure containment lines and extinguish any hotspots on the east side of the Elliot Fire, along Highway 96. A strategic firing operation that was initiated last night in order to prevent the fire from spreading toward the north and west will be initiated again tonight if conditions allow.

Additionally, firefighters conducted a strategic firing operation towards the west on the Ufish Fire last night. They will continue with this operation tonight if conditions are favorable.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,935 acres, 61%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend

(81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 5%)

Firefighters made substantial progress on containing the Head Fire as they worked on its north and south flanks last night, ensuring the safety of the Hamburg community. The visibility conditions are now better, allowing air operations to make water drops over the fire, which will further help the firefighters on the ground today. The Scott and Lake fire crews continued their mop-up operation overnight, and those efforts will continue today.

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system at: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert

An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter.

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now open. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control could be up to an hour or more. County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.

August 29, 2023 at 9:45 PM

A virtual public meeting for the Happy Camp Complex will be held on Wednesday, August 30^th, at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/KlamathNF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting.  

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (9,915 acres, 21%), Malone (741 acres, 15%), Ufish (2,148 acres, 0%)

Strategic firing operations towards Elk Creek were conducted on the Malone Fire today. Tonight, firefighters will focus on holding and securing the fire’s south flank. Fire crews worked to maintain fire lines from last night’s strategic firing operation on the Ufish Fire. If conditions permit, strategic firing will occur again tonight. The Elliot Fire increased in containment on the east flank along Highway 96, where crews continue to mop up and patrol the corridor. The west flank of the Elliot Fire remains active, and crews are working to establish indirect fire lines.  

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,935 acres, 61%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 5%) 

Containment increased today on the east side of the Head Fire. Better visibility allowed helicopters to make water drops over the fire, supporting firefighters on the ground. Firefighters will continue to focus on the north and south flanks of the Head fire to protect the community of Hamburg. The Lake Fire also increased in containment today, and crews will continue extinguishing interior pockets of heat tonight. The Scott Fire held within established containment lines, and firefighters will monitor the area. The Townsend Fire is 100 percent contained.  

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system at: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert 

An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter. 

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now open. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control could be up to an hour or more. The road will be closed to the public east of Seiad daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to facilitate fire traffic. For the exact locations of where this work is taking place, please usequickmap.dot.ca.gov.  County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.  

FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices to view the orders and maps. 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited. 

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL:  The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Shelly Fork Junction and Seiad as part of an area closure under Forest Order 05-05-23-07. It is suggested that northbound through-hikers exit the trail at Etna Summit and resume northward travel from Seiad. 

 AIR QUALITY: For information regarding smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself, visit: https://www.airnow.gov/  

August 29, 2023 at 11:11 AM

A community meeting and fire operations update will be taking place today, August 29^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Karuk Administration Gym located at 64236 Second Avenue, Happy Camp, CA 96039. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (9,915 acres, 2%), Malone (741 acres, 7%), Ufish (2,148 acres, 0%) 

Strategic firing operations towards Elk Creek Road took place on the Malone Fire last night. Today, firefighters will work to improve and hold progress made on securing fire lines.  Last night on the Ufish Fire, winds were unfavorable for the planned strategic firing operation.  Crews will be prepared to execute the plan today, as necessary.  On the Elliot Fire, crews patrolled Highway 96 and mopped up hot spots near the fire line. Today, firefighters will continue to strengthen containment lines near Highway 96 and scout for indirect contingency lines on the north and west flanks of the fire. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,931 acres, 45%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,886 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 5%) 

Firefighters continue to make progress to the north and south of Hamburg on the Head Fire. On the north end, crews are working in steep terrain, through dense vegetation. Upcoming winds are expected to push the north end of the Head Fire back into its’ burned area today. CAL FIRE has made good progress on the Scott Fire. Both the Townsend and Lake fires have held within established containment lines. 

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeRED emergency alert system. https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert 

An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter. 

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now open. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control could be up to an hour or more. The road will be closed to the public east of Seiad daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to facilitate fire traffic. For the exact locations of where this work is taking place, please usequickmap.dot.ca.gov.  County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.  

FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices to view the orders and maps. 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited. 

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL:  The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Shelly Fork Junction and Seiad as part of an area closure under Forest Order 05-05-23-07. It is suggested that northbound through-hikers exit the trail at Etna Summit and resume northward travel from Seiad. 

 AIR QUALITY: For information regarding smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself, visit: https://www.airnow.gov/  

August 27, 2023 at 10:03 AM

A hot and dry weather pattern continues across the area, which has increased fire behavior on most of the fires in the Happy Camp Complex. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (5,173 acres, 3%), Swillup (2,015 acres, 0%), Malone (451 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,562 acres, 0%) 

The fires on the west side of the complex were active last night. The Elliot Fire burned to Highway 96 near Dillon Creek.  Last night, a tactical firing operation occurred across the top of the Swillup Fire along the 23 Road. A plan is in place to use the 24 and 19 Roads as an indirect fire line west of the Elliot and Swillup fires. The two fires are expected to grow together today. The Ufish Fire was also active last night, making several intense runs in a stand of trees. Today, firefighters will be watching for spot fires and continue to improve indirect fire lines around the Ufish and Malone fires. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,844 acres, 35%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Scott (1,864 acres, 67%), Lake (199, acres, 5%) 

Additional resources have been assigned to the Head Fire north and south of Hamburg. Direct line construction at the fire’s edge will be the focus of today’s operation. The Scott Fire now has a line constructed around most of the fire, and crews will work to improve fire lines and look for hot spots. On the Lake Fire, crews will work to improve constructed fire lines. The Den and Townsend fires are in patrol status. 

August 26, 2023 at 8:19 PM

Another active day occurred on the Happy Camp Complex, as weather conditions remained dry and fuels burned easily. A southwest wind aided firefighters by blowing the active fire front back into the area already burned. On the Head Fire, water-dropping helicopters were used on the north flank to support the firefighters on the ground. 

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (4,967 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,895 acres, 0%), Malone (438 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,372 acres, 0%) 

The southwest wind pushed the fire’s southern edge away from Dillon Creek and back into burned areas. Fire lines on the north edge held, where firefighters had completed a strategic firing operation. On the Swillup Fire, activity increased and crews conducted a strategic fire operation along the 24 Road. Efforts will continue tonight to secure the area along the 24 Road. Just to the east and across the river, the Ufish Fire activity increased. The fire backed toward the Klamath River to the west and Titus Creek to the southeast. Firefighters worked to strengthen the primary and contingency lines around the fire. Contingency lines are constructed beyond the primary line to provide an additional barrier if the primary fire lines do not hold. The Malone Fire remained inactive today. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,739 acres, 29%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Scott (1,862 acres, 50%), Lake (199/ acres, 5%) 

The southwest flank of the Head Fire became active as the wind fanned the flames today. Crews working at the fire’s edge were forced to withdraw due to increased activity. An unmanned aircraft system (drone) will fly the east side of the fire tonight checking for spot fires across the line.  

A large pocket of vegetation burned in the interior of the Scott Fire. As the fuel was consumed, the fire backed down to the Scott River. CAL FIRE resources will continue through the night holding the fire at the Scott River and Scott Bar Road. To the south of the Scott Fire, a fire line has been completed around the Lake Fire. An additional crew hiked in to assist with mop-up operations, which are expected to take several days. 

August 26, 2023 at 11:29 AM

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING:  A virtual public meeting for the Happy Camp Complex will be held on Saturday, August 26^th at 5:30 p.m. Fire personnel will provide an operational overview of the fire situation. The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook (facebook.com/Klamath NF) and YouTube (youtube.com/@ciimt5). A Facebook account is not necessary to view the meeting. 

The warming and drying trend increased fire activity on the Happy Camp Complex yesterday. This morning, relative humidity was already dropping at higher elevations, and fuels heated by direct sunlight will become active around noon. Drier fuels, direct sunlight, and a higher potential for spot fires will test the fire lines and challenge firefighters today.   

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (4,967 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,895 acres, 0%), Malone (438 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,372 acres, 0%) 

Overnight fire crews conducted a tactical firing operation on the Elliot and Swillup fires. The successful firing operation removed vegetation between the fire’s edge and Highway 96. This action eliminated the potential of the fire making a hard run toward the highway and spotting across the roadway and river. The second tactical firing operation occurred on the Swillup Fire’s northeast fire line, providing a good protection barrier around the structures.   

With wind and lower humidity today, the Elliot, Swillup, and Ufish fires will continue to be active. The Ufish Fire continues to back down to the Klamath River, and crews will strengthen the indirect fire lines in the river corridor. The Malone Fire will be monitored throughout the day. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,739 acres, 29%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Scott (1,862 acres, 50%), Lake (199/ acres, 5%) 

The Scott and Gold fires burned together and will now be known as the Scott Fire. The fire put up a large column yesterday as a pocket of interior vegetation ignited. The fire will remain active today, and firefighters will strengthen established lines and watch for potential spot fires. 

Crews have completed line construction on the east flank of the Head Fire from State Route 96 to Collins Baldy Lookout, and down to Scott Bar. Firefighters will now shift their efforts to the northwest and west flanks of the fire. Cal FIRE resources will shift over to assist fire crews. Work will focus on the northwest and west flanks of the fire. Infrared imagery taken last night shows intense heat in these areas. 

August 25, 2023 at 8:43 PM

Clear skies and lower relative humidity increased fire behavior throughout the Happy Camp Complex today. Aircraft were used on both the west and east sides of the complex to aid firefighters and slow the spread of the fires. Smoke production increased, most notably the Scott Fire, which developed a large column this afternoon.

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT):

Elliot (4,463 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,768 acres, 0%), Malone (413 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,255 acres, 0%)

The west side of the complex was very active today. Fixed-wing aircraft and water-dropping helicopters supported firefighters on the ground as they continued to hold the Highway 96 corridor and protect structures. Firefighters assisted local resources with a new lightning fire west of the Elliot Fire. The Elliot, Swillup, Ufish, and Malone fires increased in acreage today. Tonight, firefighters will use limited tactical firing operations to tie the Elliot Fire back into the south side of Coon Creek. Crews will also patrol the State Route 96 corridor and the Swillup Fire, where a structure threat still exists.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT):

Head (6,683 acres, 19%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Scott (1,469 acres, 50%), Lake (191 acres, 5%)

The Scott and Gold fires burned together today and will now be known as the Scott Fire. The fire remained active but remained within the contingency lines constructed. The fire continues to back toward Scott River. Firefighters will keep a close watch due to the potential for spotting across the river.

On the Head Fire, crews completed line construction on the east flank from State Route 96 to Collins Baldy Lookout, and down to Scott Bar. Firefighters will now shift their efforts to the northwest and west flanks of the fire.

August 25, 2023 at 1:02 PM

Yesterday on the Happy Camp Complex, fire activity increased significantly as the inversion over the area lifted in late morning. The increase in fire behavior challenged the firefighters and tested the fire lines around the complex. Fire behavior transitioned from smoldering surface fire to multiple trees torching and some short-range spotting. The change was a good indicator that the dead and downed fuels, the primary carrier fire, have now dried out. 

Later in the day, dry thunderstorms brought wind and dry lightning as they moved across the area. The thunderstorms moved over the complex’s center and west of the Elliot Fire. Even with the increased wind, primary fire lines held, except the dozer line off the 24 Road north of the Swillup Fire. Fire fighters were forced to pull out of that area due to a reduction in visibility and falling trees.  

Overnight humidity increased to 90-100% over the area and fire behavior decreased. A new lightning fire was discovered north of the Gold Fire. Resources from the Happy Camp Complex made an initial attack on the new fire and held it to just over an acre.  

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (4,289 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,714 acres, 0%), Malone (276 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,161 acres, 0%) 

Today, fire crews will focus on holding Dillon Creek and the Highway 96 corridor. The Elliot Fire continues to back slowly toward the highway. On the Swillup Fire, crews will be working to extinguish several spot fires that ignited across the line. They will address the area near Highway 96 corridor where the fire crossed the 24 Road. Indirect line construction will continue on the Ufish and Malone fires. Though the Elliot fire did not increase in size yesterday, the majority of the new acreage is due to it merging with Three Creeks and Canyon fires.  

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,648 acres, 19%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Gold (968 acres, 65%), Scott (367 acres, 50%), Lake (174 acres, 5%) 

Today, direct line construction will continue around the perimeter of the Head Fire. An infrared survey of the fire overnight revealed that efforts are paying off. Much less heat was detected on the east flank of the fire. The fire was visible on the mountain above Hamburg. The greatest amount of work remaining on the Head Fire is across the north edge of the fire. 

Crews will be mopping up the new lightning fire discovered last night, north of the Gold Fire, as well as securing fire lines around the Gold Fire. They Gold and Scott fires are slowly backing down slope on the west flank toward the Scott River. 

The Townsend and Den fires are in patrol status. Fire crews have approximately 2,000 feet of fire line left to establish the primary line around the Lake Fire. 

August 24, 2023 at 11:49 AM

COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting will be held in Fort Jones on Thursday, August 24, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, 9040 Sniktaw Lane. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Klamath National Forest Facebook page and YouTube (On YouTube, type in CIIMT5). 

Today, there will be weather transitions over the Happy Camp Complex. This change is expected to lead to more active fire behavior. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the area from 5:00 p.m. today through 8:00 a.m. Friday morning for thunderstorms and abundant lightning. The storms are expected to be dry, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain falling. The inversion will lift later this morning, and fire activity is expected to pick up on the west side. The east side will become more active later today as fuels continue to dry out.  

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (1,862 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,168 acres, 0%), Malone (276 acres, 7%), Ufish (945 acres, 0%) 

Yesterday, the Canyon, Three Creeks, and Elliot fires burned together and will now be known as the Elliot fire. The Swillup, Ufish, and Malone fires remained active through the afternoon.  

Last night, crews executed two tactical firing operations. The first to tie the Elliot fire into Highway 96 by removing fuels between the fire’s edge and the highway. The second operation tied the north end of the Swillup fire to the 24 Road. Today, crews will focus on mopping up and holding the line along the roads. On the Elliot fire’s south end, firefighters will work to keep the fire from crossing Dillon Creek. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,489 acres, 13%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Gold (968 acres, 60%), Scott (352 acres, 45%), Lake (174 acres, 5%)

The east side of the complex exhibited smoldering fire behavior overnight. Fuels are still holding moisture following the rains but are expected to dry out as relative humidity drops today. Crews and dozers have been constructing fire line directly on the fire’s edge along all fires on the east side of the complex. Conditions have allowed crews to achieve high containment levels on the Townsend, Den, and Block fires. Many of the firefighting resources from these fires have been moved to higher-priority fires in the complex.  

Today, firefighters will continue to build direct lines on all the fires on the east side of the complex. Containment is increasing as they move forward. Additional resources have been moved to the Head fire from lower-priority fires in the complex. A hose lay has been installed across the top of the Gold fire to strengthen the hand line and assist with mop-up. 

August 24, 2023 at 7:17 AM

Overnight fire behavior was minimal, smoldering and backing.

Planned actions: Den Fire – Improve and strengthen line and commence mop-up procedures.

Head, Scott & Gold Fires – Look for opportunities to go direct on all flanks of the fire. Continue construction of contingency lines, dozer and hand lines. Continue to utilize engines to improve structure defense in Hamburg, Scotts Bar, and Horse Creek. Continue to evaluate values at risk and needs in areas around the fires. Improve and strengthen constructed line and commence mop-up procedures when possible.

Townson Fire – Improve and strengthen line, commence mop-up procedures and tactical patrol.

Lake Fire – Continue to develop and implement efficient measures to support personnel who are working in remote locations, including paracargo, mule pack strings, and helicopter support. Continue direct line construction using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) in the Marble Mountain Wilderness. Improve and strengthen line. Commence mop-up procedures and tactical patrol.

Malone Fire – Look for opportunities to go direct on all flanks of the fire. Continue construction of indirect dozer and hand lines utilizing existing road, ridges, and trail systems. Continue to evaluate values at risk and needs in areas around the fires. Prepare firing plan to remove fuels between the control lines and main fire.

Ufish – Look for opportunities to go direct on all flanks of the fire, along Titus Ridge, and down hill towards the Klamath River. Continue construction of indirect dozer and hand lines utilizing existing road, ridges, and trail systems. Continue to evaluate values at risk and needs in areas around the fires. Prepare firing plan to remove fuels between the control lines and main fire.

Increased instability will drive an increased chance of dry thunderstorms on Thursday in the late afternoon/evening, prompting a red flag warning. Some fire spread is expected as fuels dry in clear skies and lower relative humidity. Thunderstorm chances re-enter the forecast, increasing risk to firefighters due to outflow winds and lightning. A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the western portion of the fire area from 5:00 pm Thursday through 8:00 am Friday for abundant dry lightning on dry, receptive fuels.

August 23, 2023 at 8:13 PM

Community Meeting: A community meeting will be held in Fort Jones on Thursday, August 24, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, 9040 Sniktaw Lane. The meeting will be live-streamed on social media. More details will be available on Thursday.

Fuels on the Happy Camp Complex have started to dry, and fire behavior is picking up, primarily on the west side of the complex. Today, the Canyon, Three Creeks, and Elliot fires burned together and will now be known as the Elliot Fire. The Swillup, Ufish, and Malone fires remained active through the afternoon. The Malone fire continues to grow due to burning fuels rolling downhill from Titus Ridge and igniting vegetation below. It does have indirect dozer line around it.

Firefighters are going direct on the fire’s edge when possible but have been hampered by steep terrain and the potential of fire igniting below and burning back up toward them. Like the Malone, the Ufish fire is in terrain difficult to access. Crews have been unable to attack the Ufish directly at the fire’s edge. On the Elliott fire, crews continue to use existing forest roads, Dillion Creek and Hwy 96 to encompass the active fire area.

Minimal fire behavior has been observed on the Head fire, the largest fire in the complex. Hand crews and dozers are making steady progress on all flanks of the fire.

Direct and indirect fire lines are being constructed on the Gold and Scott fires. On the Lake fire, a hand line has been constructed on the north end, but fire crews are being challenged by difficult terrain on the south flank.

Work has gone well on the Den and Townsend fires, and staffing will be decreased tomorrow. Resources will be shifted to higher priorities in the complex.

Weather: Increased atmospheric instability will increase the chance of dry thunderstorms with strong outflow gusts on Thursday in the late afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service in Medford has declared a Red Flag Warning beginning Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and continuing through Friday at 8:00 a.m.

August 23, 2023 at 10:00 AM

Fire crews have been taking advantage of the recent changes in the weather and are making good progress on the Happy Camp Complex. Overnight relative humidity recovered to 80-90%, and fire behavior was minimal. The wet conditions have allowed firefighters to construct fire line directly on the edge of most of the fires in the complex.

Firefighters and bulldozers are going direct across the Head Fire’s perimeter, and the fire is 5% contained. Crews are constructing fire lines to the west and south from Collins Baldy Lookout. Crews and dozers have been working across the fire’s south end from Scott Bar, tying in several fingers and islands of unburned fuel along Scott Bar Road. The west perimeter is being addressed by crews working from the north out of Hamburg and the south out of Scott Bar.

The Block and Townsend fires are 100% contained and the Den Fire is 95% contained.

The Gold Fire is 40% contained, and the Scott Fire is 35% contained. Fire line has been constructed down to Scott River, and crews are now working across the north and west sides of the fires. Holding Scott River Road is a priority for this portion of the complex.

The west side of the complex remained active yesterday, and helicopters were used to hold the Canyon Fire in Dillon Creek. The fires on the west side of Highway 96 are slowly backing down to the highway. Structures along the highway have been prepped, and crews are focused on holding fire to the west side of the road. Rocks and debris have rolled onto Highway 96 in the area of Dillon Creek and the highway is currently closed.

Today, on the west side, fire crews will begin working the eastern edge of the Swillup Fire and clearing roads to the north and west of the fire. Helicopters will be used to hold the fire in Dillon Creek. A drone flight is planned to check for additional heat in the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot, and Swillup Fires. A tactical firing operation is planned for tonight to bring the fire down to Highway 96. On the east side, firefighters will continue direct attack on all fires.

WEATHER: Drier air will move into the region, leading to sunny skies with higher temperatures and lower relative humidity. Fuels will start to dry out, and fire behavior will once again become more active over the next few days. Fire activity will increase on the west side of the complex prior to the east due to the high amount of precipitation received over the east side of the complex.

CURRENT ACRES BURNED: Canyon (1,108), Three Creeks (320), Elliot (669), Swillup (576), Ufish (583), Malone (156) Head (6,419), Den (294), Townsend (81), Block (0.1), Gold (936), Scott (300), Lake (174)

August 22, 2023 at 10:45 AM

A community meeting will be held at 5:30 this evening at the Gail Zink Memorial Park in Happy Camp. 

CURRENT ACRES BURNED: Canyon (1,108), Three Creeks (320), Elliot (669), Swillup (576), Ufish (583), Malone (129) Head (6,419), Den (294), Townsend (81), Block (0.1), Gold (730), Scott (225), Lake (174)

A higher than predicted amount of rain fell overnight on the fires comprising the east side of the Happy Camp Complex. The Collins Baldy Lookout received nearly 2 ½ inches of rain over a three hour period. This impacted the east side of the Head Fire. The west side of the Head Fire and the fires to the south at lower elevations received less than ½ inch of precipitation. The rainfall totals on the west side of the complex were much less with the highest recorded total reaching only 1/10^th of an inch.  

The rain caused issues with slides and debris flow in the fire area. A slide on Highway 96 in the Oak Knoll area will force firefighters traveling from the base camp in Montague to use the Scott Bar Road to access the fire today. The public is reminded to maintain awareness of the presence of fire equipment and the potential for additional slides as they drive in the area.  

The west side of the fire remained active last night and two spot fires were discovered near the Swillup Fire. The largest, at approximately 25 acres is located to the north of the Swillup Fire. The second, east of the Elliot Fire, is still being assessed. A drone flight is planned this afternoon to check for additional spot fires nearby. 

On the west side, the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot and Swillup fires are being pushed by upslope winds and spreading slowly to the north. A plan has been developed to construct fireline to the north, west and east of these fires. The steep, rugged terrain presents a challenge as fire crews work to box in these fires.  

Crews were able to construct containment lines on the north side of the Malone Fire yesterday and will now shift to the south and the west flanks. Boats will be used to transport fire crews across the river to access the Ufish Fire which had previously been unstaffed.  

On the east side, the Den and the Townsend Fires have been lined and a number of the resources will be reassigned to higher priority fires in the complex.  

Last night crews were able to work directly on the fire’s edge of the Gold and Scott Fires and tied contingency dozer line into Scott Creek. Structure preparation has been completed in the area.  

Progress is also being made on the Lake Fire. Initial lines have been constructed on the north and south sides. 

Firefighters will continue to take advantage of the weather and build line directly on the edges of the fires when terrain and other conditions allow. The steep terrain and weather increase the potential of heavier fuels such as snags and burning logs to roll down slope or fall unexpectedly. Crews will pay close attention to the conditions as they move forward. 

August 21, 2023 at 12:00 PM

The Happy Camp Complex is comprised of 13 fires all burning on the Klamath National Forest over a large portion of Siskiyou County. The west side of the complex includes the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot, Ufish, and Malone Fires. Additionally, the incident management team assumed command of the Swillup Fire this morning at 6 a.m. The Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot and Swillup are burning on the west side of Highway 96. Firefighters are focused on keeping the fires west of the highway, protecting structures and keeping the highway corridor open. 

The Ufish is burning east of Highway 96, southeast of Clear Creek. The fire is slowly backing toward the Highway 96 corridor. The Malone Fire is burning west of Elk Creek Road. Yesterday, active fire behavior was observed on the Malone Fire and several spot fires ignited outside the primary lines. Overnight, fireline was established around the spots tying them back into the Malone Fire. That fire has now burned down to Elk Creek. 

The largest fire on the east side of the complex is the Head Fire. Last night rain fell over the fire area and, due to conditions on the line, firefighters shifted from working the line to structure protection work around the community of Hamburg.  

Good progress is being made on the Den, Townsend, and Block Fires. The Block Fire is fully contained and partial containment has been achieved on the Townsend and Den Fires.  

The Gold and Scott Fires were very active yesterday and firefighters worked hard to hold the fire on the ridge between Scott Bar Creek and Scott Bar Lookout and north to Anderson Peak. Precipitation over the two fires last night moderated fire behavior and provided an opportunity for crews to accomplish a significant amount of line construction. Crews are preparing structures in the area of Scott River as the fires back down slope to the river. 

The Lake Fire is burning in the Marble Mountain Wilderness. An additional crew will hike into the area today to join the two crews already working the fire. Rain has moderated fire behavior. The assigned crews will remain in the area and be resupplied as needed by a U.S. Forest Service mule pack train. 

Remnants of Hurricane Hilary are over the region and rain is expected over the east portion of the fire area this afternoon. The west side is not expected to receive rain but high humidity will help moderate fire behavior. Increased relative humidity and lack of solar heating due to cloud cover has already led to a decrease in fire behavior over the entire area. The rain will further suppress burning in lighter vegetation but heavier fuels will continue to smolder. Fire activity is not expected to pick up again for a few days. This will provide an opportunity for crews to aggressively build fireline directly on the edge of several of the fires in the Happy Camp Complex.  

CURRENT ACRES BURNED: 

Canyon (1,108), Three Creeks (320), Elliot (531), Swillup (500-600 acres estimated), Ufish (243), Malone (66) 

Head (6,419), Den (294), Townsend (81), Block (0.1), Gold (730), Scott (225), Lake (174) 

August 20, 2023 at 8:59 PM

The Happy Camp Complex is comprised of 12 fires all burning on the Klamath National Forest over a large portion of Siskiyou County. The west side of the complex includes the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot, Ufish, and Malone Fires. The Canyon, Three Creeks, and Elliot are burning on the west side of Highway 96. Firefighters are focused on keeping the fires west of the highway and protecting structures along the corridor. 

The Ufish is burning east of Highway 96, southeast of Clear Creek. The fire is slowly backing toward the Highway 96 corridor. The Malone Fire is burning west of Elk Creek Road. Active fire behavior was observed on the Malone today and several spot fires ignited outside the primary lines. The spot fires were picked up by crews on scene. The crews are also working to strengthen the initial fireline built around the Malone Fire. 

The largest fire on the east side of the complex is the Head Fire. Today the fire was active on the east side. Firefighters used limited tactical firing operations to keep the line even and prevent large runs from occurring. On the north side of the Head Fire, firefighters worked on a dozer line north toward Horse Creek and addressed a 17 acre spot fire to the north of the main fire. Structure protection has been established and continues in the community of Hamburg. 

Good progress is being made on the Den, Townsend, and Block Fires and fire managers were able to shift some resources assigned to the Den to the Head Fire. The Block Fire is fully contained and some containment is expected on the Townsend and Den Fires tonight.  

The Gold and Scott Fires were very active today and firefighters worked hard to hold the fire on the ridge between Scott Bar Creek and Scott Bar Lookout and north to Anderson Peak. Crews are preparing structures in the area of Scott River as the fires back down slope to the river. A dozer line has been established on the north side of the Gold Fire down to the river. 

Two crews have hiked into the Marble Mountain Wilderness to address the Lake Fire. They reported today that the fire activity has moderated. The existing trail system will be used to the greatest extent possible to build a line around the Lake Fire. The assigned crews will remain in the area and be resupplied as needed by a pack train. 

One-tenth to one-quarter inch of rain is expected to fall on the fire area over the next two days. This will reduce fire behavior significantly and create an opportunity to engage some of the fires directly on the fire’s edge. Dozers will be used to open up lines previously constructed on other incidents.   

August 20, 2023 at 12:06 PM

Outflow winds from thunderstorms early in the shift brought very active fire behavior into the overnight burn period. Consistent fire spread was observed in all fuel types. Overnight fire growth was further accentuated by the steep, complex terrain. 

The Elliot Fire remained active into the night with precipitation from a thunderstorm slowing fire behavior in the early morning. An evacuation order was initiated in Zone 1301 in the area of Swillup Creek. The fire has reached Highway 96. 

Work on the Scott and Gold Fires was going well in the early evening. In the early morning, a thunderstorm cell with high winds and precipitation moved over the fires.  They exhibited erratic behavior and for safety, firefighters were pulled off the line until the weather passed. 

The Head fire received no precipitation. Firefighters were able to improve containment lines with tactical firing operations on the southeast side early in the evening shift. On the north side of the fire, in the early morning, resources were moved to increase structure protection in the community of Hamburg due to increased fire behavior. 

Life and property remain the highest priority for firefighters across all of the fires.  Today structure protection is ongoing for the Head and Den Fires, the Scott and Gold Fires, as well as for the Elliot, Three Creeks, and Canyon Fires. 

The Malone Fire has been fully lined and is being monitored for any slop-overs.  Additional resources have been added to the Ufish Fire and line construction on both north and south perimeters will be worked today.  

The Lake Fire is staffed with crews in a spike camp. A mule string will be used to provide supplies. 

The Complex continues to receive air support and will be flying when weather and smoke conditions allow. A Unstaffed Aerial System module (UAS-drone) has arrived and will be available to begin work by the night shift. 

August 19, 2023 at 8:50 PM

As more resources arrived and began working on each of the fires in the Happy Camp Complex, firefighters made good progress toward the goal of full suppression. The inversion remained in place until around noon and fire activity remained moderate. 

Late this afternoon, a thunderstorm cell moved over the area, creating strong winds near the Elliot, Canyon and Three Creeks Fires by Highway 96 and the Dillon Campground. Bulldozers building line around the fires had to be pulled back while firefighters concentrated on protecting structures along the highway corridor. 

Due to the storm, incident resources also helped to support Klamath National Forest operations on a new fire in the Scott Valley and on the Swillup Fire. The Swillup Fire had been in patrol status. With strong winds from the storm, the fire is now actively burning. 

This evening, storms continue to move through the area. Little to no precipitation is resulting from the storms, particularly in the Scott River area where the Head, Scott and Gold Fires continue to burn. 

The Lake Fire was added to the Happy Camp Complex as of this morning and was estimated at 165 acres with 0% containment. Smoke Jumpers, Hotshot and Hand Crews are now on this fire, using trails and natural features for containment lines, monitoring and managing any slops over the lines. 

A Damage Assessment Team is working to evaluate the damage sustained to structures within the fires. Their assessment is ongoing. As of this evening, there are nine damaged or destroyed structures.  

EVACUATIONS:  View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders, warnings and evacuation center locations by visiting: community.zonehaven.com  

ROAD CLOSURES:  View road closures in the vicinity of the Happy Camp Complex on the Caltrans interactive map:  quickmap.dot.ca.gov 

AIR QUALITY: For information smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself visit: https://www.airnow.gov/  

The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between Etna Summit and the Oregon Border.

All fires are being managed with a full suppression strategy. They are currently at 0% containment.

Block 1,100 acres
Canyon 788 acres
Den 348 acres
Elliot 531 acres
Gold 62 acres
Head 5,617 acres
Lake 475 acres
Malone 66 acres
Scott 41 acres
Three Creeks 158 acres
Townsend 80 acres
Ufish 243 acres

August 17, 2023 at 8:45 PM

Type 1 California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (Mueller) has assumed command of the Head Fire as of 6:00 a.m. today, and additional resources are incoming. Currently, the Head Fire is approximately 3,500 acres and is 0% contained.

Evacuations remain in place this morning and Highway 96 remains closed in the area of the fire. Fire behavior was moderated overnight by light rainfall and good humidity recovery. Ridge tops remain drier and the fire continues to back and flank down the drainage towards the Klamath River, especially in heavy dead and down fuels. The priority overnight was continued structure protection in the areas of Scott Bar, Hamburg, and Horse Creek. Those priorities will continue today.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for abundant lightning on dry fuels. The chance of lightning is expected to continue through the week, although predictions are for storms to trend wetter into the weekend.

“We appreciate the many interagency resources helping us, including the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services, State OES, CAL FIRE and others. Our primary concerns remain public and firefighter safety as we work to prioritize how are firefighting resources are best utilized,” said Forest Supervisor Rachel Smith.

*Please obey any evacuation Orders and Warnings that have been issued*

Klamath National Forest Lightning Fire Update

Firefighters continue to respond to the Head Fire and to numerous fires that have been confirmed on the forest. Additional smokes continue to be reported; fires are being staffed based on priority and as additional resources become available. Multiple aircraft and other additional resources have been ordered for these fires.

Happy Camp/Oak Knoll District:

– The Elliott Fire near Dillon Creek Campground (closed) is approximately 250 acres with zero containment. The fire is backing and flanking to Highway 96. Yesterday’s inversion briefly lifted, leading to an uptick in fire behavior which decreased during the evening. A type 3 IC is committed along with engines and heavy equipment. Resources are working on structure prep.
– The Canyon and Three Creeks (formerly Aubrey) fires are in the vicinity of the Elliott Fire and are estimated to total 200 acres in size. Elliot Fire resources and the IC are including these fires in their suppression management.
– The Malone Fire up Elk Creek is 20 acres. An engine, hand crew, and dozer are committed and working to complete line around the fire.
– The Titus Fire is in the Marble Mountain Wilderness south of Norcross Campground. It was last reported at 15 acres. It received significant rain which moderated fire behavior. It is within the 2021 McCash Fire footprint with numerous snags in steep country. It will be monitored by air to evaluate suppression needs.
– The Berry Fire is .2 acres near Huckleberry Mountain.
– The Indy Fire is up Independence Creek near the border of the Marble Mountain Wilderness.
– The Ufish Fire is roughly 50 acres and located between Titus and Ufish creeks.
– The Devils Fire is about 5 acres and located near Seiad Low Gap. Crews worked to construct line around the fire yesterday.
– The Swillup Fire between Pony Peak and Bear Peak roads is .1 acres and contained.
– The Brown Fire is .1 acres and contained.
– The Dutch Fire is .1 acres and is contained.
– The Intersection Fire is .1 acres and is contained.

Salmon/Scott River Ranger District:

– The Scott Fire is roughly 40 acres and is located near the Scott Bar Lookout. A strike team of engines worked on the fire through the night. Fire behavior moderated a bit last night.
– The Gold Fire is approximately 20 acres across the drainage from the Scott Fire. Fire behavior moderated a bit last night.
– The Shadow Fire is about .5 acres in the Marble Mountain Wilderness near Sky High Lakes.
– The Lake Fire is near the Shadow Fire. Between Red Rock and Little Elk has grown to about 20 acres. Smokejumpers and a helitack crew are on scene.
– The Townsend Fire is roughly 15 acres with difficult access up Townsend Gulch off of the Lake Mountain Lookout Road. 3 engines and an additional squad of firefighters are committed.
– The Block Fire (formerly called the Middle Fire) is near the Townsend Fire. No size has been reported. Resources are assigned.
– The Boulder Fire is .1 acres near Indian Scotty Campground and is contained.
– The Hossick Fire is .1 acres up Hossick Gulch near Scott Bar and is contained.

More lighting was received yesterday and the Red Flag Warning for abundant lightning on dry fuels remains in effect. Thunderstorms also have the potential to emit strong down draft winds that can cause existing fires to increase fire behavior significantly.

August 17, 2023 at 9:49 AM

CA-KNF Happy Camp Complex: 3685 acres brush and timber, 0% contained. Complex fires:(Head-3580 acres, Elliot-60 acres, Scott- 30 acres, Malone- 15 acres). Structures are threatened with Evacuation Orders in place. There is a threat to powerlines. Road and trail closures are in place. There is a Red Flag Warning in the fire area today for thunderstorms on dry fuels. CA-Type 1,IMT 5 (Mueller) scheduled to assume command 8/18.

The most active of these fires is the Head Fire, which is burning at the confluence of the Klamath and Scott rivers. The fire was fanned by strong winds from thunderstorms that developed in the area and burned actively throughout Tuesday afternoon, growing to 3,500 acres by nightfall. Firefighters worked through the night, focusing on point protection of residences in the area. Fire behavior moderated overnight but increased with the heat of the day.

Evacuation Orders and Warnings are in effect for the area and road closures are in place for on CA Highway-96 and the Scott River Road. Current information on evacuation status can be found at https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and through alerts issued by CodeRED.

Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District

The Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District has reported 11 fires. The largest of these is the 50- acre Elliott Fire, which is burning on both sides of Elliott Creek near Dillon Creek Campground. It is zero percent contained. The Malone Fire is 20 acres and located up Elk Creek. Resources are on scene. The 15-acre Titus Fire south of Norcross Campground received significant moisture overnight and has minimal fire behavior. Four fires -the Swillup, Brown, Dutch, and Intersections – are all less than an acre and are contained. Four additional fires have been reported, all of which are less than one acre – the Berry Fire near Huckleberry Mountain, the Indy Fire near Independence Creek and near the border of the Marble Mountain Wilderness, the Three Creeks Fire and the Canyon Fire are both near the Elliott Fire.

Salmon/Scott River Ranger District

On the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District there are eight fires. The Scott Fire is roughly 16 acres and is located near the Scott Bar Lookout with crews on scene working to contain it. Two fires – the Boulder Fire near Indian Scotty Campground and the Hossick Fire near Scott Bar- are contained. Two fires are burning in the Sky High Lakes area of the Marble Mountain Wilderness. The Shadow and Lake Fires are staffed with helitack and smokejumpers, respectively. Both are less than 2 acres. The Townsend Fire is 5 acres with difficult access up Townsend Gulch off of the Lake Mountain Lookout Road. The Block Fire is near the Townsend Fire; no size has been reported and both Townsend Gulch and Block Fires are unstaffed. The most recently reported fire on the Salmon/Scott District is the Gold Fire, which is across the drainage from the Scott Fire. It is not yet staffed.

More lighting is in the forecast for today with Red Flag Warnings in effect for abundant lighting on dry fuels. Thunderstorms also have the potential to emit strong down draft winds which can cause existing fires to increase fire behavior significantly.

Multiple aircraft and other additional resources have been ordered for these fires. CAL FIRE’s Siskiyou Unit is also providing assistance. Additional resources have been requested to support suppression operations.

August 16, 2023 at 7:44 PM

Extreme fire behavior today with short crown runs and long range spotting. Structures are threatened with Evacuation Orders in place. There is a threat to power lines. Road and trail closures are in place. There is a Red Flag Warning in the fire area today for thunderstorms on dry fuels. CA-Type 1,IMT 5 (Mueller) assigned with a planned inbrief 8/16.

August 16, 2023 at 10:52 AM

Firefighters were engaged in point protection during the night on the Head Fire, working to protect homes in the Steelhead area, Scott River Road, and the Highway 96 corridor. The fire was flown last night and was 2,705 acres at that time. Fire behavior decreased around 9pm. Resources continue to arrive from out of the area to engage in the firefighting effort. A Type 1 Incident Management Team has been ordered for the incident.

Road closures are in effect for Highway 96 and the Scott River Road.

August 15, 2023 at 8:40 PM

Fire has a rapid rate of spread, structures are threatened with evacuations in progress. There is a threat to powerlines and HWY 96, Hwy 96 is currently closed to through traffic.

Due to fire activity on the Head Fire, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, with the support of our fire partners, is issuing an upgrade to EVACUATION ORDER for the following zone(s):

Zone SIS-1236 (south of Hamburg)

Zone SIS-1120 (East of Horse Creek Road)

Zone SIS-1117 (South of California Highway-96)

Zone SIS-1007 (North of California Highway-96)

The following Zone(s) are under an EVACUATION WARNING:

EVACUATION WARNING(S):

Zone SIS-1010 (North of Highway 96)

Zone SIS-1123 (South of Highway 96)

Zone SIS-3502 (North of Hi-You Gulch Road, Mcadam Creek Road)

Zone SIS-2007 (North of Fort Jones Road)

Zone SIS-2004 (North of Scott River Road)

Zone SIS-2001 (South of Scott River Road, Scott Bar Mountain Lookout Road)

Zone SIS-1233 (South of Forest Route 44n04)

Zone SIS-1230-A (North of Elk Creek Road)

Zone SIS-1230-B (South of Cougar Creek)

-Zone SIS-1114 (North of Grider Ridger, China Grade Road)

Zone SIS-1004 (North of Highway 96)

PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE OF ROAD CLOSURES.

– Residents under EVACUATION ORDERS need to evacuate IMMEDIATELY.

– Residents under EVACUATION WARNINGS need to be ready to evacuate.

– Surrounding areas should be ready to evacuate if needed.

– See ZoneHaven Map for more information: community.zonehaven.com

– Resources are continuing to arrive at the incident.

SHELTERS

If you are in need of shelter, the Kahtishraam Wellness Center (1403 Kahtrishraam, Yreka, CA 96097) is open to those affected. If you have questions about the shelter, please call 530-340-3539.

Animal Shelters are available at the following locations:

Dog Evacuation Shelter:
Rescue Ranch Yreka 2216 East Oberlin Road, Yreka CA 96097
Contact: 530-842-0829

Cat Evacuation Shelter:
SNIP of Siskiyou County Armory building 1712 Fairgrounds Rd., Yreka, CA 96097
Contact: 541-531-1086

Livestock Animal Evacuation Shelter (Horses, pigs, sheep, goats, birds):
Siskiyou Golden Fair
1712 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097
Contact: Tom Taylor 530-340-1038