Slide, Mendocino NF

Slide 1, Mendocino NF, USFS. Twenty-four miles northwest of Flournoy, CA. Chaparral, grass and timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping, backing and flanking. Area, road and trail closures in effect.

August 20, 2023 at 8:51 PM

The Slide Fire remains at 473 acres, and containment has increased to 75%. Firefighters reported little to no movement of the Slide Fire during today’s shift. Crews continue to make progress with containment. Plans for suppression repair and resource demobilization are underway.

For the weather forecast firefighters are expecting more clouds, cooler temperatures and potentially .25″ of precipitation over Monday and Tuesday. A drying and warming trend is expected Wednesday through the rest of the week.

August 20, 2023 at 12:07 PM

he Slide 1 Fire in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness remains at 473 acres and 50% containment. Today the fire stayed in its current footprint. As of 5pm, the fire area was getting precipitation from storms moving through the area.

The remote, steep terrain is challenging, but firefighters are making steady progress on containment. Firefighters have secured containment line along the eastern edge of the fire. Two hotshot crews are working to secure the lines along the northern edge of the fire to keep it south of Buck Creek. On the southern flank, aircraft are assisting crews working on that portion of the line. No new resources have been ordered, and several crews are being released.

There is a 30% chance of showers this evening and that weather will continue through the weekend with higher chances of showers Sunday afternoon. Temperatures are cooling and humidity is increasing gradually. A wetter pattern is in the forecast for early next week. Higher humidity, cooler temperatures and precipitation can help keep fire behavior at low to moderate intensity, though gusty and erratic winds near thunderstorms remain a concern.

On the west side of the forest, thunderstorm activity will increase this evening, with high risk for lightning on dry fuels and potential for strong outflow winds in portions of Trinity, Mendocino and Lake counties. Chances for rain will increase beginning Sunday night through Tuesday. Fire personnel are patrolling and monitoring for any new lightning starts.

This weekend the forest has seen an increase in visitors during the opening weekend of B zone archery hunting. Forest officials remind visitors that fire restrictions are in effect and a closure is in effect in the Slide 1 Fire area.

August 18, 2023 at 10:57 AM

The Slide 1 Fire in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness had no growth overnight. The fire remains at 656 acres, and containment is now at 20%.

Firefighters assigned to the incident will continue to work on containment lines, focusing on the southern and eastern edges along existing trails and natural barriers. Crews are working to construct direct lines where it is safe to do. Smokejumpers have been released, but all other resources remain on scene, including several hand crews, helicopters and falling modules. No additional resource orders have been placed.

An order closure for the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness within the Grindstone Ranger District is expected later today.

On the Rock Fire in Sanhedrin Wilderness, crews have made significant progress knocking back interior heat and constructing handline around the fire, estimated at 2.5 acres. Four smokejumpers, a hotshot crew and helitack crew remain on scene. Later today, a helicopter from the Slide 1 fire will shift over to the Rock Fire to assist firefighters on the line.

The weather forecast today shows a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, but most storm activity is expected to occur north of the fire. However gusty winds are possible with any storms. Temperatures are trending down through the weekend, and there is potential for a cooler and wetter pattern early next week as Hurricane Hilary moves into the region.

August 17, 2023 at 9:11 PM

Fire behavior was low and creeping on the ground during today’s shift.

Smokejumpers and the Mendocino Hotshots (Crew 12) have been able to go direct along the trail system on the eastern edge of the fire, strengthening that line along a natural barrier. On the southern edge, crews worked hard along the Ides Cove trail system to strengthen that line. Aircraft supported crews on the fire line with bucket drops.

Though the fire has grown in acreage, fire managers are pleased with today’s success building containment lines and will continue the confine and contain strategy using the trail system and natural barriers to keep the fire in the wilderness area.

Resources committed to the incident include a type-2 helicopter, type-3 helicopter, one type-1 hand crew, three type-2 crews, two falling modules, two water tenders, a grader, excavator, helibase manager and safety officer. Additional resources are on order.

An order closure for the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness within the Grindstone Ranger District is expected tomorrow.

Also today, four smokejumpers and the Elk Mountain Hotshots (Crew 4) were joined by a helitack crew on the Rock Fire in the Sanhedrin Wilderness on the Upper Lake Ranger District. Two helicopters supported the crews with successful bucket drops. The Rock Fire is 1.5 acres. Though much progress was made, containment remains at 0%. Resources on scene will continue working on the line tomorrow.

The weather pattern is still showing active scattered showers and thunderstorms tonight and through the weekend. Fire personnel remain alert and ready to respond to new lightning starts and mutual aid calls.

August 17, 2023 at 10:21 AM

The Slide 1 Fire is currently at an estimated 340 acres in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness. Fire behavior has been low to moderate so far, creeping around through open ground. However, as scattered thunderstorms move through the area today and tonight, fire behavior has potential to increase.

Today firefighters are focused on the eastern and southern edges of the fire. Crews will be using the Ides Cove Trail system to keep the fire contained to the wilderness and reduce exposure to firefighters.

“Using a confine and contain strategy, we are using trails and natural barriers to fight this fire,” said Grindstone District Ranger Loren Everest.

“The fire will likely last longer, producing smoke, but it’s the safest way that we can contain the fire with the resources we have available and balancing out with what’s going on in the rest of the state.”

Using existing trails and natural barriers also helps to protect the wilderness area and minimize the impact of suppression tactics. Crews will be working side by side with resource advisors to protect natural, cultural and heritage resources.

Meanwhile, on the Rock Fire in the Sanhedrin Wilderness, smokejumpers and hotshots continue to work on containing the lightning strike. The Rock Fire is at 2 acres.

No other new lightning starts have been identified, but fire personnel, including 11 additional engines, remain poised to respond given potential for more thunderstorms, lightning and increased temperatures.

August 17, 2023 at 9:22 AM

Within the fire area multiple archaeological sites are identified. Historical cabins and private cabins are outside the fire footprint. Significant timber cooperator lands are adjacent to the fire footprint as well to the east.

The fire is in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness Area with rugged terrain and dry fuels with fire weakened trees. The forcasted conditions with the current state of the fuels could provide ongoing extreme fire behavior. I the Slide fire were come out of the Yolla Bolly Wilderness the fire may threaten Timber Company lands and SRA lands.

Burn scars are proven to keep the fire in check. Continued low fuel moistures will pose a problem in the next 72 hours.

August 16, 2023 at 9:06 PM

The Slide 1 Fire, which is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Mt. Linn in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness, has grown slightly today to an estimated 320 acres.

All assigned resources remain on scene. Today initial attack crews hiked to the fire’s edge and had opportunity to work on a direct fire line. Though firefighters are making progress, containment on the Slide 1 Fire remains at 0%.

Access to the fire’s edge is quite challenging and requires strenuous hiking through steep, rugged country. Excessive heat is also taking its toll on firefighters, and two heat-related medical incidents occurred today.

Incident managers have requested additional support including a type-3 helicopter, type-1 initial attack hotshot crews, fire-line qualified medics and resource advisors. A falling crew is also on scene.

The weather forecast shows active potential for thunderstorms over the next several days.

Agency administrators expect a portion of the Yolly Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness on the Grindstone Ranger District to close to the public in the coming days.

Yesterday there were 156 lightning strikes on the forest. Last night an engine and initial attack crew responded to the Pebble Fire, which is located near Pine Mountain on the Upper Lake Ranger District. The Pebble Fire is contained at .32 acres and in patrol status.

Also today, smokejumpers and a hotshot crew responded to a lightning fire in the Sanhedrin Wilderness near Impassable Rock and west of Big Signal Peak, now called the Rock Fire. Fire personnel have requested additional jumpers and air attack as the fire is burning in steep terrain with heavy fuels. The Rock Fire is currently at one acre.

The Hole Fire on the Covelo Ranger District was contained yesterday and remains in patrol status.

August 16, 2023 at 11:07 AM

Fire was active overnight. Structures are threatened.

The Slide 1 Fire, which is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Mt. Linn in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness, grew overnight to 285 acres. Fire behavior is active and expected to increase later in the day as chances of thunderstorms and gusty winds increase.

The strategy for the fire is full suppression and aggressive extended attack to minimize the number of large wildfire incidents. The location of the fire in the wilderness area presents several hazards for firefighters, including hazard trees from past wildfires and remote, rugged terrain.



Several fire resources are on scene including seven smokejumpers, a type-1 initial attack hand crew, air attack, one air tanker and two type-2 on-call crews. Additional resources are ordered, including a type-3 helicopter, a type-2 helicopter, falling crews and six type-1 or type-2 initial attack crews.

The fire is located north of private property owned by the timber company Crane Mills, and there is a private inholding within in the wilderness area in the vicinity of the fire. CAL-FIRE Tehama Glenn Unit is working to prep any structures or private lands that are threatened.

Additional smokes are being reported on the forest after more lightning strikes yesterday. Fire personnel are out patrolling, and the forest is ordering additional resources to assist the districts, including a strike team of engines and water tenders, falling crews and wilderness resource specialists.

Forest leadership is planning to issue a closure order for the Ides Cove Area later today. 

Smoke may be visible later today from the I-5 corridor from Willows to Red Bluff.

August 15, 2023 at 8:30 PM

Fire personnel on the Mendocino National Forest are responding to lightning fire starts after thunderstorms passed through yesterday. On the Grindstone Ranger District two fire starts called Slide 1 and Slide 2 occurred near Slides Ridge, approximately 1.5 miles north of Mt. Linn in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness. The two incidents merged, and the incident is now being called the Slide 1 Fire.

The Slide 1 Fire is at 60 acres, according to the latest report from fire personnel. The fire is burning in timber and brush and has potential for moderate to high rate of spread in rugged, steep terrain. The fire is within the 2020 August Complex footprint. Fire managers are using a full suppression strategy.

Current resources assigned to the Slide 1 Fire for initial attack include seven smokejumpers, one air attack, one air tanker, three engines and two type-2 on-call crews. The air tanker has dropped retardant.

Resources to support initial attack are en route including three engines and a task force engine. Fire managers have also ordered additional resources for tomorrow, including six type-1 or type-2 initial attack crews, four falling crews, two type-2 helicopters, one air attack and two air tankers.

Also today firefighters on the Covelo Ranger District responded to a lighting start called the Hole Fire, which is located near the Hell Hole Creek. The Hole Fire is contained and in patrol status at.1 acres.

A red flag warning is in effect through 10 p.m. tonight given the increased potential for lightning on dry fuels. The forecast shows periodic thunderstorms throughout the week.