SIT REP 5 | OCTOBER 17, 2020

PC:  Mendocino NF

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Location | The AUGUST COMPLEX is comprised of several fires in this very large Complex.  Fires are burning about 14 miles northwest of Elk Creek in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Coulsa Counties in California.   Fire fuels include timber, chaparral and tall grass.

Date/Time | These fires started on August 16, 2020 around 2037 hours PT.

Command | Mendocino National Forest, CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit, and CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte Unit.

Resources | There are 2,574 total personnel along with

Cause | Lightning.

Injury | One firefighter injury 8/31/2020. One firefighter death 8/31/2020.

PC:  Mendocino NF

CURRENT STATUS

The fire is broken up into four zones:  West, North, Northwest and South. East side of the fire remains unstaffed but is continuously being monitored.

UPDATE | The fire now has three active zones.  The West Zone is 100% contained with 140,522 acres.

Overall Size Up | 1,032,264 acres.  82% contained.

Northwest Zone |  IC Kuo with the Great Basin Team 1.  119,346 acres. 94% contained.

Fire behavior increased due to Red Flag conditions caused by high winds, low RH and unseasonably high temps.  Interior pockets burned in the Bradburn Creek area.  Containment lines were test in the Coffee Pot area.

PG&E continues to repair electrical infrastructure using helicopters to replace damaged power poles and stretch lines to restore power to impacted communities.

PC: Mendocino NF

Northeast Zone |  IC DeMasters with Great Basin Team 2. 272,089 acres. 70%.

Firefighters focused on Friday connecting the fire line west of Bear Wallow Mtn and on the east and south sides of the 2017 Buck Fire burn scar. Night shift crews continues to address hot spots along the fire perimeter.

South Zone | IC Sinclair with SW Team 1. 548,295 acres. 90% contained.

Red Flag conditions for the last 2 days. No increase in acreage. Hotshot crews and equipment continue to hold and strengthen previously built lines in the Eel River Canyon area.

PC: Inciweb

The suppression repair includes wok repairs of hand and dozer lines, roads, trails, staging areas, safety zones and drop points used for suppression efforts.

There are evacuations in this area.

Mendocino County | https://tinyurl.com/MendoEvac

Lake County | https://tinyurl.com/LakeCoIncidentViewer

Glenn County | https://nixle.com/county/ca/glenn/

PC: Mendocino NF

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Size Up | The fire has burned acreage across three National Forests:  Shasta-Trinity, Mendocino and Six Rivers.

Records | A single fire incident has burned over 1,000,000 acres! The State of California becomes known as having the first gigafire status.

Damage Assessment | 54 structures have been destroyed. 6 have been damaged.

PC:  Mendocino NF

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Evacuations | https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6983/

Emergency Alerts Sign-Ups | calerts.org/signup.html

AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE IMAGES

PC:  OR OSFM

The last 2 teams assigned from Lane and Marion Counties were demobed earlier than expected.  They were returning back to their home state after a 2-week deployment.  All 6 teams were scheduled to return back in the evening on 10/16/2020.

4 of the 6 teams from Linn, Yamhill, Clatsop and Washington Counties demobilized after their 14-day shift deployment and have started their drive back to their home state on 10/16/2020.

6 teams deployed to California as a coordinated response in several locations about two hours apart from one another and safely on 10/10/2020.

This Yamhill County Task Force came off the fireline for a day of fire before demobilizing.  They helped with mop up activities and improving direct line.

PC:  BLM Fire and Aviation 

BLM MTDK Veterans Crews out of Billings, helped train some of the Dept. of Defense 7th ID soldiers who were assigned to this incident.

PC: Denver FD (CO)’s Engine 301

Engine 301 was switched out on 10/16/2020 and they are heading home from a busy and tiring 14-day shift rotation.

PC:  US Army’s 14th Brigade

USFS – California

PC:  South Metro Fire & Rescue (CO)’s BRE41 crew

This replacement wildland crew began its journey to California from Colorado on 10/14/2020.

PC:  Flower Mound FD (TX)

6 Personnel and a brush truck have returned safely on 10/15/2020 from their 35-days of deployment.

PC: Director Mark S Ghilarducci / CAL OES

We remained busy today responding & deploying significant “immediate need”. Mutual Aid Fire Strike Teams deploying from around the State to Northern CA Fires.

PC:  US Forest Service

There are currently 4,800 USDA FS firefighters and support personnel currently across the United States. These firefighters are on the August Complex fire incident.

Thank you to our military partners, at work on the #AugustComplex on the @MendocinoNF.  From training to the fire line, it’s hard to believe it’s only been 10 days!

Wind gusts continue to move the North Zone further west, prompting evacuation orders. The fire has grown to 938,044 acres with a 43% containment. 1,612 firefighters and support personnel are assigned. (9/29/2020)

PC:  USFWS Fire SE

This USFWS helicopter is from Florida and normally works in the southern states. Due to the extreme conditions in the western states the helicopter and crew are currently working the #AugustComplex on the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California.

SOURCES

CAL FIRE, Inciweb, Fire Departments, Emergency Management, National Forests, Social Media.

  (c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 10/17/2020 2020 PT

AUGUST COMPLEX

SIT REP 4 | OCTOBER 9, 2020

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Location | The AUGUST COMPLEX is comprised of several fires in this very large Complex.  Fires are burning about 14 miles northwest of Elk Creek in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Coulsa Counties in California.

Fire fuels include timber, chaparral and tall grass.

Date/Time | These fires started on August 16, 2020 around 2037 hours PT.

Cause | Lightning.

CURRENT STATUS

Overall Size Up | Active fire behavior with single-tree torching, backing and flanking.  There has been 884,139 acres and 65% containment status. N

Staffing | There are about 2,326 total personnel assigned with 50 crews, 150 engines and 24 helicopters.

Damage Assessment | There has been 871 structures lost with $92,200,200.00 cost-to-date fire suppression and containment expenses.

  (c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 10/9/2020 – Updated 1130 PT

AUGUST COMPLEX

SIT REP 2 | OCTOBER 13, 2020

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Location | The AUGUST COMPLEX is comprised of several fires in this very large Complex.  Fires are burning in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Coulsa Counties in California.

Date/Time | These fires started on August 16, 2020 around 2037 hours PT.

Cause | Lightning.

CURRENT STATUS

Overall Size Up | This is the largest wildfire burning in the State topping out at 984,404 acres with  a 51% containment status.

Challenges | Fire Officials continue with many challenges when large wildfires are burning in their home state from resource shortages across the fire zones, which have seen their share of spreading thin when various needs flare up.

West Zone Fire | Managed by CAL FIRE (Parkes). 123,381 acres.   55% contained. Fire resources include;  138 National Guardsmen (CA), along with firefighters from states of Montana, Texas, Washington and New Jersey.  There are approximately 195 miles of fire line.  1,600 total firefighters on the ground and in air.  Active fire behavior overnight with torching and spotting.  Structure protection remains in place and around the community of Zenia with fire moving east and west.  Fire activity by firefighters were hampered by flames near the North Zone and as it crossed over the containment lines north of Zenia. Active monitoring of fire burning in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness is on-going by Fire managers.

South Zone – Mendocino National Forest | Managed by PNW Team 2 (Allen), formerly known as the DOE FIRE.  All hose, fixtures, pumps and other fire apparatus have been moved out of this zone for potential use in the northwestern corner of this Complex. Patrol status has been achieved at Lake Pillsbury, Rice Creek and and nearby areas. Sunday will be a transitional day with the Pacific NW Team 2 moving strategies and resources over to the northwestern corner. They will join forces with the West and North Zones.

Hazards | Firefighters are tirelessly working to remove hazards in and near homes to allow residents to repopulate but they must do so that is safe for them to enter the area.  Some of the hazards include:  falling trees, downed powerlines and hotspots. Fire danger remains high due to dry vegetation, drought conditions, low relative humidity, record temps and potential wind events.

Fire and Law Enforcement officials are pleading with residents not to entry closed off areas for the above referenced reasons. They are also asking you all to be just a little patient while longer while they work to clear these hazards.

Damage Assessment | 3 structures damaged. 21primary and 31 other minor structures destroyed.  $72,800,000 cost-to-date in fire suppression and containment expenses.

Threatened | There are 11,310 structures currently threatened.

RESPONSE

Unified Command | Mendocino National Forest is in Unified Command with CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit and the Humboldt-Del Norte Unit.  Fire operations is split up into 3 zones:  West, North and South.

Fire Staffing | There are 1,641 fire personnel that represent some of the agencies that include:  Flower Mound FD, South Metro Fire Rescue, McKinney Fire (TX), SCG Emergency Services, US Army North #JFLCCC, Fort Worth FD.

Additionally, there are 30 crews, 17 helicopters, 181 engines, 39 bulldozers and 44 water tenders assigned.

One firefighter injury has been reported.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Evacuation Warnings

Zone HA | east of Bell Springs Road to Trinity county line and south of Pipe Creek to Medocino County line.

Zone HB | South of Fort Sewart Road, Ware Ranch Road.  West of the Trinity County line. East of the Eel River at Powers Creek.  North of the Eel River at Pipe Creek.

Zone HD | South of Ohman Creek, Pepperwood Springs.  West of Dyerville Loop.  North of Benbow.  East of Hwy 101.

Zone HG | South of Hayfield Creek.  East of the Eel River to the Trinity County line. North of Stewart Ranch Road.

Zone HH | South of Stapp Road.  East of Baker Creek, Little Van Duzen River to the Trinity County line. North of Bear Creek.

Zone HI | South of Olsen Creek. West of Baker Creek, Little Van Duzen River.  East of Alderpoint Road, Kneeland Road.  North of Hayfield Creek.

Road Closures

SR 3 | at Rattlesnake Road and at SR 36.

SR 36 | at Rattlesnake Road. At Post Mountain. At the Humboldt County line.

Zenia Bluffs Road at the Humboldt County line.

Zenia Lake Mountain Road at Peaks Road.

Kekawaka Creek Road to Mendocino County line.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Evacuations

Zone N | North of Middle Fork of the Eel River including the Eel River Ranger Station and Black Butte Store.  West and South of the National Forest Boundary.  East of Williams Creek.  (CAL FIRE)

Road Closures

FH7 (Mendocino Pass Road) and M1 (Indian Dick Road) at the Eel River.  Hwy 162 (Mendocino Pass Road) at Short Creek.

TRINITY COUNTY

Evacuation Orders | GO NOW!

Hidden Valley, Indian Valley, Bear Wallow, Rowdy Bear and Friend Mountain. Ruth and  Ruth Lake, forest Glen, Post Mountain, Trinity Pines, Three forks, Hettenshaw Valley, Mad River, Zenia, Kettenpom, Island Mountain, Kettempom South to Kekawaka Creek, all areas south of SR 36 to the Trinity County line.

Evacuation Warning | GET READY!

Wildwood area, Peanut and area south of SR 299.

CAL FIRE – https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/august-complex-includes-doe-fire/)

Sources | CAL FIRE, Inciweb, NIFC.

  (c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 10/3/2020 1930 PT

AUGUST COMPLEX | HUMBOLDT and MENDOCINO Counties

SIT REP 1 | September 19, 2020

INCIDENT SUMMARY:

The AUGUST COMPLEX is made up of several wildfires include the DOE FIRE that is burning on the Mendocino National Forest in counties of Humboldt and Mendocino.

The incident started on August 16, 2020 in the Mendocino National Park.

“This is the State’s largest wildfire. Ever.” – CA Fire Foundation

UNIFIED COMMAND:

Command is Unified Command with Mendocino National Forest, CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit and the Humboldt Del Norte Unit.

Almost a million acres or more accurately 832,891 acres have been destroyed from this lightning-caused wildfire.  Fire crews have reached a 30% containment status.

RESOURCES:

There are 2,149 total personnel assigned to the incident along with 52 crews that represent from 4 Fire Agencies.  Additionally, there are 17 helicopters, 195 engines, 72 dozers and 49 water tenders, which is so unheard of in the past but more common in today’s world.

Incident Cooperators | Humboldt County OES, Yolo-Solano AQMD, South Metro Fire Rescue, Shasta-Trinity NF, Mendocino NF, CA Fire Foundation, Six Rivers NF,  County of Sonoma, Red Cross, Swinteron Renewable, Sarasota County FD, San Lorenzo Valley Water District, BLM California.

HEARD FROM THE FIRE GROUND 

Firefighters have been for the last month fighting multiple lightning caused wildfires, with this one being the biggest in the State of California. Ever. Here are the eyewitness accounts from the fire ground first hand through photos and despictions.

Photo Credit | CAL FIRE AEU

After fighting fires for the past 24 days, AEU Strike Team 9272C is leaving the LNU Lightning Complex and now heading to their 4th fire assignment since August 18th. They took a moment to recognize 9-11 heroes today before their next assignment.

Photo Credit | SCG Emergency Services

Sarasota County Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Specialist David Cavanaugh is temporarily assigned to the August Complex fire near Stonyford, California. Thank you David for all your hard work keeping others safe!

Photo Credit | Flower Mound MD 

On today’s 24 hour shift at the #AugustComplex West Zone, Strike Team 139 has been assisting other hand crews with back burning operations. These operations use fire to remove fuels between the containment line and the active fire.

Photo Credit | South Metro Fire Rescue

BRE41’s wildland team is working the night shift on the #AugustComplex fire in #California under the Redding Command Team. Firefighters are setting up sprinkler systems for structure protection. This system is setup in a nearby creek to protect 10 homes. Briefings held virtually.

Photo Credit | McKinney Fire (TX)

The MFD crew in California coming off a 24-hour shift on the line at the August Complex Fire. The crew spent the day doing structure protection prep — then shifted to a massive 2 mile firing operation all night. #californiafires #wildfires2020 #TIFMAS  

Photo Credit | US Army North #JFLCCCresponds @USArmyNorth (Twitter)

Every single foot of hose must be carried in & placed by hand to help reinforce dozer lines & prepare for burnout operations-14th BEB Soldiers & USFS wildland firefighters are working together to build fire lines, remove fuels & slow the spread of the August Complex fire.

Photo Credit | Fort Worth FD

Strike team #139 which includes 8 of #yourFWFD firefighters continues to work the August complex fire in Northern California. We will update as we get information.

Photo Courtesy | Inciweb

A NWS Burlington IMET is in the Command Post. This wildfire is near Elk Creek, CA.

EVACUATIONS:

• Zone AB: South of the Middle Fork of the Eel River, west of Eden Creek, north of Salt Flat and east of Salt Creek
• Zone AC: East of Brushy Mountain, south of the fire road on Salt Flat, west of Eden Valley and north of Bald Mountain
• Zone E: South of the county line, east of the National Forest boundary, north of Forest Highway 7 and west of the county line near the M2.

“In 2020, there was a total of 3,400,000 acres burned. 25 Souls lost their lives.”                         – CA Fire Foundaiton

• Zone C: North of the M1, East of the National Forest Boundary, south of Forest Highway 7.
• Zone B: West of Evacuation Zone A, North of Jack Hollow Creek and Thatcher Creek, East of the Middle Fork of the Eel River, South of Green Lambert Canyon through Bentley Basin to the M1 and South of the M1, to include Timber Ridge, and Bentley Ridge, and Hayshed Basin.

• Zone A: West of the county line, south of Anthony Peak and North of Hull Mountain.
• Zone F: East of the National Forest boundary near Garcia Creek, South of Thatcher Creek, west of the County Line and North of the County Line on Hull Mountain.
• Zone H: West of the National Forest Boundary, North of Thomas Creek and the Eel River, East of Twin Bridges Creek, South of Bald Mountain
• Zone I: West of Elk Creek, South of Deep Hole Creek, North of the National Forest Boundary.
• Zone J: East of Elk River, north of Deep Hole Creek, east of Eden Valley, south of Thatcher Creek.
• Zone W: West of the Eel River, north of Deep Hole Creek, east of Eden Valley including the entire valley floor, south of Eden Creek.
• Lake County:  All areas north of Pack Saddle; west of Lake County line; East of the Lake County line.

EVACUATION WARNINGS:

• Zone S: South of the County Line, East of Bell Springs Rd, North of Bell Springs Creek and West of the North Fork of the Eel River.
• Zone Q: South of the County Line, West and North of the North Fork of the Eel River, North and East of Bald Mountain Road.
• Zone D: South and East of the Eel river, North of Bentley Basin and West of the National Forest Boundary.
• Zone N: North of the Middle Fork of the Eel River including the Eel River Ranger Station and Black Butte Store, West and South of the National Forest Boundary, East of Williams Creek.
• Zone U – South of the County Line, east and north of the East Branch of the South Fork of the Eel River, west of Bell Springs Rd.
• Zone T – South of Bell Springs, east of Bell Springs Rd, north of Iron Peak and Simmerly Rd, west of the Eel River.
• Zone R – West of and south of Mina Rd, south of the North Fork of Eel River, east of the Eel River.
• Zone P – South of the County Line, east of Mina Rd, north of Hulls Valley Rd and west of Hulls Creek.
• Zone O – South of the County Line, east of Hulls Creek, north of Mendocino Pass Rd, and west of Williams Creek
• Zone L: South and West of Mendocino Pass Rd, West of The Middle Fork of the Eel River, north of Eel River Ranch Rd, East of Hill Rd and Short Creek Rd.
• Zone K: West and North of the Middle Fork of the Eel River, East of Redwine Spring, South of Hill Rd and Eel River Ranch Rd.
• Zone X: North of Eden Creek, East of Hearst Willits Rd, South and West of the Eel River.
• Zone G: West of the County Line, North of the Eel River and Van Aresdale Reservoir, East of the Eel River, South of the National Forest Boundary.
• Zone AD: South and west of the Eel River, north of Foster Mountain Road, east of the ridge west of Willits Road
• Zone AE: North of Twin Bridges Creek, east of the Eel River, south of Brushy Creek and west of Brushy Mountain
• Zone AN: South of Highway 162 and the Eel River, west of Salt Creek, north of Brushy Creek and the Eel River, east of Highway 162.
• Zone AQ: North of the Eel River, south and east of Highway 162, west of Redwine Spring.
• Lake County:  Pillsbury Ranch Area; North of M-1; South of Lake county line; East of the Lake County line.

ROAD CLOSURES

• Private Driveway to Murphy Creek
• Bell Springs closed to north bound traffic at Lundblade Ranch Road
• Mina Road is closed to north bound traffic at the bridge over the North Fork of the Eel River
• Mendocino Pass Road closed to east bound traffic just east of the Williams Creek Bridge
• Hearst Willits Road at the bridge, closed to east bound traffic
• Hearst Willits Road at the Eel River Bridge
• FH7 at M1 to Eel River

EVACUATION SHELTERS

MENDOCINO COUNTY | Covelo High School, 76280 High School Street, Covelo, CA.

TRINITY COUNTY | Southern Trinity High School, 600 Van Duzen Road.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY | Contact Fire Information line. Phone #707-268-2500 to be connected to available resources.

ANIMAL EVACUATION CENTERS

SMALL ANIMALS | Ukiah Animal Shelter. 298 Plant Road, Ukiah, CA 95482.

SMALL / LARGE ANIMALS | round Valley Rodeo Grounds. 22830 South Airport Road, Covelo, CA.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS

There has been 5 structures damaged and 51 destroyed.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 9/19/2020 1950 PT