Single Publication

Fire Update

2023 SRF Lightning Complex & Redwood Lightning Complex

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 530-536-0767

Email: 2023.lightningcomplex@firenet.gov

Information Staffing Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Special Note: This update covers 8 of the 20 fires being managed as part of the Complexes. The remaining 12 fires are listed in the accompanying Complex Overview. Those fires, totaling 2,488 acres, are contained and in patrol status. They are checked daily, and their size and containment are unlikely to change.

Current Situation: The 20 fires in this incident total 19,162 acres and overall containment is 18%. The 8 uncontained fires described below total 16,674 acres. These fires are all in Six Rivers National Forest. A total of 1,016 personnel are assigned to the incident. Current fire, weather, and fuels conditions on the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex are at near optimum for using carefully managed fire as a tool to accomplish fire suppression objectives and protect communities, cultural resources, and other values. Agency administrators and fire managers, in consultation with tribal leaders, are implementing a Strategic Firing Plan, and a Firing Group is being utilized to take advantage of strategic firing opportunities throughout the Complex as conditions allow.

Pearch Fire (5430 acres, 9% contained) – Crews continue to patrol completed firelines and mop up and secure the fire perimeter on the south and west side of the fire. Backhauling and staging of surplus supplies and equipment is underway. An area of active fire continues to back downslope into the Butler Creek drainage on the eastern side of the fire. Firefighters are aware of this activity and are watching the area throughout each day. There are currently no threats, and no action is needed at this time. The structure protection group remains in the area and a night shift of engines continues to work the Pearch Fire.

Bluff #1 (2193 acres, 20% contained) and Mosquito (2769 acres, 20% contained) Fires –A containment “box” of direct and indirect firelines has been completed around the fires. Fire managers are using aerial and hand strategic firing operations to complete the objective of full suppression of these fires, while also reducing excess fuels to lessen the occurrence or intensity of future fires. Yesterday, about 200 acres were successfully ignited adjacent to the Bluff and Mosquito fires. Increasing relative humidity from an onshore weather pattern limited further firing. Similar weather is expected today, and this may again limit firing operations. Any firing that may occur will be slow and methodical over multiple days to allow monitoring of effectiveness and to make adjustments as needed. Residents can expect to see more smoke during firing operations. This is an expected result and not an indicator that the fires have escaped or present a threat. This operation has been carefully planned and coordinated with cooperating agencies and tribal leaders. Work on these two fires, as well as others in the Complex, is being closely coordinated with tribal resource advisors to ensure that important cultural and historical resources are protected and traditional indigenous cultural and ecological practices are respected.

Crews continue to work on additional priorities in Branch XX. Masticators are performing brush removal work along the Nickowitz Road, and this work should last another 4-5 days.

Blue Creek #2 (3578 acres, 0% contained), Marlow (1589 acres, 0% contained), and Copper (1034 acres, 0% contained) Fires – These fires are being patrolled by aerial resources as weather conditions allow. They are bounded by indirect control lines to the east and south, and significant growth of these fires is not expected.

Monument (2 acres, 0% contained) and Let er-Buck (79 acres, 0% contained)  Fires – Due to limited values at risk, the remote, steep terrain and associated safety concerns for our firefighters, and the low probability of success using standard suppression tactics, these fires are being addressed with a confinement strategy. Terrain, natural fire barriers such as rock outcroppings, and old fire footprints where fuels are limited will be used to confine fire growth until season ending precipitation extinguishes the fires. These fires are checked regularly by aerial patrols to ensure they remain within acceptable bounds, and very little fire growth has been observed.

Weather: Increased onshore flow today will bring breezier W-NW winds Temperatures will range from 70s on Bluff Fire to 80s on Pearch Fire. Gradual drying will occur Tuesday night and Wednesday with warning and drying on Thursday and Friday.

For information on Closures, Evacuations, and Alert Notifications please see the accompanying Complex Overview.

Fire Information Contacts

Phone: 530-536-0767 | Email: 2023.lightningcomplex@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/casrf-2023-srf-lightning-complex

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2023SRFRedwoodLightning

Redwood National and State Parks Information Hotline: Phone: 707-464-6101

https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

Hoopa Information Hotline: Phone: 530-618-2995 | Email: serene.oes@gmail.com

More Fire Information Links: www.linktr.ee/srffirepio

NOTE: For information about the Elliot or Hancock Fires which are part of the

Happy Camp Complex, please visit https://linktr.ee/happycampcomplex2023 .