Single Publication

Fire Update

2023 SRF Lightning Complex & Redwood Lightning Complex

Wednesday, September 13, 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 2,489 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 19,794 acres and overall containment is 18%. The 8 uncontained fires described below total 17,305 acres. These fires are all in Six Rivers National Forest. A total of 967 personnel is assigned to the incident. Fire, weather, and fuels conditions on the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex are still favorable to accomplish fire suppression objectives and protect communities, cultural resources, and other values.  “With the moderated fuel conditions present over the complex footprint, both the uncontained fires and the active fires are producing beneficial fire effects.  This is an unusual opportunity with the tribal and Six Rivers National Forest partners to improve landscape conditions and not defer severe fire risk into the future.  Strategic firing operations in this environment is vastly different under these conditions as opposed to urgent tactical firing when fuel conditions are extreme,” says Dan Dallas, Incident Commander with Rocky Mountain CIMT1.

Pearch Fire (5747 acres, 9% contained) – Crews continue to patrol completed firelines and mop up and secure the fire perimeter on the south and west sides of the fire. An area of active fire continues to back downslope into the Butler Creek drainage on the eastern side of the fire. Firefighters conducted a scouting mission yesterday to locate the best route into the area. They are aware of the fire activity in Butler Creek 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 (2232 acres, 20% contained) and Mosquito (2918 acres, 20% contained) Fires – Although operations were delayed a little by higher morning humidities, about 300 acres were fired yesterday with low intensity understory burns that cleaned up accumulated fuels on the forest floor. Today, fire managers plan to continue firing operations, both aerial and by hand, to complete the objective of full suppression of these fires, while also reducing excess fuels to lessen the occurrence or intensity of future fires. On Bluff #1 Fire, firefighters will continue with aerial ignition as they fill in a horseshoe shaped area of unburned fuels on the south side of the fire.

Yesterday, some firing was completed along the southern edge of the Mosquito Fire in Division M. This work will continue today to strengthen containment lines. Aerial firing may also begin in a larger area on the western side of Mosquito Fire. The strategic firing operation will include aerial ignition using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to pinpoint areas on ridgetops to introduce fire.  This will allow the fire to naturally back downslope with a low intensity.  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. An evening swing shift of engines was initiated yesterday to ensure Bluff #1 and Mosquito Fires remain within control lines and do not present a threat to values at risk.

Blue Creek #2 (3664 acres, 0% contained), Marlow (1599 acres, 0% contained), and Copper (1061 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 prior fire scars. Masticators are continuing brush removal work along the Nickowitz Road to open access to the south end of the fires.  Fire managers from the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex are coordinating with fire managers on the Happy Camp Complex due to the proximity of the Elliot Fire.

Monument (2 acres, 0% contained) and Let er-Buck (81 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: Today will bring warming and drying conditions. Winds will be NE through late morning becoming NW this afternoon shifting to more northerly through the evening.  Highs will be in the 70s on ridges and 80s in the valleys. Temperatures will continue to warm Thursday and Friday as a strong ridge remains overhead.

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 .