Single Publication

2023 SRF Lightning Complex 

Wednesday, September 27, 2023 – 9:00 a.m.

Eastern Area Gold Team

Brian Jenkins, Incident Commander

Information Phone: 530-536-0767

Email: 2023.lightningcomplex@firenet.gov 

Information Staffing Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

This update covers 5 of the 14 fires being managed as part of the SRF Lightning Complex. The Copper Fire (2184 acres) was absorbed by the Blue Creek #2 Fire. On September 22, 2023, the Bluff #1 Fire (4270 acres) and Blue Creek #2 Fire (9751 acres) were absorbed by the Mosquito Fire. The combination of Blue Creek #2 Fire, Bluff #1 Fire, and Mosquito Fire is now referred to as the Mosquito Fire. The remaining 6 fires (Big Foot, Blue Creek, Creek, Flat, Iron, and Merrill) totaling 34 acres, are contained and in patrol status. They are checked daily, and their size and containment are unlikely to change. 

Current Situation: The 14 fires on this incident total 47,019 acres and overall containment is 8%. In total, 664 personnel are assigned to the incident. Yesterday, firefighters worked their way back to locations around the Pearch and Mosquito Fires to assess the impacts of the rain and wind and monitor fire activity. The north side of the Mosquito Fire was monitored throughout the day. The work to create a fuel break in two locations on the south side of the Mosquito Fire resumed with masticating equipment and crews. The weather impacts have increased the potential hazards of fire weakened trees on all parts of the fires due to winds and wet soil conditions. On the Pearch Fire crews reentered the fire area and started to backhaul pumps and hose that are no longer needed. Firefighters also monitored the Highway 96 corridor and Salmon River Road for rocks and debris. The possibility of additional rocks and debris falling from steep slopes on to the roadways remains a concern. CalTrans and County crews remain available to clear the roadways if needed.

The plan for today will be for crews and equipment to continue to work along the Bluff Creek and Slate Creek Roads to improve these roads and create an effective fuel break on the south side of the Mosquito Fire. Crews will continue to hold and secure the western and eastern control lines and clear hazard trees as needed. On the Pearch Fire the backhaul of equipment will continue as firefighters dismantle pumps and hose where they are no longer needed. Fire weakened trees with root systems affected by wet soils continue to create hazardous conditions that fire crews will need to assess and mitigate before reengaging on the fire control lines. The Highway 96 and Salmon River Road will continue to be monitored for falling rocks and debris that will need to be removed. Fire activity has diminished but several areas of heat and large diameter trees are still burning and creating some smoke. As dryer conditions return more smoke may become visible from the fire area.

Pearch Fire (12,068 acres, 6% contained) – Yesterday, crews monitored and assessed the Highway 96 corridor and Salmon River Road for falling rocks and debris. CalTrans and Siskiyou County crews are available to clear the rocks and debris as needed. Please continue to drive with caution and consider alternate routes. Firefighters started the process of packing up and backhauling pumps, hose, and other equipment that had been used for fire suppression and structure protection. The effects of nearly 2 inches of rain subdued fire activity but did not extinguish the fire.

Siskiyou County has lifted their Evacuation Warning for residents in the Butler Creek area (SIS-1704). 

Mosquito Fire (32,831 acres, 6% contained) – Rain and cloudy conditions kept fire activity subdued yesterday. Crews and equipment moved back to the Bluff Creek Road and Slate Creek Road and restarted mastication work to create a fuel break along the roads. Crews monitored fire activity on the north side where the fire is still remote. Along the east and west sides of the fire crews continued to hold and secure the control lines and worked to mop up hot spots near the line.

Marlow Fire (1,988 acres, 0% contained) – There continued to be minimal activity on the Marlow Fire. This fire is in a remote area and is bounded by indirect control lines to the east and south and prior fire footprints where fuels are lighter. No values are threatened by the Marlow Fire.

Monument (2 acres, 0% contained) and Let er-Buck (96 acres, 0% contained) Fires – A confinement strategy is being used to address these two fires due to limited values at risk and the remote, steep terrain with associated safety concerns for the firefighters. 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 to ensure they remain within acceptable bounds.

Weather: The weather system that brought rainfall across the fire area on Monday will shift east and out of the area. The sky will clear by early afternoon and temperatures will remain below normal. High temperatures in the valleys will range from mid-60s to lower 70s while the mid-slopes and ridge will generally remain in the 50s. Winds will become westerly with gusts to 20 mph on the ridges with lighter winds at lower elevations. Relative humidity levels will range from 40 to 60 percent.

Evacuation Information

Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices 

Closures

Six Rivers National Forest: Area and campground closures are in effect on portions of Six Rivers National Forest. They can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/srnf/notices/?cid=FSEPRD1096395. 

Additional Fire Information

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

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

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

For Air Quality Information: www.airnow.gov 

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

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