Single Publication

Fire Update

2023 SRF Lightning Complex 

Thursday, September 28, 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 47,564 acres and overall containment is 15%. In total, 661 personnel are assigned to the incident. Today is the last full work shift for the Eastern Area Gold Incident Management Team and a transition or shadow day with the incoming California Interagency Incident Management Team 16. Transfer of command between the two teams will occur on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 7:00 A.M. It is a common occurrence to transfer command of ongoing fires and both teams are dedicated to making the transition safe and successful.

Yesterday, crews continued to assess the conditions of the Pearch and Mosquito Fires following the recent change in weather. Firefighter and public safety are priorities because the rain has increased the potential hazards of fire weakened trees falling on all parts of the fires due to wet soil conditions. Crews continued to monitor the remote Marlow Fire and north side of the Mosquito Fire during the day. Mastication work progressed south along the Bluff Creek Road and Slate Creek Road. This work will create a fuel break if needed in the future. On the Pearch Fire the backhaul of pumps and hose from locations where they are no longer needed continued. In addition, firefighters monitored the Highway 96 corridor and Salmon River Road for falling rocks and debris and fire activity. CalTrans and Siskiyou County crews remain available to clear the roadways if needed.

Crews and equipment will continue the mastication work along the Bluff Creek and Slate Creek Roads to improve and create an effective fuel break on the south side of the Mosquito Fire. On the west and east sides of the fire extra equipment and supplies will start to be backhauled. On the Pearch Fire pumps and hose that are no longer needed will continue to be backhauled. The Highway 96 and Salmon River Road will continue to be monitored for falling rocks and debris that need to be removed. Crews will assess and mitigate any fire weakened trees with root systems affected by wet soils before reengaging on the fire control lines. The fire activity has diminished somewhat but several areas of heat and large diameter trees are still burning and creating smoke. Smoke may remain visible on all parts of the fires as warmer and dryer conditions return over the next several days.

Pearch Fire (12,125 acres, 31% contained) – Firefighters will monitor and assess the Highway 96 corridor and Salmon River Road throughout the day 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. Crews will continue the process of packing up and backhauling pumps, hose, and other equipment. The effects of recent rainfall have somewhat subdued fire activity but has not extinguished the fire.

Mosquito Fire (33,319 acres, 10% contained) – Crews and equipment have returned to the Bluff Creek Road and Slate Creek Road and restarted mastication work to create a fuel break along the roads. There are still several days of mastication work that will be done to prepare these roads. Fire managers will monitor fire activity on the north side where the fire is still in a remote location. Along the east and west sides of the fire crews continued to hold and secure the control lines and work to mop up hot spots near the line.

Marlow Fire (1,988 acres, 0% contained) – There continues 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, 100% contained) and Let er-Buck (96 acres, 100% contained) Fires – A confinement strategy was 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 an acceptable area and both are now considered 100% contained. 

Weather: Mostly sunny skies will be in place over the fire area today. Temperatures will be 10 degrees warmer than yesterday with highs of 68 to 74 in the valleys and 47 to 53 on the ridges. The winds will be from the northwest at 8 to 12 mph. The humidity levels will remain in the 40 to 55 percent range.

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 .