Current Situation: A red flag warning has been issued today and tomorrow for the fire area. The Red Salmon Complex 5,977 acres and 12% contained. Both fires are burning in the Trinity Alps Wilderness on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Crews are utilizing minimum impact suppression techniques in the wilderness as well as control lines from past fires as contingency lines.

 

Red Fire: Fire activity increased yesterday afternoon crossing Red Cap Creek on the west flank. The fire is 5,218 acres and 5% contained. Yesterday, crews made significant progress along the fire’s northern edge through strategic firing operations putting fire on the ground from just east of Black Mountain heading west along Lubbs Trail and Forest Road 10N01 to the Salmon Summit Trailhead. From there they worked to connect the firing operations with the Salmon Fire to just south of Salmon Mountain. These firing operations are backing down from containment lines to the main fire to prevent fire from spreading across it. Today, crews will strengthen indirect contingency lines on the west flank of the fires. 
 

Salmon Fire: This fire is 759 acres and 29% contained. Yesterday, firefighters finished both direct and indirect containment lines around the fire. Today, crews will strengthen those containment lines and conduct mop-up operations around the fire. The fire is staying within its current footprint as any activity comes from unburned pockets of fuel within containment lines. 
 

Weather: A red flag warning has been issued over the fire area starting today through Monday for increased temperatures and low relative humidity. The atmosphere is unstable enough today where intense heat could break the weak mid-level inversion and produce a convection column. 
 

Air quality: Widespread smokey conditions are possible today as large fire, growth may occur. In the morning and early afternoon expect drainage bottoms, especially along the Highway 96 corridor between Willow Creek and Somes Bar, to experience increased smoke impacts. An air resource advisor is providing daily smoke forecasts and air quality information. Refer to fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NWCalifornia.
  

Closures: The Red-Salmon Fire Complex Forest Closure takes effect on August 8, 2020. All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge). All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit). Big Rock River Access.

 

COVID-19: COVID-19 precautions are a priority at all incident camps with daily temperature screenings of personnel and implementing measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread. Community and firefighter safety are a top priority of both the incident management team and the National Forests.

  

Fire 

A red flag warning has been issued due to dry and unstable air conditions near the fire area. Large fire growth is possible today. A new fire started near Hoopa yesterday. 

  Smoke 

Widespread smokey conditions are possible today as large fire growth may occur. In the morning and early afternoon expect drainage bottoms, especially along the Highway 96 corridor between Willow Creek and Somes Bar, to experience increased smoke impacts. In the afternoon, ventilation is anticipated to improve as winds increase and shift. Areas southeast of the fire may see increased smoke levels in the afternoon and overnight.

 Other 

If you begin to notice health effects from smoke, you are encouraged to follow the "actions to protect yourself" listed below. Always remember, if you smell smoke you are breathing smoke.

  

Current Situation: As predicted, hotter and drier weather over the Red Salmon Complex today brought an increase in fire activity and increased burning in unburned pockets of the fires. A red flag warning has been issued for tomorrow and Monday in area. The complex – the Red and Salmon fires – totals 4,620 acres and is 12% contained. These fires were discovered July 27, lightning caused, burning in the Trinity Alps Wilderness on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Crews are utilizing minimum impact suppression techniques in the wilderness as well as control lines from past fires outside the wilderness as contingency lines. A new forest closure went into effect today.

Red Fire: The fire is 3,869 acres and 5% contained. Crews made significant progress along the fire’s northern edge through strategic firing operations earlier today. Firefighters have been able to put fire on the ground from just east of Black Mountain heading west along Lubbs Trail and Forest Road 10N01 to the Salmon Summit Trailhead. From there they’ve turned south and are working to connect the firing operations with the Salmon Fire to just south of Salmon Mountain. These firing operations are bolstering containment lines to prevent fire from spreading across it.

Salmon Fire: This fire is 751 acres and 29% contained. The fire is holding along lines in the Eightmile Creek drainage and Backbone Ridge. Crews worked to bolster lines along Salmon Summit Ridge and the fire is staying within its current footprint.

Weather: Tonight, relative humidity will remain low with higher nighttime temperatures. A red flag warning has been issued over the fire area starting tomorrow though Monday for increased temperatures and low relative humidity.

Air quality: Smoke is expected to be worse near the fire, with overnight and morning smoke accumulating in drainage bottoms. An air resource advisor is providing daily smoke forecasts and air quality information. Refer to fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NWCalifornia.

Closures: The Red-Salmon Fire Complex Forest Closure takes effect on August 8, 2020. All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge). All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit). Big Rock River Access.

COVID-19: COVID-19 precautions are a priority at all incident camps with daily temperature screenings of personnel and implementing measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread. Community and firefighter safety are a top priority of both the incident management team and the National Forests.

  Red Salmon Complex

HELICOPTER Operations – Essential Fire Fighting Resources
        Full report with photos 

Everyday, locals hear the “whop-whop-whop” of helicopters flying overhead to the Red Salmon Complex. The fires are in the Trinity Alps Wilderness where the Klamath Mountains are steep and rugged and there is no motorized vehicle access. Helicopters of various sizes and capabilities are assigned to the incident for transporting fire crews, delivering equipment and food, dropping water to aid with suppression and are available for medical evacuation.

Firefighters are transported in and out of the fire to build control lines and fuel breaks, install hoselays, and other firefighting activities. Because of the distance and logistics, crews are flown to a helispot near their work area, set up a spike camp (essentially a primitive camp) and stay the night. Food, supplies, and equipment are delivered to them. Crews stay in their own working groups and do not gather in larger camps to limit exposure between crews.

Helitack modules typically travel to a fire by helicopter and may land near a wildfire or, if equipped and trained, rappel from a hovering helicopter. Once safely landed, they engage in firefighting activities. On the Red Salmon Complex, six helitack crews are currently assigned but have primarily been assisting with helicopter operations to support the large number of crews working on the fire.

Scott Valley Helitack module at the Willow Creek helibase ready to assist in helicopter operations.     US Forest Service photo by G. Scott

There are presently 15 helicopters assigned to the Red Salmon Complex. They are stationed at the Willow Creek, Weaverville, and Scott Valley helibases.
 

Brian Sexton, Air Operations Branch Director, explained “Our biggest challenge is with smoke and inversions that affect flying; thus, we have multiple bases so that we can operate if one of them is open.”

A mix of Type 1, 2, and 3 helicopters are on site; they are ranked based on their lift capability. The Type 1 or “heavies” are the heavy lifters- dropping water to help cool the fire and delivering heavy cargo to the spike camps. The Type 2 or “mediums” have a wide application. They assist with transporting firefighters (6 to 9 at a time), sling loading supplies and food, and water drops on the fire. The smallest are Type 3 or “lights” and used in missions like reconnaissance by fire managers.

Additionally, two US Forest Service Firewatch Cobras are at the fire. Known as air attack, they are used by managers to coordinate the air space when multiple aircraft are flying at one time. They also gather fire intelligence such as GIS mapping and have specialized systems for real time fire monitoring. They are notable looking ships with an unusually narrow appearance for their size.

It is impressive to see a Type 1 or 2 helicopter carrying a water bucket which they fill by submerging or dipping into a water source, like a lake or reservoir, river, or portable tank which has been filled by an engine. Alternately, some helicopters are equipped with a snorkel (hose) which draws water into their belly tank. Water is then dropped on locations specified by ground supervisors to cool the fires edge. On the Red Salmon Complex helicopters have been filling from mountain lakes and from a dip site on the Klamath River near Orleans.

There are many support personnel for helicopter operations making communication key for safe and efficient work.While aerial resources are crucial for suppressing wilderness fires like the Red Salmon Complex, weather often throws a wild card. The topography, prevailing wind patterns, and inversions have limited flying to mornings and later afternoons in recent days; thus, fire personnel must be self-reliant without helicopters, which increases the complexity of working in the remote Klamath Mountains.

  

Fire 

Hotter and drier conditions are expected this weekend, which has the potential for increased fire growth.

   Smoke

Smoke is expected to be worse near the fire, with overnight and morning smoke accumulating in drainage bottoms. Then smoke may disperse to the south and east throughout the day. In the evening, smoke is anticipated to flow to the south and west of the fires. Communities between Somes Bar and Willow Creek are expected to have increased smoke compared to yesterday. High level haze may be be visible at greater distances throughout the day. Increased smoke production is likely as the fire continues to grow.

   Other

 Air quality may change unexpectedly. 

If you begin to notice health effects from smoke, you are encouraged to follow the "actions to protect yourself" listed below. Always remember, if you smell smoke you are breathing smoke. 

  

Red Salmon Complex Morning Update

Current Situation: A hotter, drier weekend weather forecast over the Red Salmon Complex brings the potential for significant fire growth as humidity drops and the inversion layer that has been holding the fires in check weakens. The complex – the Red and the Salmon fires – totals 4,617 acres and is 12% contained. These fires were discovered on July 27, lightning caused, burning in the Trinity Alps Wilderness on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. Crews are utilizing minimum impact suppression techniques in the wilderness as well as control lines from past fires outside the wilderness as contingency lines. A new forest closure is in effect today.

Red Fire: The fire is 3,866 acres and 0% contained. Crews are making significant progress along the fire’s northern edge through strategic firing operations. Firefighters have been able to put fire on the ground from just east of Black Mountain heading west along Lubbs Trail and Forest Road 10N0 to the Salmon Summit Trailhead. From there they’ve turned south and are working to connect the firing operations with the Salmon Fire to just south of Salmon Mountain. These firing operations are conducted by ground crews as well as an unmanned aircraft system that is equipped with an ignition device to help build the width of the line and prevent fire from spreading across it.

Salmon Fire: This fire is 751 acres and 12% contained. The fire is holding along lines in the Eightmile Creek drainage and Backbone Ridge. Crews worked to bolster lines along Salmon Summit Ridge and the fire is staying within the footprint of previous fires.

Weather: Today will be warmer and drier. This warm, dry trend coupled with unstable air will continue into Sunday and Monday which can combine for a significant increase in fire behavior.

Air quality: The heaviest concentrations of smoke will remain in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Forks of Salmon, Orleans, and Somes Bar are likely to be impacted. An air resource advisor is providing daily smoke forecasts and air quality information. Refer to fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NWCalifornia.

Closures: The Red-Salmon Fire Complex Forest Closure takes effect on August 8, 2020. All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge). All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit). Big Rock River Access.

COVID-19: COVID-19 precautions are a priority at all incident camps with daily temperature screenings of personnel and implementing measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread. Community and firefighter safety are a top priority of both the incident management team and the National Forests.

Current Situation: The Red Salmon Complex – burning inside the Trinity Alps Wilderness – is 4,617 acres and 12% contained. The two fires, the Red and the Salmon, are burning on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity National Forests and started as lightning strikes on July 27. Crews are working directly along the fire to build containment line where possible, but also building indirect line away from the fires’ edges in the wilderness using minimum impact suppression techniques. Firefighters are utilizing control lines from past fires outside the wilderness as contingency lines. A new forest closure goes into effect tomorrow.

Red Fire: The fire is 3,866 acres and 0% contained. Crews are working to contain the north edge using strategic firing operations east and west along Lubbs Trail, Forest Road 10N0, and Salmon Summit Ridge heading southeast. Firing operations are conducted by ground crews as well as an unmanned aircraft system that is equipped with an ignition device to help build the width of the line and prevent fire from spreading across it.

Salmon Fire: This fire is 751 acres and 12% contained. The fire is moving south in the Eightmile Creek drainage toward fireline that runs from Backbone Ridge to Eightmile Creek. Crews worked to bolster lines along Salmon Summit Ridge and the fire is staying within the footprint of previous fires.

Weather: Today was warmer and drier. This warm, dry trend coupled with unstable air will continue into Sunday and Monday which can combine for a significant increase in fire behavior.

Air quality: The heaviest concentrations of smoke will remain in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Forks of Salmon, Orleans, and Somes Bar are likely to be impacted by heavy smoke concentrations. An air resource advisor is providing daily smoke forecasts and air quality information. Refer to fires.airfire.org/outlooks/NWCalifornia.

Closures: The Red-Salmon Fire Complex Forest Closure takes effect on August 8, 2020. All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge). All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area are closed as well as: Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit). Big Rock River Access.

COVID-19: California Interagency Incident Management Team 14 continues to make COVID-19 precautions a priority at all incident camps with daily temperature screenings of personnel and implementing measures such as wearing face coverings and social distancing to prevent coronavirus spread. Community and firefighter safety are a top priority of both the incident management team and the National Forests.

Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure

Klamath National Forest Order No. 20-05-20

Shasta-Trinity National Forest Order No. 14-20-05

Six Rivers National Forest Order No. 20-10-09

 Complete Closure Order             Map

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Salmon River Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest, the Big Bar Ranger District of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and the Orleans and Lower Trinity Ranger Districts of the Six Rivers National Forest. This Order is effective from August 8, 2020, through September 30, 2020.

     1.     Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area, as described in Exhibit A and shown on Exhibit B. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(e).

     2.     Being on the National Forest System roads listed below and shown on Exhibit B.

     a.      All National Forest System roads within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area.

     b.     Forest Road Nos. 07N53 (Grizzly Camp), 07N15 (Fawn Ridge), 10N05 (Upper Leary Creek), 10N01 (Trinity Summit), and 07N10 (Lone Pine Ridge).

     36  C.F.R. 261.54(e).

     3.     Being on the National Forest System trails listed below and show on Exhibit B.

     a.      All National Forest System trails within the Red-Salmon Fire Complex Closure Area.

     b.     Forest Trail Nos. 6E04 (Orleans Mt Trail), 5438 (Nordheimer), 12W08 (East Fork New River), and 12W02 (Salmon Summit).

     36  C.F.R. 261.55(a).

     Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

     1.     Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

     2.     Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

     3.     Owners or lessees of land in the area to the extent necessary to access their property.

     These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

   A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559, 3571, and 3581.

     

  

Specialized rescue crews key to safety among rugged Klamath Mountains

Full Article with photos
 
The Klamath Mountain Range is a series of steep, remote, rugged peaks and lush, green valleys that has known wildfire since its creation. Born of fire, these forests that make up the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath and Rogue River-Siskiyou national forests are some of the most difficult places to fight wildfire.

The difficulty of terrain and proclivity for fire in this area pushes the safety of firefighters to the limit. With that in mind, one of the most important safety measures implemented in wildland firefighting is the Rapid Extraction Module – a specially-credentialed team that was originally designed and developed in the Klamath Mountains for the Klamath Mountains and now used and recognized industry wide.

“It came about because of fires here – the REM started here,” said Clayton Thomas, Medical Unit Leader for Central Southern Sierra Incident Management Team 14. He is part of the team charged with suppressing the Red Salmon Complex – a pair of fires burning on the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity national forests.

Currently the SMA rapid extraction module out of the Santa Monica area is assigned to the Red Fire. The team is made up of four members – two from Santa Monica Fire Department and two from the El Segundo Fire Department. They’re positioned along the north-northeast side of the fire ready to respond if and when needed. Tony Del Castillo and Nate McIlroy are from El Segundo and run the rigging and ropes. Shane Lawler and Trevor Mustin out of Santa Monica are the over the edge personnel who would be lowered down to extract a patient.

“It’s our mission to know and understand the terrain in case we have to effect a rescue,” said Tony Del Castillo, the unit’s leader and a fire captain back home in El Segundo. “It’s amazing terrain, very challenging but still pretty cool.”

Thomas, a captain and paramedic with the Penn Valley Fire Protection District just north of Sacramento, explained some of the qualifications and specific equipment the teams carry to effectively rescue a firefighter from a variety of situations.

“In California, there’s a standardized equipment list and staffing,” he said. “It’s a four-person module with a team lead who must be engine boss or crew boss qualified, rope rescue qualifications, there’s specifics for the type and length of rope, hardware and equipment. They have to be able to get this equipment to very remote places, very quickly, it’s a ‘rapid’ extraction module not just an extraction module.”

Thomas sat on the statewide committee that standardized the qualifications for positions related to the modules and said that while the requirements are minimum standards, many teams bring much more to the table.

 

 

 

“They’re free to expand the minimum but these are the standards,” he said. “There’s no requirement for EMS on the module but oftentimes – as these generally are structure firefighters – they bring that qualification to the table.”

The SMA REM unit carries a variety of equipment to be prepared for many possible scenarios. Even preparing for the worst though, it’s possible to encounter a situation that calls for more.

“We’re carrying two 150-foot packs, two 300- and two 600-foot packs and I could see us easily exceeding that,” Del Castillo said, speaking of the amount of rope the crew carries. “There’s just so many different angles you have to work with in one mission. Multiple angles, multiple systems, low angle to high angle rescue; it’s a very unique and challenging place.”

It was those unique challenges these mountains provided that were the driving force behind the inception of the module in 2012 while fighting fire on the Fort Complex. Scott McKenney – long-time medical unit leader for California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 – often is credited with the idea.

Part of the difficulty of fighting fires in this area is the weather. More often than not, summer fires here are coupled with inversion layers – slow -moving high pressure systems – which hold the smoke in place over the fire and reduce visibility. That reduced visibility hampers air support, sometimes grounding helicopters and rendering fixed-wing aircraft useless. No air support is dangerous situation for crews on the ground because quick rescue in an emergency might not be an option. 

 Fire Fire behavior is expected to pick up as conditions become hotter and drier. Increased fire growth is anticipated, particularly on the Red Fire along the western and southern flanks.

  Smoke  The heaviest concentrations of smoke will remain in the immediate vicinity of the fire. Forks of Salmon, Orleans, and Somes Bar are likely to be impacted by heavy smoke concentrations, with worst conditions expected in the morning into the afternoon. Smoke is anticipated to disperse to the east and southeast as winds increase in the afternoon. High level haze may be be visible at greater distances throughout the day. Increased smoke production is likely as the fire continues to grow.   Other  Air quality may change unexpectedly.   If you begin to notice health effects from smoke, you are encouraged to follow the "actions to protect yourself" listed below. Always remember, if you smell smoke you are breathing smoke.