August Complex West Zone nears 100K acres

The west zone of the August Complex Fire burning southeast of the Humboldt County line is nearly 100,000 acres but with nearly onethird containment, the threat to Southern Humboldt communities continues to be diminished as all evacuation warnings and road closures in the area have been lifted.

The Red Salmon Complex Fire partially burning in northeast Humboldt County continues to cloud the sky with smoke, but the threat to nearby communities is less than it was a week ago.

August Complex West Zone

The west zone, burning southeast of Humboldt County in Mendocino, Trinity and Lake counties, had burned 95,168 acres andwas 35% contained Tuesday morning according to Cal Fire.

The fire has destroyed 21 homes and 30 minor structures.

All road closures and evacuation orders in Humboldt County as a result of the fire were lifted Monday.

The entire August Complex fire had burned 846,898 acres and was 38% contained as of midday Tuesday.

Red Salmon Complex

The Red Salmon Complex Fire, burning in Humboldt, Trinity and Siskiyou counties had burned 104,67 acres and was 28% contained as of midday Tuesday.

According to the US Forest Service, “Firefighters have contained the northwest and west sides of the fire from the Whitney Peak area on the north side to Box Camp on the west side. Along the southwestern and southern flanks, firefighters are successfully conducting firing operations and improving roads to protect the Hoopa Valley Reservation and the communities of Willow Creek and Denny. Structure protection in the Forks of Salmon area continues to be a priority while hand crews, heavy equipment, and firefighting aircraft continue to suppress the fire.”

Air quality update

Air quality in the county remained good along the coast and in Southern Humboldt on Tuesday while the northeastern regions of the county saw some worsening in its air quality, according to a Tuesday news release from North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District.

Air quality in Eureka and along the coast, and in Redway and Garberville was “good” Tuesday according to the district.

In Orleans, Willow Creek, Wietchpec and Hoopa Valley air quality was “unhealthy for sensitive groups with periods of unhealthy in the nighttime.”