FIRE WATCH
Saturday’s rain not much help with fires
Saturday’s light rain on the North Coast did little to quell area wildfire activity as hot and dry weather is expected throughout this week.
Jeff Tonkin, meteorologist at the Eureka office of the National Weather Service, said less than 0.10 inches of rain, likely closer to 0.05 inches, will fall on the August Complex fire’s Northwest, West, and Northeast zones, which are burning southeast of Humboldt County, east of the county near Ruth Lake and as far north as Forest Glen on either side of Highway 36.
Eureka saw around 0.30 inches of rain Saturday. Tonkin said areas east of Kneeland won’t see much at all.
“We might get two or three
days of cooler temperatures and more moist conditions which could help limit the spread of fires, but the rain itself won’t be enough to diminish them,” Tonkin said. “And next week we’ll be right back to high pressure conditions with easterly winds and maybe even some more red flag warnings.”
The US Forest Service on Saturday reported, “Sustained winds 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph (are expected near the fire). Fire activity may increase where wind comes into alignment with terrain. After today, chance of wetting rain over the next several days will revert to 0%.”
Tonkin said the Red Salmon Complex fire, burning in northeast Humboldt County near Willow Creek and Hoopa Valley as well as in Trinity and Sis
kiyou counties, won’t see much relief from Saturday’s rain. The meteorologist said maybe between 0.10 and 0.25 inches will fall on the fire.
“The bulk of the rain will fall well north of the fire,” Tonkin said. “Maybe some heavier rain will fall on the northernmost parts of the fire, but again not enough to really diminish it.”
Cooler temperatures for the next few days may also slow fire growth.
August Complex fire update
The largest wildfire in state history had burned 1,024,092 acres and was 67% contained as of midday Saturday.
The West Zone of the fire bur ning southeast of the county had burned 137,678 acres and was 75% contained
as of midday Saturday.
The forest service reported Saturday that it “continued to mitigate threats near Ketten-pom and construct direct fire lines north east of Zenia. Back firing tactics continued, helping to control the spread of the fire and help mitigate any threat to our containment lines … Dangerously dry fuels in the area, combined with heavy timber and steep, rugged terrain, continue to challenge firefighters.”
The north near Ruth Lake “crews continued establishing line from Coffee Pot to the Van Duzen Road. Further east, crews have nearly completed line construction from Van Duzen Road to the Mad River Road at Ruth Lake,” the forest service reports. “Structure assessments and prepa-
rations will continue in Beegum, Platina and areas north of Highway 36. PG& E personnel will continue to inspect and repair powerlines along the Highway 36 corridor west of Forest Glen in order to restore power and communications in the next few days to affected communities.”
Red Salmon Complex fire update
As of midday Saturday the fire had burned 140,291 acres and was 36% contained.
The forest service reported on Friday, “crews continued to improve str uc t ure protec tion around G odf rey, Blue Ridge and Black Bear Ranches. Firefighters patrolled and mopped-up to hold the fire along Salmon Creek and the Cecilville Road. Firefighters are reinforcing indirect lines to protect the communities of Cecilville, Summerville, and Denny.”
Air quality update
There are no local communities facing air quality worse than “moderate” this weekend, according to the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District. Most areas of the county will see good air quality.
Hoopa Valley, Orleans, Weitchpec, and Willow Creek may see conditions dip into moderate.