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Check here for information on fires in our region. You can also check out these resources:Northwest Interagency Coordination CenterSWOFIRE: Oregon Department of Forestry, SW regionCalFire: Current Fire InformationInciWeb: Incident Information SystemOregon Smoke Blog: Smoke informationSouth Central Oregon Fire Management Cooperative (Klamath/Lake Counties & Crater Lake)

Gasquet Complex Fires in Del Norte County Grow Slowly

inciweb.nwcg.gov

UPDATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 4:14 P.M. ... The Gasquet Complex of fires burning in the Six Rivers National Forest in Del Norte County now totals 3,069 acres. The fires are 29 percent contained.

Acreage for the six active fires burning in the complex is:

  • Bear Fire - 516 acres 
  • Coon Fire – 1,270 acres 
  • Peak Fire - 448 acres
  • Summit Fire – 190 acres 
  • Williams Fire - 224 acres 
  • Feeder Fire - 421 acres

A warmer drying trend is expected beginning today and continuing through the weekend, which could increase fire activity.
All  trail and road closures remain in effect.

Forest Officials from the Six Rivers National Forest and members of the Southern California Incident Management Team 2 will offer tours of the Gasquet Fire Complex base camp on Saturday, August 15th. There will be two tours the first at 10 a.m. and the second at noon. Community members interested in attending should call (707) 925-3172. The tour will take about an hour and visitors should expect to take a walking tour of the camp and be prepared to walk about a mile and a half.

 

 

UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 11:30 A.M. ... The six fires comprising the Gasquet Complex continue to grow slowly in the Six Rivers National Forest near Gasquet, California.

The complex has burned a total of 2,693 acres and is 25 percent contained.

Today, fire behavior is expected to remain moderate. Fire activity will lessen in the early afternoon.

A low pressure system will move in from the coast and bring cloudy conditions as well as lower temperatures and higher relative humiditys.

A warmer drying trend is expected after tomorrow and should continue for the days after. Terrain and heavy fuel loading continue to hinder fireline construction progress.

The evening of August 12, officials from the Six Rivers National Forest and members of the Southern California Incident Management Team 2 held a community meeting in at Gasquet Ranger Station. The meeting was attended by approximately 45 community members and 20 fire officials. Topics included fire progression, suppression efforts, current fire behavior and predicted weather patterns, and concluded with a question and answer session. The Management Team recorded the meeting and made it available HERE.

Additional Forest closures are in effect from August 13 until the Gasquet Fire Complex is declared out.

Order NO 10-15-04 Six Rivers National Forest closure for the South Kelsey Trail and Summit Trail and the Gasquet-Orleans road Forest Road 15, additional details can be found onhttp://www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4444/ .

 

Previous closures remain in effect for the Bear Basin Lookout, Island Lake Trailhead, and Doe Flat Trailhead. The Forest requests that visitors continue to avoid, the Gunbarrel Trail.

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 10:00 A.M. ... Six fires remain active on the Gasquet Complex, near Gasquet, California. Terrain and heavy fuel loading continue to hinder fire line construction progress. 

Safety continues to be a concern due to steep, rugged terrain and long distances between fires. Steep terrain and heavy fuels makes fire line construction very slow. 

The total acreage burned is currently 2,626. The fires stand at 22 percent containment.

The six active fires are: 

  • Bear Fire - 460 acres 
  • Coon Fire - 1150 acres 
  • Peak Fire - 395 acres
  • Summit Fire – 120 acres 
  • Williams Fire - 186 acres 
  • Feeder Fire - 315 acres

Isolated single tree torching was observed on the Feeder and Peak fires mid-afternoon Tuesday after the relative humidity dropped below 40 percent.  All fires continue to burn downslope into the drainages.
 
The Red Flag warning issued for the fire area will continue for much of the day. Gusty winds and borderline relative humidity could present problems with increased activity in inaccessible areas.  Forecasted winds from the southwest are expected to reach 12 to 17 miles per hour, with possible gusts of 35 miles per hour, and a marginal possibility for rain.
 
Closures: A closure order has been issued for the Bear Basin Butte Lookout, Island Lake Trailhead, and Doe Flat Trailhead. The forest requests that visitors avoid the South Kelsey Trail, Summit Trail, the Gunbarrel Trail and the Gasquet-Orleans Road.
 

UPDATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 11:15 A.M. ... Firefighters continue working the six fires in the Gasquet Complex burning in the Six Rivers National Forest 

With the introduction of the Mobile Retardant Base on August 7th, air operations have been able to slow fire progression on several fires, using varying degrees of retardant in strategic locations across the complex. This allows fire crews and bulldozers extra time needed to complete containment lines and for fire officials to plan for structure protection.

The six fires have burned 2,335 acres so far. Containment is at nine percent. 

  • Bear Fire - 361 acres 
  • Coon Fire - 1119 acres 
  • Peak Fire - 363 acres
  • Summit Fire – 85 acres 
  • Williams Fire - 163 acres 
  • Feeder Fire - 244 acres

Low pressure from the Pacific Ocean will contribute higher temperatures and lower relative humilities across the complex. A Red Flag warning is issued for the fire area, meaning hot, dry, windy conditions conducing to wildfires. Southwest ridgetop winds are expected to reach as high as 25-30 miles per hour and should arrive midafternoon on Monday and lasting through Tuesday.

On Sunday August 9th Incident Management Team members and Forest Official hosted approximately 40 residents near the Incident Command Post at the Gasquet Mountain School. Residents learned about fire suppression efforts underway and things they can do to protect their homes from wildland fire. Another meeting is being planned for later this week, exact time and place to be announced.

 A closure order has been issued for the Bear Basin Lookout, Island Lake Trailhead, and Doe Flat Trailhead. The Forest Service requests that visitors avoid the South Kelsey Trail, Summit Trail, the Gunbarrel Trail and the Gasquet-Orleans Road.

 

For additional information on smoke conditions and health effects, visit the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District website at www.ncuaqmd.org.

UPDATE: SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 10:00 A.M ...  No substantial growth was reported Friday in a complex of six lightning-born fires burning in Six Rivers National Forest.

Firefighters say more accurate maps of the rugged terrain in Del Norte County have given them a truer picture of  the 1143-acre complex, allowing for direct attack "where feasible and safe." Containment hovers at 2 percent and various road closures within the National Forest remain in effect. 

UPDATE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 11:00 A.M ...  East winds continue to produce moderate fire activity on this complex of six fires that were triggered by lightning last week in the Six Rivers National Forest near Gasquet, in Del Norte County, California.

The six fires have burned a total of 1,143 acres so far. Containment remains at 2 percent.

  • Bear Fire - 180 acres
  • Coon Fire - 255 acres
  • Peak Fire - 250 acres  
  • Summit Fire - 5 acres
  • Williams Fire - 200 acres
  • Feeder Fire - 110 acres

The fire activity associated with the east wind event includes backing into drainages, torching and some spreading due to rollout and spotting. With the wind’s drying effect on heavier fuels, dead and down timber is becoming more likely to catch fire. 
Additional crews and equipment have been ordered and are arriving at the Incident Command Post. Motorists can expect increased fire traffic along Highway 199 and in the local communities along Highway 199 corridor.

For additional information on smoke conditions and health effects, visit the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District website at www.ncuaqmd.org.

Closures: A closure order has been issued for the Bear Bason Lookout , Island Lake Trailhead, and Doe Flat Trailhead. The Forest requests that visitors avoid the South Kelsey Trail, Summit Trail and the Gunbarrel Trail. The Gasquet-Orleans Road remains closed at the gate. 

UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 10:00 A.M. ... Firefighters continue to battle multiple wildfires, sparked by lightning late last week, in the Six Rivers National Forest near Gasquet, in Del Norte County, California.

There are six active fires for a total of 1,000 acres with 2 percent containment.

  • The Bear Fire has burned 180 acres
  • The Coon Fire, 255 acres
  • The Peak Fire, 250 acres
  • The Summit Fire, 5 acres  
  • The Williams Fire, 200 acres
  • The Feeder Fire, 110 acres 

On Wednesday, good progress was made with line construction and securing the southern portions of the Coon and Bear fires. With clearing skies late in the day, air assets, single engine air tankers and a BAe146 tanker made retardant drops on the Coon, Bear and other fires within the complex.  
 
A moderate wind event has been forecast with northeast winds expected to increase to 10 to 15 miles per hour, with gusts up to 25 miles per hour. Due to this wind shift, the area will experience significantly less marine influence. Temperatures Thursday are predicted to increase into the high 90s. This weather pattern is expected to continue until Friday.
 
 
With additional crews and equipment arriving on scene, motorists can expect increased traffic along Highway 199 and in the local communities.
 
 
Closures: Due to ongoing fire suppression activities, closure orders have been issued for the Bear Basin Butte Lookout and surrounding area, the forest is asking for the public’s cooperation to stay clear of South Kelsey Trail, Summit Trail, Gunbarrel Trail, and Gasquet-Orleans Road at the gate.
 
 
ORIGINAL POST: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 3:00 P.M. ... Firefighters are battling multiple wildfires, sparked by lightning late last week, near Gasquet, in Del Norte County, California.

There are currently six active fires in what's being called the Gasquet Complex, burning in the Gasquet Ranger District of the Six Rivers National Forest. Several other fires were contained on initial attack.

The fires are:

  • Bear Fire - 160 acres
  • Coon Fire - 235 acres​
  • Peak Fire - 220 acres
  • Summit Fire - 5 acres
  • Williams Fire - 200 acres
  • Feeder Fire - 90 acres

The total acreage is 910 acres with a combined 2% containment. 
Incident Command has been set up at the Gasquet Mountain School. A base camp, providing supplies, meals, showers and other support for the firefighting crews, is being built at Ward Field.

Additional crews and equipment have been ordered and are arriving at the Incident Command Post. Motorists can expect increased fire traffic along Highway 199 and in the local communities along Highway 199 corridor.

Closures: Due to proximity to fires and fire traffic, closure orders have been issued for the following areas: South Kelsey Trail, Summit Trail, Gunbarrel Trail, Bear Basin Butte Lookout, Gasquet-Orleans Road at the gate.