Happy Camp Complex Incident Update for Aug 19th, 2023

The first operational video update for the Happy Camp Complex Fire, dated August 19, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. from California Interagency Incident Managment Team 5 “below” Incident Update.

As more resources arrived and began working on each of the fires in the Happy Camp Complex, firefighters made good progress toward the goal of full suppression. The inversion remained in place until around noon and fire activity remained moderate.

Late this afternoon, a thunderstorm cell moved over the area, creating strong winds near the Elliot, Canyon and Three Creeks Fires by Highway 96 and the Dillon Campground. Bulldozers building line around the fires had to be pulled back while firefighters concentrated on protecting structures along the highway corridor.

Due to the storm, incident resources also helped to support Klamath National Forest operations on a new fire in the Scott Valley and on the Swillup Fire. The Swillup Fire had been in patrol status. With strong winds from the storm, the fire is now actively burning.

This evening, storms continue to move through the area. Little to no precipitation is resulting from the storms, particularly in the Scott River area where the Head, Scott and Gold Fires continue to burn.

The Lake Fire was added to the Happy Camp Complex as of this morning and was estimated at 165 acres with 0% containment. Smoke Jumpers, Hotshot and Hand Crews are now on this fire, using trails and natural features for containment lines, monitoring and managing any slops over the lines.

A Damage Assessment Team is working to evaluate the damage sustained to structures within the fires. Their assessment is ongoing. As of this evening, there are nine damaged or destroyed structures.

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders, warnings and evacuation center locations by visiting: community.zonehaven.com

ROAD CLOSURES: View road closures in the vicinity of the Happy Camp Complex on the Caltrans interactive map: quickmap.dot.ca.gov

AIR QUALITY: For information smoke impacts and what you can do to protect yourself visit: https://www.airnow.gov/

Fire Information:

Phone: (530) 330-5441

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily

Email: [email protected]

Incident Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov

The Swillup Fire received some precipitation early this evening, which has moderated fire behavior.

A pilot car is escorting traffic in the area of the Swillup Fire, which is close to the Happy Camp Complex’s Elliott, Canyon, and Three Creeks fires.

Scattered precipitation occurred over some areas of the forest. While some areas received no rain, there were localized occurrences of heavy rain that caused slides that crossed Highway 96 in areas near the community of Klamath River in the McKinney Fire burn footprint.

#siskiyoustrong

source: fs.usda.gov/klamath

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