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Happy Camp Complex Evening Update – August 28, 2023

HAPPY CAMP COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting and fire operations update will be taking place Tuesday, August 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Karuk Administration Gym located at 64236 Second Avenue, Happy Camp, CA 96039. 

Size: 20,810 acres Containment: 29%
Total Personnel: 3,383 People Evacuated: 336 Structures Threatened: 1,609 Structures Destroyed: 9 Structures Damaged: 2 Fatalities: 1

Start Date & Time: Wednesday, 8-16-2023, 10:27 a.m. Cause: Under Investigation
Location: Multiple Locations Across the Forest Suppression Strategy: Full Suppression
Unified Command Agencies: California Incident Management Team 5, CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (9,080 acres, 2%), Malone (544 acres, 7%), Ufish (1,856 acres, 0%) 

Firefighters on the west side of the Happy Camp Complex focused their efforts on strengthening containment lines and continuing progress from last night’s firing operations near Titus Peak. On the Elliot Fire, crews continued to patrol and extinguish remaining hot spots along the Highway 96 corridor. If conditions allow, strategic firing operations will resume tonight for the Malone and Ufish fires. Smoke from fires to the west continue to impact air quality and visibility for aircraft operations during the day. 

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,875 acres, 35%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 100%), Scott (1,881 acres, 70%), Lake (199, acres, 5%) 

Fire crews made good progress on securing containment lines on the Head Fire today, further protecting the community of Hamburg. The Scott Fire continues to hold near Scott River Road. CAL FIRE resources continue to work to improve the fire line and monitor the containment lines. The Lake Fire remains in its current footprint.  

EVACUATIONS: View current Siskiyou County evacuation orders and warnings by visiting: community.zonehaven.com. Siskiyou County residents are encouraged to sign up for rapid emergency notifications using the CodeREDemergency alert system. https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/emergencyservices/page/codered-emergency-alert 

An evacuation center has been established at the Kahtishraam Wellness Center, 1403 Kahtishraam, Yreka, CA 95097. Call (530) 340-3539 if you have questions regarding the shelter. 

ROAD CONDITIONS: State Route 96 is now open. One-way traffic control remains in place in several areas while crews work to repair damaged infrastructure, remove debris, and stabilize slopes. Delays at the locations with one-way traffic control will be up to 15 minutes. The road will be closed to the public east of Seiad daily from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to facilitate fire traffic. For the exact locations of where this work is taking place, please use quickmap.dot.ca.gov.  County road closures will be listed on the Siskiyou County Public Works website: https://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/publicworks/page/closures-and-delays.  

FOREST CLOSURE: Two closure orders have been implemented: Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No.05-05-23-06; Happy Camp Complex Emergency Fire Closure, No. 05-05-23-07. Please refer to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices to view the orders and maps. 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. Flight restrictions include the use of drones. The operation of drones under the TFR is prohibited. 

PACIFIC CREST TRAIL:  The Pacific Crest Trail is closed between the Shelly Fork Junction and Seiad as part of an area closure under Forest Order 05-05-23-07. It is suggested that northbound through-hikers exit the trail at Etna Summit and resume northward travel from Seiad. 

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


For additional information regarding the Happy Camp Complex, please go to the InciWeb page at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/

Fire Information:  

Public Phone: (530) 330-5441 

Media Phone: (530) 330-5452 

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily 

Email: [email protected] 

Incident Website: inciweb.wildfire.gov 

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