Containment on the North Complex of fires in Plumas and Butte Counties is improving, now estimated at 75%. 1,947 residential and commercial structures have been destroyed and 106 damaged, mostly in Berry Creek, Feather Falls and other communities northeast of Lake Oroville. There have been 15 confirmed fatalities and 2 injuries. The 301,400 acre complex includes the Bear Fire, or “North Complex West Zone”, along with the Sheep and Claremont Fires. Around 3000 personnel are working the complex.
The North and South Zones of the August Lightning Complex have merged together near the Mendocino/Trinity County Line to form the largest fire in California history. The size now totals 846,900 acres with 38% overall containment. The fire continues to move to the north and to the west. Crews are fighting to protect the communities of Ruth Lake, Forest Glenn and Trinity Pines/Post Mountain.
The Slater Fire that started September 8th in the Klamath National Forest is being managed along with the Devil’s Fire with a total size of over 150,200 acres, part of it in Oregon. It’s 24% contained. Many evacuation levels have been reduced and Highways 199 and 96 have reopened. Hundreds of homes have been lost in the Happy Camp area, as well as Indian Creek, which is still under evacuation orders. At least 2 civilians have died.
The Red Salmon Complex, burning since July 27th in the Trinity Alps Wilderness about 8 miles northeast of Willow Creek, has burned over 104,700 acres. Containment is estimated at 29%. Crews have had to battle for every foot of containment in the extremely steep and rugged terrain. The fire is being fought by Forest Service crews, along with the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Yurok Tribe and the Karuk Tribe. Evacuation orders for Forks of Salmon are downgraded to warnings. Both the Klamath and the Six Rivers National Forests are closed.