Hell'S Half Complex Fire Update - July 13, 2008 8:
Incident: Hells Half Complex Wildfire
Released: 7/13/2008
Jess Secrest, Incident Commander
Sunday, July 13, 2008, 8:00 a.m.
HELLS HALF COMPLEX FIRE UPDATE
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 6/20/2008
Estimated Date of Containment: July 30, 2008
Acres: 8,058 acres
Containment: 29 percent
Fire Information: Gary Hoshide, Public Information Officer, (530) 629-2184
Evacuation orders are issued for areas south of the Hells Half Fire.
Mandatory evacuation order issued by Humboldt County. Description: Area D: Big Slide
T4N, R5E section 13, 14, 23, 24
Mandatory evacuation order issued by Trinity County. Description: Area 5: Hyampom West Sections 14, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29, 32 and 33, T33N, R6E
Current Fire Situation: Fire behavior was moderate yesterday with single tree torching observed.
The Grouse and Half fires merged together along the S. Fork of the Trinity River on July 10. The two fires (Grouse and Half) will be referred to as the Hells Half Fire. Yesterday's smoke and inversion caused very poor visibility, and helicopters were unable fly. If visibility allows, aerial retardant will be requested to support crews working around the structures on the south end, if needed. Thirty-five miles of hand and dozer fireline have been constructed. One structure has been lost. The Northern Rockies team is rotating off the fire. Michael Quesinberry's Southern Area, Type 1 Incident Management Team will take command of the complex on Monday morning.
The fire escaped containment lines in the south and north along the west side of the S. Fork of the Trinity River on Thursday, July 10th. The southern edge of the fire has crossed Grouse Creek and is currently burning into the 2004 Sims Fire, south of the Route 6 powerline corridor. The powerline was de-energized as the fire passed. Power was restored for the community of Hyampom yesterday. The fire also escaped containment lines on the eastern flank, near Castle Rock. Containment lines are being re-established in these areas.
The Underwood Mountain Road, between Hwy 299 and the community of Hyampom, is CLOSED to public traffic. An area closure for the Cedar Fire (Iron Complex) is in effect. Updated road conditions are available through Caltrans, 1-800-427-7623.
Planned Actions: Structure protection and assessment will continue with separate groups on both the east and west sides of the South Fork Trinity River. Dozer line construction will continue east towards the river, through the old Simms Fire. On the north end of the fire, hold and improve dozer line built from the 6 road east towards the River. Mop up and hold line along the entire eastern flank and continue mop up in Coon Creek. Continue constructing contingency dozer line along the perimeter of the old Panther Fire to the river. Helicopters will support crews if visibility allows.
Resources Assigned: 10 hand crews (20 people each), 3 helicopters, 22 engines, 8 dozers, 10 water tenders for a total of 473 personnel.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Sunny with smoke. Valley bottom temperatures forecasted to be 88 to 93 degrees, with relative humidity of 22 to 27 percent. Ridge top winds are forecasted to be east to southeast at 2 to 5 mph, becoming northwest to north at 3 to 7 mph by afternoon. Expect another day of increased fire activity.
Closures: A closure order remains in effect for the Hells Half fire area. The closure order and map are posted on the Six Rivers National Forest web site. An area closure for the Cedar Fire (Iron Complex) is in effect. A closure map is posted on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/conditions.
For More Information: Call the Hells Half Complex fire information office at 530-629-2184. Information is posted on the Six Rivers National Forest web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/, National InciWeb site: http://www.inciweb.org/, and Northern California Wildfire Joint Information Center web site: http://www.jointinformation.com/.
