Hell'S Half Complex for July 19, 2008
Incident: Hells Half Complex Wildfire
Released: 7/19/2008
Approximately 5 residents near Dry Lake were issued a mandatory evacuation order by Humboldt County Sheriff's Department on Friday. Fire crews have worked around the private property in the northwest corner of the Hell's Half Fire for nearly a week to prepare for a burnout which is planned to protect the area from the approaching 11,007 acre fire. Firefighters are planning to conduct the burn around the private property tomorrow and along the firelines set in place over the last week if the weather permits. The burn out will remove burnable material between the firelines and the oncoming blaze.
According to Incident Commander Mike Quesinberry, the burnout operations will continue over the weekend if the weather permits. "We're looking at a change in the weather coming in about Tuesday," he said. "It's real important that we get this fireline burned out before the winds start pushing against it."
In the northeast corner, a small spot fire was quickly contained with the help of engines which had been stationed in the Hyampom area.
In the southern divisions, fire crews are beginning to rehabilitate the fire area by covering dozer lines and building waterbars to help prevent future erosion.
South: Crews will work to rehabilitate the southern end of the fire. Firefighters will also be staged here for reassignment to other divisions around the fire.
North: Firefighters will continue burnout operations, and mopup previously burned out areas.
West: On the western side of the fire, mop up activities continue with firefighters monitoring minimal fire activity.
East: Firefighters will continue their burnout operations today in the area along the 6 Road into the Dry Lake area, if weather conditions permit.
A trough of low pressure will approach the coast late this afternoon. This should help break up the inversions sooner than yesterday. Once inversions break, breezy up canyon/northwest winds are possible, especially for northern and southern divisions. Lesser winds, although still stronger than yesterday, are likely for the western portion of the fire. Dry air aloft will also mix toward the surface once inversions disperse, resulting in low afternoon relative humidity.
Area or Road Closures - Evacuations
The following area is closed until further notice: Beginning at the intersection of Forest Road No. 5N01 and Forest Route No. 6, then continuing south along Forest Route No. 6 to the Six Rivers National Forest boundary, then continuing northeasterly along the forest boundary to the northwest 1/4 of Section 28, Township 5 North, Range 6 East (Humboldt Base and Meridian), and then continuing west to the starting point. The Underwood Mountain Road remains closed to the public but is open to local residents for important, necessary traffic. All evacuations remain in place but are being re-evaluated daily
