CA-KNF- Forks Complex 37,246 acres, 90% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Smith, ICT4. #CaFire

Forks ComplexCA-KNF-Forks Complex includes CA-SRF-Butler Fire and CA-KNF-Salmon River Complex


Salmon River Complex Wildfire Evacuation Advisory Lifted

As of August 25, 2013 at 6:00pm, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department has lifted the Evacuation Advisory for the Sawyers Bar, Idlewild, and MuleBridge area.
 The Evacuation Advisory for the area along State Highway 93 (Salmon River Road) between Butler Flat and Forks of Salmon has also been lifted.
Roads:  North Fork/Sawyers Bar Road is open to the public although motorists are urged to drive with extreme caution. Highway 93 between Forks of Salmon and Somes Bar is open to the public with one-way controlled traffic. Motorist should expect delays at times and this road is also subject to temporary closures as conditions dictate.


 Reward Offered for Fire Start Information The Klamath National Forest and CAL FIRE have issued a joint announcement of a $20 000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the Salmon River Complex and Butler Fires.

 Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arson Tip Line at 1-800-842-4408. 

Update 10-1 0830: 37,246 acres, 90% contained. 
Update 9-22 0830: 37,246 acres, 90% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Smith, ICT4. Reported overnight fire activity was low. Initial attack activity was light throughout the GACC yesterday.
Update 9-22 0730: 37,246 acres, 70% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Allen, ICT3. With cooler temperatures and measurable precipitation fire activity decreased overnight.
Update 9-21 1830: 37,246 acres, 70% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Allen, ICT3. Precipitation occurred over the fire area today resulting in minimal fire activity.
Minimal initial attack activity reported today.  Good measurable rains have been recorded across the GACC.
Update 9-21 0730: 37,246 acres, 70% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Allen, ICT3. Minimal fire behavior activity was observed.
Most remote weather stations from the North Coast to the Northwest Mountains have received measureable precipitation.
Update 9-20 1730: 37,246 acres, 70% contained.Initial attack activity was light throughout the GACC yesterday.
Update 9-19 1930: 37,246 acres, 70% contained. Expected containment 10/1/2013. Herald, ICT3. Fire activity continues to be monitored in the area of Orleans Mountain, and in the Nordheimer, Butler Creek and China Creek drainages
Update 9-18 1830: 37,239 acres, 70% contained. Light initial attack reported in North Ops today. The National Weather Service - Medford has issued a Fire Weather Watch beginning Friday 1400 through 1900 for a combination of gusty winds and low humidities.http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ083&warncounty=CAC093&firewxzone=CAZ284&local_place1=&product1=Fire+Weather+Watch
The National Weather Service - Reno has issued a Fire Weather Watch for strong winds ahead of the cold front Friday afternoon and evening.http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=NVZ003&warncounty=NVC031&firewxzone=NVZ450&local_place1=&product1=Fire+Weather+Watch
Update 9-17 1730:  37,227 acres, 70% contained. Herald, ICT3. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Light burning was observed in the China Creek area yesterday and firefighters are monitoring the area through todays shift. Firefighters made excellent progress securing fire lines with good depth in the Northwest perimeter.
Light initial attack reported in the GACC today
Update 9-16 1830: 37,168 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Herald, ICT3. Fire crews observed minimal to moderate fire behavior today. Resources continue to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage. Fire activity surrounding Orleans Mountain, Butler Creek and China Creek drainages will continue to be monitored.
National Weather Service - Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning in effect from 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Tuesday for gusty winds and low relative humidities for the Western Nevada Sierra front, Mono and Eastern Alpine Counties.
Update 9-15 1930:  37,168 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resources continue to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage. Fire activity surrounding Orleans Mountain, Butler Creek and China Creek drainages will continue to be monitored.
Update 9-14 1730: 37,060 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resources continue to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage. Today on the Southwest fire perimeter, crews are expected to complete preparations in the Indian Rock area for a firing operation to be conducted when conditions allow.
Update 9-14 0730: 37,060 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/01/2013. Herald, ICT3. Fire Crews on night shift continued burnout operations below Somes Mountain. Crews last night saw minimal to moderate fire behavior backing down the hill. Fire crews will continue to monitor, hold and patrol containment lines in the Somes Mountain area where a burnout operation took place last night. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage.
Approximately 1000 lightning strikes in Northern California over past 24 hours. Initial Attack activity is occuring this morning. Precipitation reports were varied from heavy to no rain at all.
Update 9-13 1730: 36,801 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/10/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resources continue to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up and prepare for potential burnout operations. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage.
Increased initial attack activity being reported on Lassen, Shasta-Trinity, Plumas, Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests as lightning moves through the area.  Fires are remaining small.  Precipitation is being reported in some areas.
Update 9-12 1730: 36,254 acres, 68% contained. Expected containment 10/10/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resources continue to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage.
Update 9-12 0730: 36,550 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 10/10/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resource continues to make significant progress with suppression repair. Resources continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in the Nordheimer drainage. 
Update 9-11 1930: 36,354 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/20/2013. Herald, ICT3. Resources contine to make significant progress with suppression repair operations. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage.
Update 9-10 0730: 36,179 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Herod, ICT3. The Fire area is experiencing warmer temperatures, low RH, and north/east winds that are predicted over the next few days. The fire continues to be fuels and slope driven as general winds are rarely surfacing in the drainage bottoms. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated. In other Divisions, the fire behavior that was observed was mainly smoldering and creeping in isolated pockets of fuel accumulations well inside containment areas.
Update 9-9 1730:  36,1779 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Herold, ICT3.The Fire area is experiencing warmer temperatures, low RH, and north/east winds that are predicted over the next few days. The fire continues to be fuels and slope driven as general winds are rarely surfacing in the drainage bottoms. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated. Firing operations were conducted with success on a small portion of the established dozer line in Division G to secure containment. In other Divisions, the fire behavior that was observed was mainly smoldering and creeping in isolated pockets of fuel accumulations well inside containment areas.
Update 9-9 0730: 37,079 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Herold, ICT3. The fire area will experience warmer temperatures, low RH, and north/east winds that are predicted over the next few days. Resources will continue to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. where completion can be made safely. Fire activity will continue to be monitored in Nordheimer drainage. Suppression repair will be implemented where appropriate. Fire continued to spread in Division G where pockets of heavy dead fuels are burning in the China and Granite Creek drainages.
Update 9-8 1730: 36,1779 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Herold, ICT3.The Fire area is experiencing warmer temperatures, low RH, and north/east winds that are predicted over the next few days. The fire continues to be fuels and slope driven as general winds are rarely surfacing in the drainage bottoms. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated. Firing operations were conducted with success on a small portion of the established dozer line in Division G to secure containment. In other Divisions, the fire behavior that was observed was mainly smoldering and creeping in isolated pockets of fuel accumulations well inside containment areas.
Update 9-8 0730: 36,078 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Herold, ICT3. The fire area will experience warmer temperatures, low RH, and northeast winds that are predicted over the next few days. Fire will continue to have minimal movement or spread but fire activity could increase due to this pattern.
Update 9-7 0730: 35,985 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Johnson, NORCAL 2.Resources continued to patrol the Salmon River Road, mop up to 300 ft. and monitor fire in Nordheimer drainage. Suppression repair was implemented where appropriate. Fire continued to where pockets of heavy dead fuels are burning in the China and Granite Creek drainages. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated.
Update 9-6 0730: 35,915 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Johnson, NORCAL 2 Fire will have minimal movement or spread. Behind the low pressure, a dry offshore pattern is expected into Friday returning the area to warmer temperatures, low RH, and north/east winds. The alignment of the topography will further reduce the effect of these winds, which are predicted to be light. Previous high moisture conditions will need several operational periods to dry in order to change fire behavior, therefore moderating any effects of a short term dry/north wind condition. Fire will continue to have minimal movement/spread. A small amount of fire growth is expected in Division H/G where pockets of heavy fuels continue to burn in the China and Granite Creek drainages. Smoldering and creeping is expected to continue in Granite and China Creek drainages during a shortened burn period. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated. Demob continues as resources time out.
Update 9-5 1930: 35,892 acres, 66% contained. Expected containment 9/15. Johnson, NORCAL 2. Smoldering and creeping in isolated pockets of fuel accumulations well inside containment areas. There was a small amount of fire growth in Divs H/G where pockets of heavy fuels continue to burn in the China and Granite drainages. No movement of fire outside of the control lines is anticipated.
Update 9-1 1730: 36,146 acres, 45% contained. Smoldering and creeping continues in isolated fuel accumulations. Interior pockets of vegetation will continue to burn. Low intensity fire continues to back in Granite Creek (Butler). Substantial overnight humidity recoveries decreased fire activity and shortened burn period.
Update 9-1 0700: 36,146 acres, 45% contained. IMT2, NORCAL Team 2 (Johnson): Smoldering and creeping continues in isolated fuel accumulations. Good humidity recoveries decreased fire activity and shortened burn period. Mop up, patrol and monitoring of fire spread in all divisions continued until completion of the swing shift resources at 0000 hrs.
Update 8-31 0900: IMT2, NORCAL Team 2 (Johnson) Complex includes:
-CA-SRF-Butler Fire21,201 acres, 45% contained. Expected containment 09/15/2013. Isolated pockets of retained heat will continue to smolder in drainages with heavy fuel accumulations. Crews continued with suppression repair and mop up operations.
-CA-KNF-Salmon River Complex14,809 acres, 100% contained.

Basic Information
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Human Caused
Date of Origin: Wednesday July 31st, 2013 approx. 10:30 PM
Location: 1 mile west of Sawyers Bar, CA
Incident Commander: Matt Johnson
Fuels Involved - Timber (litter and understory)
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