Incident Update Monument Fire

Situation Summary

Current Situation:The Monument Fire continued to advance to the south, east and north, threatening the communities of Junction City and Hayfork. The fire is estimated at 128,613 acres following an infrared flight early Wednesday morning, a gain of more than 9,000 acres over Tuesday. Containment remains at 10% with 920 personnel working on the fire.

Following a transition day with California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 on Monday, the Alaska Type 1 Incident Management Team took command of the North Zone between Burnt Ranch to Chimariko Road on Highway 299 on the north end and Burnt Ranch to the intersection of Hyampom Road and the 2N11 Road on the south end at 6:00 AM today.

CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5 took command of the South Zone at 7:00 AM today. CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 5 will manage the portion of the fire threatening state-responsibility lands.

The two teams will work together, share information and resources and prioritize where those resources will focus their efforts, said Alaska IMT Incident Commander Norm McDonald. The two teams worked together on the August Complex last summer, he noted. “We’ll support them and they’ll support us; we’ll share resources from porta-potties to air tankers,” McDonald said. “We worked together last year and have good relationships. The number one objective for both teams will be firefighter and public safety. All our decisions will be based on that.”

The fire on Tuesday continued to advance toward Douglas City, Hayfork and Weaverville, prompting the Trinity County Sheriff’s office to issue an evacuation warning for those communities. As of Tuesday night, the fire was within one-quarter mile of Hayfork and an evacuation order was issued for residences from Ewing Road, up through all residences off Brady Road while firefighters worked to protect structures in the Farmer’s Ranch Road, Sunshine Meadows and Harrison Road areas.

Elsewhere on the fire Tuesday, crews continued defending structures in the communities of Junction City and Red Hill, mopping up around structures impacted by the fire Monday night. A Trinity County damage assessment team was in Junction City to gauge structure loss and damage following Monday’s incursion.

Crews continue to strengthen and patrol control lines in the area of Burnt Ranch and Ironside Mountain on the west side of the fire. A tactical firing operation was conducted south of Burnt Ranch along the 60 Road in the Chaparal Mountain area to prevent the fire from threatening Burnt Ranch and moving to the west. Helicopter retardant drops were used to pretreat the area around structures prior to the burn operation. Fire managers are working to secure lines and mop up the burn before winds switch from the northwest to the northeast, which could challenge containment lines. Crews continue scouting for areas to put contingency lines in the area of Gray Ranch and Denny to keep the fire east of the Trinity River.

Firefighters also responded to three spot fires discovered east of the North Fork Trinity River. Helicopter water drops were used to knock down two spot fires but one near 33A4 and Duncan Roads had grown to approximately 40 acres as of late Tuesday night. Given the extremely dry conditions, spot fires are a major concern and continue to challenge firefighters.

Firefighters also on Tuesday responded to a 2-acre spot fire below Pattison Creek Ridge. Helicopter water drops suppressed the fire and crews were mopping it up.

Weather: There is a Red Flag Warning in effect today for gusty winds and dry conditions. Winds will switch from the northwest to the northeast today. Much drier air will move into the region with poor overnight relative humidity recovery along ridges, along with poor to moderate recoveries in the valleys. Temperatures will remain in the 85- to 95-degree range. Relative humidites will dip into the low teens.

Evacuation Orders: In effect for Sky Ranch Road, Junction City, Red Hill, Canyon Creek, Coopers Bar, Big Bar, Del Loma, Big Flat, Helena, Cedar Flat, Burnt Ranch, Sky Ranch Road in Junction City, Barker Mountain and the areas northwest of Hayfork Summit and Sunshine Meadows, Harrison Road, Farmer Ranch Road and for residences from Ewing Road, up through all residences off Brady Road in Hayfork.
Evacuation Warnings: In effect for Weaverville, Douglas City, areas south from Barker Mountain to Haystack proper and the north side of Hyampom Road from Hayfork proper to nine-mile bridge. For detailed evacuation information, visit the Trinity County Office Sheriff Facebook page at Trinity County Sheriff's Office | Facebook
 
Evacuation Centers:  American Red Cross Shelters have been set up at Shasta College, 1555 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, Redding CA and Trinity Valley Elementary School, 730 California 96, Willow Creek, CA 95573. The shelter at Trinity Valley Elementary School will move to Willow Creek Bible Church, 39 Barannan Mountain Road, Willow Creek, CA 95573.
 
Road Closures: State Highway 299 is closed from 1.7 miles east of Hawkins Bar at Ammom Road to Sky Ranch Road in Junction City.  Monitor Caltrans's District 2 website (https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2).
 
Animal Evacuation: (Domestic animals)  Trinity County Animal Shelter, 563 Mountain View St, Weaverville, CA
(530- 623-1370) or (Domestic + Large Animals)  Hoopa Rodeo Grounds on Pine Creek Rd, Willow Creek, CA.
 
Property Damage Assessment:  Damage assessment teams have confirmed 32 structures have been destroyed.  For questions or information regarding the status of your property, call Trinity County Office of Emergency Services (OES) at 530-623-1116.
 
Forest Closures:  Effective August 7, 2021 through October 31, 2021, the Shasta-Trinity Forest has issued Forest Order No. 14-21-21 Monument Fire Closure. Information on the forest order can be found on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest website at Shasta-Trinity NF .