Although fire behavior on the Happy Camp/Slater Fire was anticipated to remain calm Wednesday due to continued high relative humidity, the fire managed to grow from Tuesday evenings estimated acreage of 137,111 acres to 147,583 acres adding some 10,472 acres according to official reports late Wednesday evening.
Growth of the he Happy Camp/Slater Fire was reported as minimal in Wednesday evenings update, with backing and flanking fire behavior. Fire resources on the ground sought opportunities to directly contain the fire in its current footprint and establish contingency lines.
Humidity levels overnight Tuesday into Wednesday stayed relatively high, even on ridgetops, and the moisture increased throughout the day Wednesday. The Happy Camp/Slater Fire also spread towards the Devil Fire yesterday, where conditions are still somewhat drier than down canyon and most of the recent fire growth has occurred on the Devil Fire, north into Butte Fork drainage. No structures were lost overnight on the Slater Fire.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has mobilized 10 task forces of structure fire engines, six from Oregon, three from Utah, and one from Washington State adding to the 16 firefighting crews, 76 fire engines 22 water tenders, 26 Bulldozers and 7 helicopters continued to prepare contingency lines to help control the fire’s spread south and west as crews worked to hold the fire along the road system on the west side of the fire near the state line. In the Takilma area, dozers will continue to put in line and work direct on the north side of the fire.
Near Gasquet, firelines are holding along Knopki Road, despite limited available resources there. Firefighters are working to scout control lines along Monkey Ridge and Oregon Mountain Road to prevent the fire’s spread into communities southwest of the fire.
Crews continued to build direct fireline Wednesday along the east side of the Pacific Crest Trail and prep along that trail to the south to protect the town of Seiad from the Devil Fire and indirect fireline construction immediately around Seiad continues to be improved.
Evacuation warnings continue to remain in effect for Gasquet in California, while the nearby communities of Hiouchi and Big Flat remain on Level 1 “Get Ready” alert. Level 2 “Get Set” orders also remain in effect south of Kerby and Cave Junction areas in Oregon.
There also have no changes on the Level 3 “Go” orders that remain in effect in the O’Brien, and Takilma areas, Dick George Road including most of Holland Loop and Takilma Road areas, Brown Road, O’Brien and all areas south of Brown Road O’Brien.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for a few neighborhoods in Happy Camp where downed power lines and hazardous materials remain a concern while evacuation warnings are still in place for most of Happy Camp including Elk Creek Road, and for Seiad along Highway 96.
Progress was made Wednesday by CalTrans crews CalTrans working on hazard tree and debris removal, however, Highway 199 continues to remain closed north of Gasquet from Panther Flat to the California/Oregon state line and from O’Brien south across the stateline into California. Some roads in Oregon are experiencing serious visibility impairments due to smoky conditions. Highway 96 re-opened Monday to one way controlled traffic. Expect delays and use caution when traveling.
