As of September 17th, the Happy Camp/Slater Fire, first reported Monday, September 7th near Slater Butte Fire Lookout in the Klamath National Forest continues to burn in the Klamath, Six Rivers, and Rogue-Siskiyou National Forests in Siskiyou, and Del Norte Counties in California as well as Josephine County in Oregon. The latest reports late Thursday evening estimated the blaze at 143,093 acres and remains only 10% contained.
The Devil Fire, which was detected on Thursday, September 9th, is located to the south and east of the Happy Camp/Slater Fire and north of Upper Devil’s Peak in the Klamath National Forest. As of late the late Thursday update, it is currently estimated at 6,907 acres with 0% containment totaling the combined fires at 150,000 acres.
In the Gasquet area, firefighters held the fire at Knopki Road to protect the town of Gasquet. Crews completed a dozer line from Monkey Ridge to Highway 199 and continue to work to complete operations securing the fire edge at the intersection of Highway 199 and Knopki Road. Structure protection activity continues from Knopki Road to the town of Gasquet.
The air finally cleared out Thursday along the Happy Camp/Slater Fire in the south zone, and crews worked today on hot-spots in Thompson Creek, and on both flanks of the Devil Fire. A fire module is still camping out to construct direct fire line along the Devil fire’s eastern edge after completing the eastern edge and starting fire line along the south side of that fire.
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.
Caltrans crews have completed hazardous tree mitigation. “We have been working with other agencies including CHP, ODOT, and multiple fire agencies to come to a consensus of when we can open up to through traffic,” said Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Johnnie James. While there is still no estimated time of reopening, crews plan to reassess potentials Friday morning.
