The Happy Camp/Slater fire added another 5,268 acres in the past 24 hours and now sits at 131,601 acres. Fire crews battled to gain any containment creating and maintaining miles of firebreak lines and gaining 10% containment. The Devil fire to the east of the Happy Camp/Slater fire now totals 4,429 acres after adding another 280 acres and remains at 0% containment.
In the Gasquet area firefighters continued to prepare and hold the Knopki Road to protect the town of Gasquet. After the fire got established west of Highway 199 near the state line, Firefighters began to prep contingency lines to control the fire’s spread south and west.
3 Bulldozers and 74 fire engines 13 crews and 7 helicopters worked to contain spots between primary and secondary containment lines on the north edge of the Slater Fire Monday. The Happy Camp/Slater Fire activity picked up in late afternoon, with southeast winds moving it towards Takilma and pushing it back into Cedar Gulch. Residents in the north end of the fire can expect increased activity as winds continue and the inversion lifts.
Evacuation warnings remain in effect for Gasquet in California, while the nearby communities of Hiouchi and Big Flat are on Level 1 “Get Ready” alert. Level 2 “Get Set” orders are in effect south of Kerby and Cave Junction areas in Oregon.
Level 3 “Go” orders 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.
Mop-up continued today in Happy Camp, where firelines are secure and residents were allowed back into many parts of town earlier Monday. Pacific Power continued to progress in restoring power to the town of Happy Camp, while cleanup there is ongoing.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for a few neighborhoods in Happy Camp where downed power lines and hazardous materials remain a concern. EVACUATION WARNINGS are still in place for most of Happy Camp including Elk Creek Road, and for Seiad along Highway 96, as well as for Gasquet, Hiouchi and Big Flat.
Highway 199 remains 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.
