Happy Camp Complex Fire Claims Homes, Evacuation Orders May Be Expanded

Timber (litter and understory), grass, brush and heavy downed material. Dense stands of mixed conifer are the dominant fuel source.

On 9/9, a smoke inversion covered the fire until around 1300. As the smoke cleared around 1500, fire activity increased with isolated torching and short crown runs into the evening.

Crews continued efforts to contain fire on the east of Scott River Road and made good progress. Structure defense remains in place.

On the west and northwest sides of the fire firefighters patrolled current containment lines, mopped-up where necessary, and continued suppression repair. Firefighters patrolled and mopped up along the Highway 96 corridor.

On 9/9/2014, the Kemper fire was declared controlled.

Aggressive action will be taken on all spot fires across Scott River Road from Swanson Gulch and McGuffy Creek. Direct attack will be utilized whenever possible. Structure defense in that area and Mill Creek is in place. Mop-up 100% around structures. A structure damage assessment will be conducted.

Construction and improvement of dozer line to the east of the Scott river will continue.

Firing operations will be continued along the south side of the fire from DP-28 to DP-11 as conditions allow.

The Divisions along the south and east sides of the fire will continue to be patrolled and direct line will be constructed as weather and fire behavior dictates. Line construction and preparations to hold fire will continue. Structure defense preparations and actions to strengthen lines are in place on Scott River Road. Divisions will work closely together to meet their objectives safely, putting fire fighter and public safety first.

Personnel assigned to the west flank will continue to mop-up where necessary and back-haul excess equipment to clear the area for suppression repair mechanical equipment. Firefighters on the northwest flank will mop-up where necessary, remove excess equipment in preparation for suppression repair and work with mechanical equipment in areas ready for repair. The scattered small fires of the complex are located in an area to the north of the main fire perimeter; suppression repair was successful and near completion on those remote fires. The north and northeast flanks are being patrolled and mopped-up.

The Divisions along the south and east sides of the fire will continue to be patrolled and direct line will be constructed as weather and fire behavior dictates. Line construction and preparations to hold fire will continue. Structure defense preparations and actions to strengthen lines are in place on Scott River Rd. Divisions will work closely together to meet their objectives safely, putting fire fighter and public safety first.

CIIMT #1 is working closely with all stakeholders regarding community needs, evacuations, and long range planning for suppression efforts. CIIMT #1 is responsible for initial attack within the Happy Camp Complex TFR.

CAL FIRE is staffing Branch V with state resources.

The Klamath National Forest is under an emergency closure order in and around the Happy Camp Complex. More information is available at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/klamath/

An Evacuation center was established at the Winema Hall of the Siskiyou County Fairgrounds in Yreka, CA.

Scott River Road remains closed and under mandatory evacuation from Johnson Bar south to Indian Scotty Campground. Residents in the Evacuation Advisory area west of Indian Scotty will be provide an entrance pass. Traffic along the Scott River Road is being monitored by the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office.

On 9//9/2014, the Kemper fire was declared controlled.

On 08/29/2014 the Frying Pan and Faulkstein Fires merged; the combined perimeter of the two fires is referred to as the Frying Pan Fire. All growth and additional cost for the Happy Camp Complex are added to the respective totals of the Frying Pan Fire. The acres recorded in block 7 are the cumulative acres for all 17 fires in the Happy Camp Complex. The acreage for the Frying Pan Fire will be shown in the table below.

The following 14 fires are included in the Happy Camp Complex and are 100% contained: Delta (150 acres), Jackson (29 acres), Sutcliffe (27 acres), Thompson (17 acres), Tims (13 acres), Ranch (6 acres), Huckleberry (5 acres), Bear (4 acres), China (3 acres), Mill (2 acres), Luther 1 (.4 acres), El Capitan (.2 acres), Luther 2 (.1 acres), and Noranda (.1 acres). The 256.8 acres for these fires, 185 acre Kemper Fire, 5,225 acre Falkstein Fire, and all acres of the Frying Pan fire are INCLUDED in the complex.

Overnight, there was poor humidity recovery over the ridges at 20-25%. Valley RH recovered to around 65-70%. Ridgetop winds were NE 7-12mph with gusts to 22mph. Typical drainage winds were present. Temperatures on the ridges were 57-62F, 45-55F in the valleys.

Today (Wednesday 9/10) will be warmer and dryer, with RHs dropping down to 10-15% in the canyons and 16-22% on the ridges. Max Temperatures 88-94F in the canyons and 81-85F on the ridges. Expect to see ridgetop winds out of the east 6-9mph, becoming northeast 3-6mph around 1200.

Easterly component ridge winds will return as the thermal trough builds back up the coast. This should help clear some of the smoke along the east and south flanks of the fire. Better heating will enhance slope/canyon winds. Thermal trough meanders near the incident Thursday bringing instability and variable ridge winds somewhat favoring east. Northwest winds arrive Friday as the thermal trough pushes east.