Updated 4:04 p.m.
Firefighters from 32 states are now trying to contain dozens of rapacious wildfires across northern California. Increasing winds tonight and over the next several days will present very challenging conditions:
· The Fork Complex near Hayfork and Peanut has consumed more than 22,000 acres and eight homes. More than 1,900 firefighters are assigned to the fire, which is 19 percent contained. Mandatory evacuations are in place for many areas, as well as some road closures, including a segment of highway 3 south of Hayfork. An evacuation center has opened at the Solid Rock Christian Church on State highway 3 at Tule Creek Road in Hayfork.
· To the west, the South Complex near Hyampom has burnt more than 18,000 acres. It’s 5 percent contained. Some mandatory evacuations remain in place. A community meeting will be held this evening (MONDAY) at 6 p.m. at the Burnt Ranch School.
· Farther North, the River Complex has grown to almost 16,000 acres. It’s 12 percent contained and continues to threaten four communities in the vicinity – Denny, Hoboken, Daily and Trinity Village. Officials don’t expect to be able to contain the River Complex before Oct. 1st.
In Del Norte County, the Gasquet Complex, about 12 miles from the coast exceeds 2,300 acres and is 9 percent contained.
In Humboldt County, about halfway between US 101 and State Highway 96, the nearly 600 acre Nickowitz Fire is 17 percent contained. Officials expect full containment Saturday. The Humboldt Lightning Fires are 50 percent contained at 4,600 acres.
· And To the southwest, the Route Complex fire near Hyampom is 15 percent contained. It has grown to nearly 20,000 acres. State highway 36 is closed from Van Duzen Road to Forest Glen. Van Duzen and Lower Mad River roads are open only to local residents. South of there, the more than 19,000 acre Mad River Complex of fires is 35 percent contained, with flames on either side of Ruth Lake. The area is under mandatory evacuation.
· In Colusa, Lake and Yolo counties, near Lake Berryessa, 1,400 firefighters have made significant progress on the Rocky Fire. It’s now 85 percent contained at nearly 70,000 acres. All evacuations and road closures have been lifted. However, the nearby Jerusalem Fire northeast of Middletown has grown to 5,000 acres and forced evacuations of the Jerusalem Valley east of Spruce Grove.
On the Nevada border, the human caused Dodge Fire near the Dodge Reservoir northeast of Ravensdale has consumed more than 10,000 acres of sagebrush and juniper. It is 65 percent contained.