Single Publication

HILL FIRE INCIDENT UPDATE

Date: July 24, 2024

Fire Information: 530-414-9056 

Hours: 08:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Email:2024.Hill@firenet.gov

Incident Website:

https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/casrf-hill-fire

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/16/hill-fire

Location: Humboldt County, CA

Size: 6623 acres

Cause: Under Investigation

Start Date: Monday July 15, 2023, at 5:40 PM

Percent contained: 10%

Personnel: 2075

Community Meeting tonight 7/24/24 at 7:00 PM at Willow Creek Bible Church

39 Brannon Mountain Rd., Willow Creek, CA

CURRENT SITUATION: 

Yesterday, as local temperatures increased, firefighters worked tirelessly on the Hill Fire. On the southern perimeter, constructed lines held, and additional depth was achieved by focusing on areas of unburned fuel. 

Along the western and northern edges, crews diligently monitored previously contained areas and conducted mop-up operations to address hotspots. Crews connected handlines surrounding pockets of heat north of the fire, with ongoing efforts to extinguish these areas in the coming days fully.

Spotting was observed on Sugarloaf Mountain, prompting firefighters to strategically reposition resources to work on containment. Crews are working the spot fire from the north and south, with the support of aircraft, and actively engaging the fire directly to achieve containment. 

Today, crews and air resources continue to focus directly on the spot fire located on Sugarloaf Mountain. Meanwhile, on the west side, crews are engaged in mop-up operations and patrolling the area to ensure containment.

There will be a community meeting tonight at the Willow Creek Bible Church at 7:00 PM. 

WEATHER:

A passing upper-level shortwave will help ease heat today and slightly increase relative humidity. Expect smoke to lift more than previous days with inconsistent smoke transport out of the area. Winds will battle from southeast in the morning to west in the afternoon, with infrequent and inconsistent gust up to 20 mph. Winds will be heavily terrain influenced. A slight chance of thunderstorms will continue through the early afternoon with any storms most likely to be dry, isolated, and fast moving. 

EVACUATIONS:

Evacuation order and warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtSheriff and https://humboldtgov.org/2383/Current-Emergencies. 

Conditions are subject to change at any time, visit https://protect.genasys.com/search for a full zone description. 

Sign up for Humboldt Alert emergency notifications at https://humboldtgov.org/2014/Emergency-Notifications

CLOSURES:

Forest Closure Order currently in effect for the area impacted by the Hill Fire. It is temporarily prohibited to be on any national forest system land, trail, or road within the closure area. To view the closure order and map of closure area visit the following link www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1191963.pdf.

Road closures are currently in place on Friday Ridge Rd. at Forest Service Route 6N06, Friday Ridge Rd. at Forest Route 5N01 and Friday Fridge Rd. at Forest Route 5N04. For updated road closure information, visit protect.genasys.com or humboldtsheriff.org/emergency.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS:

Forest fire restrictions also went into effect on July 12th. Campfires and stove fires are restricted to those developed areas listed in the forest order located at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1188610.pdf.

Smoking, welding, and operating an internal combustion engine also have restrictions in place.