Single Publication

HILL FIRE INCIDENT UPDATE

Date: July 28, 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: 7724 acres

Cause: Under Investigation

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

Percent contained: 53%

Personnel: 1352

CURRENT SITUATION: 

Yesterday, firefighters continued to mop up and patrol the perimeter of the fire. Personnel identified some isolated hotspots in the Spike Buck Mountain, Buck Creek, and Mosquito Creek portions of the fire. Crews continue to mop up the Sugar Loaf Mountain Spot Fire, with limited hotspots remaining. The spot fires located to the northwest of the main fire have been completely mopped up and are now fully contained. All hotspots are well interior and the fire continues to remain within containment lines. The improved weather conditions will remain, helping mop up efforts as crews continue to patrol the fire perimeter.

Suppression repair efforts began yesterday. These operations will progress through the coming days utilizing hand crews and heavy equipment, under the guidance of resource advisors. The improved weather conditions will help in supporting the recovery operations.

Personnel continue to face hazards within the fire perimeter. These hazards include steep terrain and fire weakened trees. Smoke may still be visible as some of the heavier fuels continue to burn well within the fire containment lines.

WEATHER:

Very similar and moderate conditions will continue today with high in the upper 70s to ow 80s and relative humidity struggling to drop much below 30 percent. A passing upper-level trough will help lift the mixing layer, allowing for better smoke clearing but also slightly enhanced onshore flow with gusts above 15 on ridges. Per usual, the effect of marine air will be strongest on the western side of the fire. though stronger winds will help marine influence spread more east compared to previous days. A fully developed marines layer is expected to envelop the fire by by Monday with unusually cool and moist conditions. 

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.

EVACUATIONS:

Humboldt County: 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 

Trinity County: Evacuation warnings remain in effect. For current updates on evacuations, visit     https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064589806351 and https://www.trinitycounty.org/OES 

Evacuation Center:

For information on assistance available to those displaced by the Hill Fire, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS  (1-800-733-2767.)

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services in coordination with the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services and the American Red Cross-Gold Country Region established an Evacuation Center for those impacted by the Hill Fire to receive fire information. The Evacuation Center is located at Trinity Valley Elementary School, 730 CA-96 in Willow Creek. The center is not open to the public, however information on how to request assistance is posted at this location.