Wildfires | Orleans Complex exceeds 4,000 acres, heat wave incoming

Published 11 hours ago• 3 minute read

Ahead of a three-day heat wave, two fires that make up the Orleans Complex have burned across 4,081 acres as of Friday.

A Friday morning update said the Butler Fire in Siskiyou County, mapped at 3,971 acres, remains 0% contained. Firefighters made progress protecting homes, like by backing the fire to the Butler Flat area for people living in communities nearby. Four zones in Siskiyou County are under evacuation orders, and another is under an evacuation warning.

“Today, the Butler and Nordheimer Structure Groups will continue to protect communities and infrastructure along the Salmon River Road with hoselays, pumps and water tanks,” a Friday update from the U.S. Forest Service said. The fires are burning in steep terrain in the Six Rivers National Forest about eight miles east of Orleans.

Siskiyou County is under an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service, lasting from 2 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Monday. Temperatures in Orleans can reach maximum temperatures of 106 degrees Saturday and Sunday, and a maximum of 107 degrees Monday.

“Fire crews could definitely see some slowdown with these warm temperatures. If you’re someone on the ground and you’re carrying a whole bunch of heavy equipment, it being super hot is not helpful to operations,” said Jacob Boomsma, a Eureka National Weather Service meteorologist.

He said the fires are located in higher elevations projected to peak in temperatures in the 90s. “So, a little bit better. Still, pretty hot,” he said, noting that these elevations will see wind.

A drone takes off during night firing operations at the Butler Fire. As of Friday, the Orleans Complex covered more than 4,000 acres. (U.S. Forest Service/Contributed)

According to fire behavior predictions on Inciweb, the inversion layer will affect fires in different areas. “In the valleys and lower slopes, weather will remain cool and smoky. However, on the upper slopes and ridges, weather will be hotter with more exposure to afternoon north-northwest gusts up to 20 MPH,” it said.

Residents are urged to take precautions around smoke and heat such as staying indoors in higher temperatures and avoiding outdoor activities. The northern interior of Humboldt County is also under an extreme heat warning by the NWS.

The smaller Red Fire is now 35% contained, holding at 113 acres.

“Smokejumpers and crews are continuing to make good progress on fireline construction. They are methodically working around the complexities located at the bottom right side the fire as the terrain drops off steeply into Blue Creek. Air resources are assisting operations for the Red Fire,” the update said.

Over 500 personnel are on the fires, according to Inciweb.

Forest Fire

A small brush fire east of McKinleyville burning on Green Diamond Co. land was set for mop-up work Friday. Forward progress was stopped Thursday, and hose was laid and line was cut around it. The McKinleyville Community Services District said the Community Forest was closed again Friday.

Smoke outlook

The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District’s Friday advisory said the Orleans Complex and Marble Complex are continuing to generate smoke in the region.

“Smoke aloft from the fires will transport southward, then shift more towards the west overnight and back to the east in the afternoon when the winds become more northwesterly. This general pattern is expected to continue over the next several days depending on how much smoke the fires output. Light northeast winds overnight tonight may help to limit the coastal fog but may bring smoke aloft to the coast depending on conditions,” the advisory Friday said.