Evacuation warnings and orders remain in effect for southern Humboldt County as fire crews work to contain the August Complex West Zone, just east of the county line. The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center continues to staff a Fire Evacuation Information Line at 707-268-2500 for questions regarding current county evacuations and resources.
CURRENT SITUATION
As of Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, the August Complex West Zone has not jumped the Eel River and has not entered Humboldt County. Fire crews continue seeing positive developments in the West Zone of the fire and continue working today to solidify containment lines for the northwest section of the fire near Humboldt County. According to Cal Fire, the August Complex West Zone is currently 42,171 acres and 0 percent contained. The total acreage number has decreased from yesterday’s report due to some acres being counted twice in early Cal Fire reports. The agency has not set a date or time for the lifting of Humboldt County evacuation orders.
Evacuation orders and warnings are determined by Cal Fire and enforced by the Sheriff’s Office. Zones often follow a geographic landmark - like a road, a river or a ridge- to allow for residents and fire crews to understand evacuation zones quickly and save the most lives. Evacuation determinations are not just made based on fire activity. Cal Fire considers a variety of factors when setting an evacuation zone including population size, ingress and egress to impacted areas, the time it would take for all residents to evacuate, fuel conditions (dry timber/grass) and predicted weather.
Cal Fire has established a fire information line for questions related to fire activity, containment and resources at (707) 355-4926. Information can also be found online at https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2020/8/16/august-complex-includes-doe-fire/.
NEW INFORMATION
Temporary Evacuation Point Now Virtual to Assist Residents in Need of Services
As of Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the Temporary Evacuation Point for Humboldt and Trinity counties will no longer be at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Ferndale due to a significant decline in the demand for services from evacuees. Instead, evacuees should now contact the Humboldt County Fire Information Line at 707-268-2500 to be connected with assistance related to wildfire displacement.
If local wildfire evacuees have specific service needs, they may also directly call the resources below:
- American Red Cross Sheltering Services: 530-276-8034
- Livestock and Small Animal Sheltering: 707-599-1734
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services would like to thank the American Red Cross for their continued assistance to wildfire evacuees, and all other volunteers who have helped serve the community at the Northern California Regional Evacuation Shelter.
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services sees this as a positive development as we work to better serve our residents and connect them with the resources they need during this trying time.
Virtual Community Meeting Scheduled for August Complex West Zone
August Complex-West Zone
Cal Fire will hold a Virtual Community Meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 to provide a fire overview and to allow the public to ask questions regarding the August Complex-West Zone. To ask a question during the virtual public meeting, please submit them through the social media channels listed below.
The meeting will be live streamed on:
CURRENT HUMBOLDT COUNTY EVACUATION INFORMATION
The following areas are under an EVACUATION ORDER:
- Areas south of Casterlin Road, including all properties on Casterlin Road, to the Mendocino / Trinity County Line and east of Dyerville Loop Road and Bell Springs Road to the county line
The following areas are under an EVACUATION WARNING:
- All areas west of Bell Springs Road to Highway 101 spanning from Elk Creek Road / Dyerville Loop Road to the Mendocino / Trinity County Line in Southern Humboldt County.
- All areas east of Alderpoint Road spanning from Highway 36 to Casterlin Road, not including all properties on Casterlin Road.
Maps of evacuation zones and routes are available at humboldtgov.org/evacmap or humboldtsheriff.org
Evacuation order and warning locations are determined by Cal Fire. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services will notify residents of new or modified orders or warnings via Humboldt Alert, online at humboldtsheriff.org and on the HumCoOES social media pages.
CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS
The following roads remain closed:
- Alderpoint Road from Fort Seward Road to Dyerville Loop Road.
- Bell Springs Road from Alderpoint Road to the County line.
RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY
The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services is not currently accepting donations. Please do not drop off donations at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds.
To volunteer or donate to assist regional wildfire evacuees, please contact:
Pay it Forward Humboldt
- Volunteer: 707-499-2364
- Donation: 707-499-3840
- payitforwardhumboldt@gmail.com
Humboldt Area Foundation
American Red Cross
Humboldt CERT
HELPFUL INFORMATION
County residents are encouraged to sign up for Humboldt Alert at humboldtgov.org/alerts.
- Humboldt County Fire Evacuation Information Line / Virtual Temporary Evacuation Point: 707-268-2500
- American Red Cross Sheltering Services: 530-276-8034
- Humboldt County Fire Evacuee Livestock and Small Animal Sheltering: 707-599-1734
- August Complex West Zone Fire Information Line (Cal Fire): 707-355-4926
- August Complex North Zone Fire Information Line (USFS): 530-628-0039
- August Complex South Zone Fire Information Line (USFS): 530-487-4602
- Red Salmon Complex Fire Information (USFS): 530-316-1042
Air Quality Monitoring: North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District
For more information regarding the August Complex West Zone’s current impact on Humboldt County and current evacuation areas, please go to humboldtsheriff.org, visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter, or call 707-268-2500.
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For the latest August Complex West Fire information: humboldtsheriff.org
Facebook and Twitter: @HumCoOES
Instagram: @HumboldtSheriff