Updated 5:30 p.m.
A fire burning southeast of Oroville is up to 51 acres. It's now 80 percent contained.
A chance for showers Friday in the extreme north is providing optimism for further fire suppression in the Trinity Region. Fires have been burning in the Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity national forests for more than a month.
· The largest, called the River Complex, is north of Highway 299 and is now 110 square miles in size. While it’s only 47 percent contained, the fire has been kept out of communities – the main ongoing goal of fire crews. Containment lines now exist on the western and southern flanks of the fire, as well as parts of the northern flanks. The River Complex is now expected to head northeast into the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. While that means the fire is headed away from populated areas, it is headed into rugged, steep terrain that’s dangerous for firefighting. As of Wednesday all evacuations and road closures have been lifted.
A public meeting about the River Complex is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Umpqua Bank, 39171 Highway 299, Willow Creek.
· Significant progress has been made on the Mad River Complex burning near Ruth Lake. It’s 58 square miles in size and is now 98 percent contained.
· North of Hyampom, the South Complex remains at 45 square miles in size. It’s 85 percent contained.
· The Fork Complex near Hayfork and Peanut is still holding at 57 square miles in size. It’s 97 percent contained.
Further details on evacuations, road closures and Clean Air Shelters in the Trinity Region can be found on Trinity County’s website.
Elsewhere in Northern California:
· In Del Norte County, the Gasquet Complex continues to burn near US 199 east of Crescent City. It’s nearly 45 square miles in size and is now 39 percent contained. This fire is threatening many cultural and archeological sites, along with endangered species.
· Farther south the Nickowitz Fire nearly 11 square miles in size and is still 55 percent contained.
Recently contained fires:
· Route Complex (Trinity County) – This fire was fully contained at 55 square miles.
For more on these and other California wildfires, visit the state or federal wildfire websites.