Progression map for the Monument Fire for Thursday, August 12
Click here for: California Monument Fire Thursday, August 12, 2021 Updates
August 12, 2021 - Current Situation: Last night, crews battled active fire throughout the night. On the west side, crews completed a firing operation from the dozer line down to SR-299, removing fuels from the highway up the fire’s edge. This will help to prevent future spot fires near Burnt Ranch. Firefighters continued to experience short-range spotting across containment lines on the southern flank of the fire due to 15-20 mph wind gusts experienced overnight. Dark, smoke-filled skies and rugged terrain challenged fire crews on the southeast side as the fire pushed beyond containment lines. The fire grew over a mile burning eastward over the Hayfork Divide.
The Monument Fire has consumed 67,190 acres and remains at 3% containment. Today, crews remain actively engaged in structure defense and will continue to prepare and reinforce containment lines around the impacted communities of Junction City, Burnt Ranch and Helena to protect these high risk areas. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the areas along the SR-299 corridor around Del Loma and Steamwood, preventing a secondary ignition from any creeping or backing fires activity in the area.
With storm cells expected over the fire areas today, extreme fire conditions exist as outflow winds can push the fire in any direction. Fuels are primed, available, and vulnerable to any new ignitions.
Firefighters are ready to act when and if a new start were to occur. The concern is that any new start will spread rapidly and burn with extreme intensity. Air support is mobilized and ready to draw from identified water sources and support ground suppression efforts when smoke conditions improve.
Weather: Last night, the fire area had warm, dry air with down-slope wind gusts that gusted to 20 mph along the ridgelines, there were poor overnight HR recoveries. This morning there are light, southeast winds that are expected to switch to northwest winds in the afternoon, but local storm conditions will have an effect across the fire perimeter. Thunderstorms developing to the northeast, may bring dry lightning in the mid-to-late afternoon as daytime heating develops, creating erratic winds. A local Red Flag Warning has been issued for gusty winds and isolated dry lightning. Additional RAWS (Remote Automatic Weather Stations) units have been installed, strategically placed in locations around the fire area to observe wildfire conditions.
Evacuations: Evacuation Orders: Junction City, Red Hill, Canyon Creek, Coopers Bar, Big Bar, Del Loma, Big Flat, Helena, Cedar Flat, and Burnt Ranch
For detailed evacuation information, visit Trinity County Office Sheriff Facebook: Trinity County Sheriff's Office | Facebook Evacuation Centers:
American Red Cross Shelters: Shasta College, 1555 Old Oregon Trail, Building 1900, Redding CA Trinity Valley Elementary School, 730 California 96, Willow Creek, CA 95573
Road Closures: State Highway 299 is closed from 1.7 miles east of Hawkins Bar at Ammom Road. To Sky Ranch Road in Junction City. Monitor Caltrans's District 2 website (https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2)
Animal Evacuation: (Domestic animals) Trinity County Animal Shelter, 563 Mountain View St, Weaverville, CA (530- 623-1370) or (Domestic + Large Animals) Hoopa Rodeo Grounds on Pine Creek Rd, Willow Creek, CA
Property Damage Assessment: Damage assessment teams have confirmed 31 structures have been destroyed 1 with damage. For questions or information regarding the status of your property, call Trinity County Office of Emergency Services (OES) at 530-623-1116. Forest Closures: Effective August 7, 2021 through October 31, 2021, the Shasta-Trinity Forest has issued Forest Order No. 14-21-21 Monument Fire Closure. Information on the forest order can be found on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest website. Shasta-Trinity NF
Resources: 735 Total Personnel, 8 hand crews, 64 engines, 7 helicopters, 11 dozers, 4 water tenders and 5 masticator
