August 17, 2021 – Message from Sheriff Saxon - I’m sorry I was not able to personally attend the Community Information Meeting the other day. Here are some questions that were submitted for me. I grouped some similar questions together.

**What is the plan for the arm nearest Hayfork? Is an evacuation warning imminent for Hayfork? With the fire being 5-7 miles away from Hayfork, at what point would there be an evacuation?

I have daily USFS Fire Operations and Incident Cooperators meetings to discuss the previous day’s fire behavior, current operations, and future predictions. Every day, based on these discussions, we develop recommendations on at what point to issue Evacuation Warnings or Orders for what particular area. The side of the fire closest to Hayfork has not reached any of those points. As always, I encourage everyone to be prepared ahead of time. Everyone should have a plan in place. Call 530-623-1116 for information on how to register for Code Red.

**Can residents of Del Loma get permission from the Sheriff to return to their homes?

I hope to open all of the downriver communities as soon as possible. Right now, SR299 has been severely impacted by fire, active rockslides and falling trees. We all want to make sure that once we re-populate an area, residents will be safe. I am meeting with USFS, CHP, Caltrans and all Incident Cooperators on a daily basis to discuss the safety concerns of opening all Downriver communities for re-population. We’re not quite there yet. I’m hoping that we will soon have a plan in place.

**Given the current conditions, when is the soonest, conservatively speaking, do you think we will be able to return to our home? What requirements does the incident need to meet in order for the Helena evacuation order to be lifted and residents allowed to return to their homes on East Fork Rd?

I meet with USFS and all Incident Cooperators on a daily, sometimes twice daily basis, to discuss current and future conditions to plan for opening areas for re-population. Right now, we are on the timeline of the fire, weather and firefighting plans. Each of the impacted communities are different based on size, infrastructure fire damage, and highway accessibility. Safety is the number one concern of each of us. The Monument Fire has severely impacted SR299 with fire, active rockslides and falling trees. We all want to make sure that once we re-populate an area, residents will be safe. My goal is to open all areas as soon as possible and have people get back to their normal routines.

**How can people from Junction City get their mail?

See the picture attached for locations and times to retrieve your mail.

**Have deputies cited anyone inside the evacuation zones?

Deputies have stopped and talked to people driving inside the mandatory evacuation areas. This is done to mainly ensure looting is not occurring as well as to remind people of the evacuation orders. We are taking an education approach rather than enforcement at this time. No citations have been issued.

Source: Trinity County Sheriff’s Office