The fire remains squarely within the 2008 Buckhorn, Eagle, Miners and Cedar Fire footprints. Type converted brush and a heavy dead and down component dominate most areas. Fuels to the north of Hayfork are characterized as widely spaced mixed conifer and

grass. All live fuels are cured to levels normally seen in late September.

Fire is fuels driven resulting out of extended and extreme/enhanced drought with influence of steep slopes and winds. Fire behavior has picked up the past two days with wind shifting out of the west and smoke clearing out on the western

perimeter. A number of spot fires have been occurred with a high resistance to control. Elsewhere, limited winds have resulted in smoke remaining over the fire and created cap over fire with limited fire behavior, especially in valley/canyon bottoms. Elsewhere, fire progression was mostly seen in steeper terrain where backing fire and roll-out allowed the fire to make slow progress. Fire has been chunking away under a cap of smoke and concern exists for increased activity when and if the cap is removed within other parts of the fire.

Provide structure defense for the communities of Burnt Ranch, Friedrich Road, Cedar Flat and Underwood Mountain.

Patrol and mop-up along Corral Bottom Road/47 Road and prodigy site.

Monitor fire on north side of the Trinity River around Ironside Mountain. Patrol and secure current fire line around structures within the communities of Don Juan Point east through Big Flat along the Highway 299 corridor. Monitor the west side of the New River drainage for any spot fires. Scout for opportunities for indirect line north of the New River from Happy Camp Mountain to the confluence of the Trinity River. Take action on all spots across west of the New River. Prepare structures along the New River from Five Waters northward.

Provide structure defense for the communities from Helena east through Junction City and north along Canyon Creek and the East Fork of the North Fork Trinity River. Finish handline from Canyon Creek west to indirect dozer line along ridges around Helena. Continue to prep structures in Canyon Creek. Evaluate options for managing fire to keep from progressing east of the East Fork of the North Fork and impacting values at risk to the east. This may include burning out along the Hobo Gulch Road and further evaluating need for dozer line along Backbone Ridge within the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

Hold, mop-up, and patrol fire lines from the Trinity River south to Hocker Meadow. Prep and secure all structures west of Dutch Creek Road. Verify contingency lines north of Highway 3 from Jordan Road to Maxwell Creek Road. Continue firing operations as approved by Operations Section Chief.

Strategic Planning meeting scheduled for Saturday with completion of PACE Map with draft Long Term Strategic Analysis.

South Zone Planned Operations: Continue with direct, indirect, and contingency line construction. Continue structure protection and working with cooperators to ensure public safety.

12 hours: Expect active fire growth in areas where smoke clears under the influence of critically dry fuels with influence of northwesterly flow. High resistance to control is being realized on spot fires and slop-overs. Dry conditions will

contribute to the potential for spotting and rapid, uphill runs. Predominant fire spread is anticipated in well aligned east/west drainages. Western progression could impact Burnt Ranch and the New River drainage. Within the New River drainage there is potential for slope reversal and progression to the west. Without lifting of smoke,

minimal fire behavior is expected on eastern end of the fire.

24 hours: Potential for active fire behavior with high resistance to control in areas where smoke clears. Expect burn periods to expand with increased ventilation on the western extent of the fire. Anticipate consistent, but lighter WNW

winds to develop during the entire burn period to steer established, deep seated fire mostly west along the 299 corridor around Burnt Ranch and the New River drainage, and south towards Hayfork.

Observed Weather: Heavy smoke blanketed the fire in the morning with cooler temperatures in the low to mid 50s and good humidity recovery under light terrain driven winds. Smoke thinned across Branch 1 during the early afternoon as west to northwest winds increased across ridges. High temperatures ranged in the mid to upper 80s where smoke thinned to the 70s under persistent smoke. Minimum

humidity ranged from near 20 to

35%.

Forecast Weather: Smoke will settle across the fire again tonight with minimum

temperatures ranging in the 50s. Moderate humidity recovery will continue with maximum values of 40-60%, but this is as gradual downward trend as weak east

winds develop across the ridges.

Sunday Outlook: Widespread, more persistent smoke is expected with weaker mainly terrain driven winds. Temperatures will be slightly warmer and minimum

humidity a little lower, with highs in the upper 70s to upper 80s, to near 70 across ridges under smoke. Minimum humidity will range from the upper teens

to near 30%. Up-canyon winds will develop mid to late afternoon with peak gusts near 15 mph, then winds will quickly relax after sunset and become downcanyon by midnight with a light east wind across ridges, with associated

moderate to poor humidity recovery.