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<TD align=middle width="35%"><SPAN class="Text IssueDate">June 25,
2008 </SPAN></TD>
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<P>Fire threat diminished</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P> </O:P>By AMY
GITTELSOHN</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN>
</SPAN>Lightning-sparked fires drove Trinity County residents in several
communities from their homes last week, but as of Tuesday all the
evacuations had been lifted--with no homes lost.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>"They're
making good progress on those fires and adjusting to the weather
conditions as things are changing," Shasta-Trinity Forest fire information
officer Kent Romney said Tuesday. "Fortunately, we didn't have any impact
from forecasted electrical storms this past weekend, so that allowed us to
get a handle on these fires."</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Romney
said that fire activity picked up on both the Lime and Iron fire complexes
in Trinity County when the temperature inversion that was holding smoke in
lifted. However, he said, the two complexes were not now raising alarms
for populated areas, although firefighters are working to protect isolated
structures.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Although
portions of highways 299 and 36 were closed, they are open now. Highway
299 on top of Buckhorn Summit has had one-way controlled
traffic.<SPAN> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>The Six
Rivers National Forest also has acreage afire in Trinity County.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>At the
Hells Half Complex southwest of Burnt Ranch, fire information officer Gary
Hoshide said work was focused on the eastern flank of the largest fire in
the group, the Half Fire with 82 personnel assigned. This fire is the
closest to Burnt Ranch and a quarter-mile west of Underwood Mountain Road.
The road is a primary access and escape route for Hyampom, he said.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Last
week was a chaotic one for Trinity County residents Downriver as the Eagle
Fire, one of the 21 fires in the 19,178-acre Iron Complex of blazes,
caused evacuations at Coopers Bar Estates, the Canyon Creek and Helena
areas, and west of Junction City.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>There
were voluntary evacuations recommended for Slattery Pond, Senger Road and
Red Hill Road east of Senger Road.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>The
evacuations affected 119 homes, and the American Red Cross opened a
shelter at Weaverville Elementary School. It closed after a few days.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>As the
Eagle Fire moved eastward to threaten Junction City last week, resident
Brad Riddle witnessed the firefighting effort as the blaze approached his
home on three sides. Riddle, 28, his mother and girlfriend rent a home
across Highway 299 from Bigfoot Campground. The sheriff's department came
by their place Wednesday evening.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>"They
said it wasn't mandatory but we should get out," Riddle said.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>They
packed their things in preparation to evacuate, but wound up staying and
helping to prepare the property for the siege ahead.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Riddle's
friend, Vince Hubbell, came from Douglas City to help. "We stood there for
about four hours watching the fire rip through trees and brush," Hubbell
said, adding that at one point fire crews that had been setting up at the
campground across the highway vanished. It turned out they'd been called
away to protect Coopers Bar, but they returned.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Fire
crews cut a fire line around the house and lit a back burn, Riddle
said.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>He noted
that one Forest Service firefighter lives in the Canyon Creek area that
was evacuated. "He was in my front yard working on my fire," Riddle
said.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>He was
impressed by the work of Shasta-Trinity Hotshots crew C-506 that cut the
initial fire lines. Cal Fire crews also worked on fire lines.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>"I could
hear them cutting timber 'til like 1 in the morning," Riddle said of the
crews.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>The fire
came within 100 to 150 feet of the house, he said.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>Also
last week, a fire in the 35,445-acre Lime Complex caused recommendations
for voluntary evacuations at Wildwood affecting about 40 homes. That
evacuation has also ended.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>The
North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District issued an air quality
alert Tuesday warning that smoke levels were very unhealthy in the areas
of Junction City, Helena, Hayfork, Hyampom, Wildwood, Ruth, and all areas
around the fires. It is recommended that individuals in those areas limit
their activity and stay indoors.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN>
</SPAN>Currently, there are five complexes of fires burning in Trinity
County: the Lime, Iron, Alps, Hells Half, and Mad complexes. As of
Tuesday, their status was:</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>- Lime
Complex on the Shasta-Trinity Forest, affecting the areas of Hyampom,
Hayfork, Wildwood, and, in Shasta County, Platina - 70 fires, 35,445
acres, 36 percent contained.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>- Iron
Complex on the Shasta-Trinity Forest, affecting Downriver areas from
Junction City to Burnt Ranch and extending north - 21 fires, 19,178 acres,
25 percent contained.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>- Alps
Complex on the Shasta-Trinity Forest within and adjacent to the Trinity
Alps Wilderness, 13 fires, 2,650 acres, 2 percent contained.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>- Hells
Half Complex on the Six Rivers Forest, about three miles southwest of
Burnt Ranch, 2,440 acres, 20 percent contained with estimated full
containment date of July 31.</P>
<P class=MsoPlainText><SPAN> </SPAN>- Mad
Complex on the Six Rivers Forest, Mad River Ranger District, 2,644
acres.</P></DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>