US Forest Service — Mendocino National Forest
Current Weather
Fire Growth Potential
Fire Weather Forecast
Incident Overview
Inciweb information was updated: 12 months ago
Forest Service News Release
Mendocino National Forest
Laura Leidner, Public Affairs Officer
(530) 884-4325
Laura.Leidner@usda.gov
Slide 1 Fire Update, Aug. 16 - 11:00 am
WILLOWS, Calif., Aug. 16, 2023 — The Slide 1 Fire, which is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Mt. Linn in the Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness, grew overnight to 285 acres. Fire behavior is active and expected to increase later in the day as chances of thunderstorms and gusty winds increase.
The strategy for the fire is full suppression and aggressive extended attack to minimize the number of large wildfire incidents. The location of the fire in the wilderness area presents several hazards for firefighters, including hazard trees from past wildfires and remote, rugged terrain.
Several fire resources are on scene including seven smokejumpers, a type-1 initial attack hand crew, air attack, one air tanker and two type-2 on-call crews. Additional resources are ordered, including a type-3 helicopter, a type-2 helicopter, falling crews and six type-1 or type-2 initial attack crews.
The fire is located north of private property owned by the timber company Crane Mills, and there is a private inholding within in the wilderness area in the vicinity of the fire. CAL-FIRE Tehama Glenn Unit is working to prep any structures or private lands that are threatened.
Additional smokes are being reported on the forest after more lightning strikes yesterday. Fire personnel are out patrolling, and the forest is ordering additional resources to assist the districts, including a strike team of engines and water tenders, falling crews and wilderness resource specialists.
Forest leadership is planning to issue a closure order for the Ides Cove Area later today.
Smoke may be visible later today from the I-5 corridor from Willows to Red Bluff.
Incident information will be posted to Inciweb later today, and another update on the Slide 1 Fire will be issued this evening.
Basic Incident Details
Current Situation
Timber and brush
Fire Personnel are responding on the Mendocino National Forest are responding to lightning fire starts after thunderstorms passed through yesterday. On the Grindstone Ranger District two fire starts called Slide 1 and Slide 2 occurred near Slides Ridge. The two incidents merged, and the incident is now being called the Slide 1 fire.
The fire is burning in Timber and brush and has the potential for moderate to a high rate of spread in rugged, steep terrain. The fire is within the 2020 August Complex footprint.
Planned Outlook
12 hours: Fire weather conditions will be near critical conditions. Fire danger values will increase to the high ranges. Fire behavior will be creeping and smoldering. Single and group tree torching may occur in heavy dead and down fuels. Potential for reburn will exist through the now dry interior islands.
24 hours: Fire weather watch is forecast. All fire weather conditions will align after multiple days of drying for critical fire conditions. These conditions can facilitate increased fire behavior and potential for fire growth. Single and group tree torching will be likely in areas where heat exists. Short range spotting may occur within interior pockets of heat, surface fire with flame lengths less than 4 feet may occur. The chance of reburn through green islands or areas that have been dried by adjacent fuel consumption will increase.
48 hours: Near critical fire conditions will continue. Fire danger will remain at high ranges. These conditions can facilitate increased fire behavior and potential fire growth. Single and group tree torching with short range spotting may occur in heavy dead and down fuels. Surface fire with flame lengths less than 6 inches may occur in areas with existing heat. The chance of reburn through green islands or areas that have been dried will remain.
72 hours: Fire behavior conditions will moderate as weather brings in cooler temperatures with increased relative humidity. Fire behavior will remain smoldering and creeping. The threat of single and group tree torching will be diminished.
72 hours: Fire weather conditions will continue to moderate as moisture is forecast to return to the area by the weekend. Heavy down and dead fuels will be slow to adjust to the changing conditions and therefore continue to smolder as the primary fire carrier. The threat of torching and spotting will be unlikely, as relative humidity will rise to values that do not support active fire behavior.
