Firefighters check spread of Backbone Fire

Thirteen other fires under control in Trinity Alps

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/7/09

Eureka

Firefighters today successfully checked the spread of a lightening-induced blaze already responsible for torching over 4,500 acres on Devil’s Backbone Ridge approximately 36 miles northeast of Willow Creek.

The Backbone Fire was previously two independent blazes, the Lower Trinity-17 Fire on the Six Rivers National Forest, and the Trinity Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. These combined into a larger conflagration thanks to hot weather conditions, density of brush and tough topography for firefighters to operate in.

Thirteen other fires triggered by lightening storms last week were contained over the weekend and are now in controlled status and continue to be patrolled, according to a release from Six Rivers National Forest. Firefighters working to control the fire in this remote wilderness must be extremely careful due to the hazard of falling snags as well as downhill line construction.

The National Incident Management Organization is assuming command of the fire under incident commander George Custer this week; his seven-member team is intended to provide a more customized approach for long-term fires in remote locations. Forest administrators justified this move as a way to reduce cost and provide a safer, more consistent fire containment strategy.

“The remote location of the fire in the Trinity Alps Wilderness, combined with the heavy dead and down fuels and standing dead snags from the Megram Fire, contribute to the fire's complexity,” forest supervisor Tyrone Kelley stated. “This has made fire suppression difficult.”

Crews in the last 48 hours have completed fire line construction into Horse Linto Creek and have also secured the line beyond Trinity summit, checking the spread of a 15 acre blaze in the Red Cap Creek drainage.

Forest officials are working closely with the Hoopa Tribe and keeping tribal members and fire service personnel updated on the Backbone Fire. Kelley met yesterday with Tyrone Kelley, newly elected chair of the Hoopa Tribe, to discuss the protection of cultural sites in the area. Forest officials stated afterwards that they are working to keep the fire away from the Hoopa Reservation boundary.

Several roads, trails and camps in the area have been closed due to fire conditions, including Horse Ridge National Recreation Trail, Salmon Summit National Scenic Trail, Mill Creek, Tish Tang, and Red Cap trails as well as Bear Hole, Grizzly Camp and the Willow Creek Big Rock Day Use Area.

While rafting on the Trinity River is still permitted, there is a “no stop zone” from the mouth of Willow Creek stretching one mile downriver, and forest officials ask visitors to float through with caution due to the helibase located there. Rafting and rafting guide services are still operating, and the interim Kimtu Beach access is open, along with the Hawkins Bar access point.

FIRE FACTS
Size: Approximately 4584 acres
Started: July 1, 2009
Resources threatened: no structures are threatened.
Active Fire Location: 36 miles Northeast of Willow Creek in Trinity Alps Wilderness
Resources:

* 9 hotshot crews
* 2 type II initial attack crew
* 1 helitack crew
* 1 Type 3 helicopter; 4 Type 2 helicopter, 5 Type I helicopters
* 1 engine
* 9 Water tender
* 322 Total personnel