Wildfires roundup
Gold Hill
The size and containment of the Gold Hill fire — 4,400 acres and 15 percent, respectively — increased since Sunday, according to a Thursday morning incident report.
Wednesday’s weather caused fire activity to increase, which fire officials expected to continue Thursday.
“As conditions allow, burn out operations will be used to remove fuel between indirect line and the fire on the north edge of the fire,” the report states. “On the west and east flanks of the fire, fuel removal will continue.”
Traffic delays were expected on Pipe Creek Road between mile markers 12 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with traffic allowed through at the top of the hour and delays of 30-60 minutes.
Pre-evacuation orders still stood for properties near mile markers 11 and 13.
Davis
The Davis fire held steady at 6,614 acres this week, while containment increased to 35 percent, according to a Thursday morning incident report.
“[Wednesday,] fire activity increased in interior pockets of unburned fuels,” the report states. “The fire did not spread outside of the current footprint.”
Crews were reported continuing to mop up along the fire perimeter, patrolling for areas of heat and smoke, and removing logs and slash from the fire area.
Sterling Complex
The Pinkham Tower and Huckleberry fires that comprise the Sterling Complex remained at 1,405 acres, according to a Thursday morning incident report. Containment was 83 percent.
“Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid 80s today,” the report states. “Gusty winds and solar heating during the day continue to cure fuels, and could lead to an increase in fire behavior in isolated pockets of heat remaining well interior of containment lines. The creeping and smoldering seen in recent days will continue and may increase, with some torching possible, but any spotting potential will be low to moderate.”
Firefighters reportedly had made progress building containment lines in difficult terrain, and also mopping up on the western and southern flanks.
“Work toward complete containment continues on the southern end of the fire,” the report states. “Hoses are being moved to areas where there is still heat, while skidders continue to transport logs intended for a future salvage sale to logging decks cut during suppression operations.”