Two big Trinity County fires have both been expanding dramatically, and both Highway 299 and Highway 36 are closed.
The Monument Fire was very active overnight, having now burned more than 15,000 acres with zero containment. It started Friday about a mile south of the Trinity River Town of Del Loma. That community is under evacuation orders along with Big Bar and Cedar Flat. Warnings have been issued for Burnt Ranch. The fire is burning in extremely steep and inaccessible terrain, with spotting across canyons and a lot of burning debris rolling downhill. The fire has now established itself on the north side of the river as well.
The McFarland Fire, straddling the Shasta/Trinity County line south of Hayfork, has been doubling every 24 hours, now at more than 20,000 acres with just 5% containment. It’s threatening the Town of Wildwood, which was ordered to evacuate Sunday night. Warnings are issued for the Trinity Pines and Post Mountain areas. On Tuesday afternoon the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for Shields Road, White Rock Road, and for Harrison Gulch Road from Highway 36 to Deerlick Springs Road. The McFarland has been crowning in tree canopies and spotting 200 to 300 feet outside the fire perimeter. It’s burned up to the edge of Highway 36 in several places, but crews have managed to keep it from crossing the road. They’re also trying to utilize the burn scar from last year’s August Complex.