Lines holding on North State blazes

Mike Chapman, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
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Firefighters on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex enjoy a visit from Kerith, a first responder therapy dog.
Firefighters on the Six Rivers Lightning Complex enjoy a visit from Kerith, a first responder therapy dog.

Fires within the Six Rivers Lightning Complex continued to send up smoke Saturday although containment increased.

The complex of fires had burned 25,832 acres as of Saturday morning and was 81% contained, fire officials said. That's up from Friday when it was 25,399 acres and 67% contained.

The complex is in Humboldt and Trinity counties within the Six Rivers National Forest near Willow Creek.

Two fires remain active — the Campbell and Ammon fires — down from the initial 12 that started Aug. 5 after a lightning storm moved through the area.

Fire officials say control lines are holding well as fire activity was minimal from Friday night into Saturday morning due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity.

"Crews continued successful strategic firing operations and improved control lines using dozers and hand lines to remove fuels. Unburned pockets of fuel within the control lines continue to burn off and create smoke," officials said.

A firefighter removes a log and other tree debris from a road within the McKinney Fire footprint.
A firefighter removes a log and other tree debris from a road within the McKinney Fire footprint.

McKinney Fire

Meanwhile, the McKinney Fire in western Siskiyou County west of Yreka remained at 60,392 acres with 95% containment, officials said Saturday morning.

Fire lines were holding on the blaze although there were two new starts Friday.

Firefighters responded to the quarter-acre Tyler Fire in between McCarthy Creek and Thompkins Creek and the half-acre Stud Fire northeast of Grider Valley at Stud Horse Creek.

Crews were able to contain the two new fires and firefighters were staffing them Saturday.

"Several smokes are visible from the Hwy. 96 corridor. Crews will focus on mopping up these hot spots," officials said Saturday.

Kennedy Fire

More accurate mapping has raised the size of the Kennedy Fire from 35 acres to 45 acres, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area officials said Saturday.

Fire crews were mopping up after a fatal collision between an SUV and a big rig started the blaze Thursday along Highway 299.

Kennedy Memorial Drive and the visitors center reopened in the park Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Lines holding on Northern California blazes