Steve Mietz, Redwood National and State Parks superintendent said during a town hall in Orick that the Glenn Fire is likely to get into some old growth redwoods. The fire is contained, he noted, and is currently burning in second growth that has already been harvested, with some areas thinned. According to a Wednesday U.S. Forest Service news release about the lightning complex, the Glenn Fire is at .1 acre and is on patrol status.
“This fire is just lipping up on the edge of the old growth,” he said, adding that the edge of old growth isn’t a hard line.
Mietz said that all the fires in the parks are in full suppression mode. He said the goal with the fires, a total of three which are currently are burning in the parks, is to maximize firefighter safety in terrain that is very rugged. Cal Fire and Green Diamond Resource Co. are each working on the blazes, two of which have been contained. Over 300 Cal Fire firefighters are working on the Lost Fire, which is still uncontained.
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The Lost Fire was estimated at 529 acres Wednesday morning. It has prompted the closure of the Lost Creek trail. Speakers at the town hall noted that resources are limited right now, as lightning storms have sparked dozens of fires across Northern California. Green Diamond has helped push fuel lines, with firefighters constructing hand and dozer lines.
It is located northeast of Orick west of Holter Ridge Road and south of the Lost Man Creek Trail/Geneva Road.
A smoke outlook has been issued near Orick, with periods of unhealthy air quality recorded. Crews have held the fire on Holter Ridge. A significant effort was made to complete fuel reduction along Holter Ridge Road with smaller trees and downed vegetation taken out. There is no immediate threat to critical infrastructure, structures, or old growth redwood forest at this time at the Lost Fire, according to Inciweb. The fire was first reported Aug 15. The other fire is the Devil Fire, at 12 acres, contained and in patrol status.
Lost Man Road will remain open from U.S. Highway 101 to the Lost Man Picnic Area. Open fires are not allowed in the park.
Cal Fire is staging operations at the Orick rodeo grounds to respond to the fire.
Sage Alexander can be reached at 707-441-0504.
