Mill Creek 1 Fire continues to burn, leads to road closures

Hoopa Valley, Ca., (KIEM) According to Hoopa Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services the Great Basin Team 6 assumed command of the Mill Creek 1 Fire today, August 20, 2018 at 6:00 a.m., led by Incident Commander Brook Chadwick. The Incident Management Team is comprised of individuals from several agencies working within the Great Basin (Idaho, Nevada, Utah & Wyoming). This is a full-suppression fire and the objective is 100% containment. The top priority for the Incident Management Team is the safety of fire personnel and the public. The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located at the Hoopa Fire Department, Hoopa, California.

Our objective is to keep the fire East of Highway 96, west of the Reservation boundary, north of Mill Creek and south of Deerhorn Creek.  Resources are being ordered to assist with the suppression of the fire.  Currently we are in a National Preparedness Level 5, mobilization of fire resources is heavily committed to numerous large fires throughout the country.

California State Highway 96 is closed from Bull Creek to Mill Creek due to fire behavior. Traffic is being redirected through Dowd Road. This is for the safety of the public as well as for crews and aerial resources working on the fire. As soon as it is safe for public travel the highway will be reopened.

BACKGROUND – The Mill Creek 1 Fire started on August 16, 2018 on Tribal lands near the town of Hoopa, California.  The cause of the fire is ARSON.  There is a $10,000 reward offered for information regarding the fire.  Calls will be taken on an anonymous hotline by calling 1-800-468-4402.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:   For additional fire information, please get the latest fire updates on the Hoopa Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services Facebook Page at:  https://www.facebook.com/HoopaOES/