Growing Slater Fire prompts evacuations, road closures

SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. (KIEM) — The Slater Fire continues to burn up in Del Norte and Siskiyou Counties. The fire has prompted road closures and evacuation orders.

Per Caltrans, Route 199 remains fully closed from its intersection with State Route 197 west of Hiouchi to the Oregon border. The fire has also prompted the closure of Route 96 from about 9 miles west of Happy Camp to about 1 mile west of Seiad Valley in Siskiyou County.

The Del Norte Office of Emergency Services has lifted the evacuation order for Gasquet, but they are on a level 2 evacuation order. This means they should be ready to evacuate again at a moment’s notice if needed. The communities of Hiouchi and Big Flat remain on a level 1 evacuation and should be prepared to evacuate if needed.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office issued mandatory evacuations along Highway 96 in the Klamath River corridor. An evacuation order was also issued for Happy Camp and surrounding communities.

Yesterday, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that about 150 homes were lost in Happy Camp, and one fatality has been confirmed as well. More information will be released pending notification of next of kin.

The fire first broke out Monday night, and has already burned 120,000 acres. As of Thursday morning, a second fire was discovered by heat detection flight burning east of the Slater Fire. The Devils Fire is currently at 500 acres and is currently unstaffed and uncontained. The cause of both fires is under investigation.