The Hill fire is rapidly growing, burning in U.S. Forest Service land in the Six Rivers National Forest in eastern Humboldt County. Evacuation orders have been issued for zone HUM-E077-A and evacuation warnings are in effect for zones HUM-E077-B and HUM-E076-A.
A critical fire weather warning was issued in the area Monday, and by Tuesday morning, several new lightning-sparked fires were burning, including the Hill fire.
“What people can do when we experience this critical fire weather is help reduce the potential for human caused fires, because statistically, human caused fires are the cause for approximately 87% of all fires,” said Adrianne Rubiaco of the Six Rivers National Forest, “So therefore, by reducing the amount of human caused fires, you’re allowing those resources to be committed to those lightning naturally ignited fires which we really can’t prevent those, but we can prevent human caused fires go.”
The hillsides are covered in dry brush which is fueling this rapidly growing fire. Hand crews, dozers and trucks from across the state could be seen driving to and from The Hill fire.
California State Senatore President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire was in Rio Dell Wednesday and commented on our state’s fire readiness. “Cal Fire now is the largest firefighting air attack fleet in the United States of America. And now that the fire has reached states responsibility area and outside of the U.S. Forest Service Cal Fire, he’s going to be hitting the fire hard,” he said.
There was also a ton of aircraft flying overhead, dropping fire retardant on the fire Wednesday, which seemed to grow before our reporter’s eyes out on the scene.
“Cal Fire is in much better shape than we were just ten years ago,” McGuire continued, “In 2015, Cal Fire had to add 6700 full time firefighters during fire season today what about 12,000 fire and 500 full time firefighters during fire season. We are nearly double the number of firefighters. We replaced equipment. We have night fighting Black Hawk helicopters. We’ve expanded the number of aircraft.”
There are also several closures along Friday ridge road, at route 1, route 6 and forest service road 5n04. Six Rivers National Forest has also ordered closures for all roads, trails and lands affected by the hill fire.
