News Release Title

U.S. Forest Service Klamath National Forest News Release 1711 South Main Street Media Contact: Island Fire Information Yreka CA 96097 530-468-1252 (7am to 7pm) Voice: 530-842-6131 Web: www.fs.usda.gov/klamath Email: [email protected] https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5304/

Island Fire Update for July 29 and 30

Fort Jones, CA – July 29, 2017 – The Island fire continues to burn with low to moderate intensity, slowly burning through dead and down logs and tree branches with minimal damage to live trees and brush. The western perimeter is burning into rocky areas with little vegetation on the ridge below English Peak and west of Lake of the Island. The southern and eastern edges are backing into Lake of the Island and Deer Lick drainages and will continue to advance. To the north, the fire continues to burn down into the North Fork Salmon River drainage. The fire estimated have burned 1303 acres. The Island Fire has been burning at a slow rate for the last 10 days growing 20-30 acres a day. The effects on the land have been very positive said Salmond/Scott River District Ranger Ted McAthur. The low intensity fire burning through the dead fuels on the forest floor will have very positive, healthy effects on the forest. “This area has no recorded fire history” McAuthur added. “Monitoring and containing this fire is the right decision based on a number of factors including the very wet winter, the weather conditions, and the high fuel moisture” McAuthur said.

The recent lightning has resulted in a number of small fires on the Klamath National Forest. These fires will produce more smoke and haze then has been experienced in recent weeks. Smoke conditions will continue to be monitored and publish a daily Smoke Report that can be accessed on the Island Fire Inciweb page. With the increase in fire activity throughout the area the public is asked to please stay alert for firefighters and fire equipment operating in the area.

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is open through the Marble Mountain Wilderness. However, the Klamath National Forest has issued a fire restrictions order for several portions of the Forest. Please refer to the Klamath National Forest website for details on the restrictions https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices This order is effective from July 13, 2017, through the end of the official 2017 fire season. Backcountry travelers are reminded to be careful with stoves and campfires. A California Campfire permit is required for anyone lighting an open fire, including campfires, barbeques and portable stoves on federal lands and private lands that are the property of another person. On private lands, written USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. permission from the landowner is also required for campfires. Campfire permits are available on line at http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/. Certain National Forest System trails located in the vicinity of the fire are closed to protect people from the risks associated with an active wildfire. These trails are Forest Trail No. 5424 (Lake of Island Trail), Forest Trail No. 5422 (Abbott Lake Trail), a portion of Forest Trail No. 5405 (North Fork Salmon Trail), and a portion of Forest Trail No. 5402 (Upper Abbotts Trail). Additional information about the Island Fire is available on the U.S. Forest Service – Klamath National Forest Facebook page and on Inciweb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5304/). Smoke and air quality updates and forecasts can be found on the California Smoke Blog (https://californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/) and on the Inciweb site. Information can also be obtained from the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District Fire Information line at (530) 468-1252 or by emailing to [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.