Island Fire Press release from Klamath National Forest:
Yreka, CA – July 4, 2017 – Effective today, several trails within the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the vicinity of the Island Fire will be closed to the public.
Forest Supervisor Patty Grantham said: “This emergency closure is necessary to protect the public from the fire that is actively burning in the area. Due to the terrain, the remoteness of the area, and the difficulty for people to traverse cross-country off the trail, it is anticipated that the trail closure will keep the public out of the path of any blowups or fire runs. These cannot be predicted and pose a serious threat to individuals who are near an uncontrolled fire without constant radio communications regarding fire movement and spread.”
The Closure Order will remain in effect until the Island Fire is declared out.
The following National Forest System trails are closed:
- Forest Trail No. 5424 (Lake of Island Trail).
- Forest Trail No. 5422 (Abbott Lake Trail).
- Forest Trail No. 5405 (North Fork Salmon Trail), from its intersection with Forest Trail No. 5401 (Right Hand Fork Trail), then continuing westerly to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 5408 (English Lake Trail).
- Forest Trail No. 5402 (Upper Abbotts Trail), from its intersection with Forest Trail No. 5405, then continuing northerly to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 5404 (Horse Range Trail).
To date, the Island Fire has burned about 98 acres in the North Fork Salmon River drainage. Fire behavior continues to be minimal with smoldering, creeping and backing. Flame lengths are three feet or less.
There will be a public meeting in Sawyers Bar on Wednesday, July 5th at 5:30 pm at the Salmon River Restoration Council Watershed Center. Public meetings are also being scheduled for Etna and Fort Jones later in the week.
Additional information about the Island Fire is available on Inciweb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5304/) and on the Klamath National Forest Facebook page. Fire Information can also be obtained from the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District Fire Information line at (530) 468-1252 or by emailing to knfislandfire@gmail.com.
Alternate Route:
Just Past Herr Creek, take the Shelly Meadow Trail and jump on the PCT to Seiad Valley. Unfortunately, this requires hikers to miss the Pacific Silver Fir at English Lake as well as the Wooley Creek Trail.
Hopefully the fire remains low intensity.
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