Gonna be a long night and days ahead for the crews.
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Resident expert says the fire is developing a pyrocumulonimbus with lightning. Mother Nature really is just running the McKinney Fire script again.
https://twitter.com/nplareau/status/1691648145628004468?s=20
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AA reporting a new start or spot across the Klamath River to the North of the fire.
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AA just stated the column is collapsing and they are unable to get anywhere near the south side of the fire. Just said “ A WAG at this time is 1500 acres but can’t see the entire south side at this time “
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Pre-collapse, just drove over Siskiyou Summit - lightning strikes on all sides. (Images are from I-5 SB rest stop just south of Talent, OR)
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i cant even keep up with the requests on this one…
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Per ONCC @2030hrs: CA-KNF Head: 4000 acres brush and timber, 0% contained. Fire has a rapid rate of spread, structures are threatened with evacuations in progress. There is a threat to powerlines and HWY 96, Hwy 96 is currently closed to through traffic.
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XSK-3200C punched out about 45 minutes ago
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The fire was mapped by FIRIS at ~2,705 acres including a number of spot fires as of just before midnight.
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From NWS Medford:
.FIRE WEATHER…Updated 300 AM PDT Wednesday, August 15, 2023…The
two big weather concerns for the forecast period will be the extreme
heat expected today into Thursday and the thunderstorm potential
also continuing through the week.
A very hot air mass remains over the area today with hot
temperatures similar to yesterday. 100+ degree high temperatures
are anticipated again west of the Cascades with mid to upper 90s
east of the Cascades. High temperatures will trend lower/less hot
Thursday, but still expect very warm to hot temperatures across the
area.
This afternoon and evening expect a mix of isolated to scattered
thunderstorms to develop from the Cascades east and Siskiyous south.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are also possible in southeast
Jackson County and far southeast Josephine County. A Red Flag
Warning for abundant lightning on dry fuels remains in effect for
Fire weather zones 280, 281, 282, 284, 285, 621, 623 and 624 for
this afternoon and evening. Storms are expected to have relatively
high bases today, so rainfall may be limited outside of the cores of
these storms. Additionally, gusty outflow winds (30 to 40 mph) are
expected near thunderstorms.
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Per NOPS this AM, 2704 acres brush and timber(reduced acreage due to better mapping), 0% contained.
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Nice image Ron.
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ONCC 1930hrs Update: CA-KNF Head: 3580 acres brush and timber, 0% contained. Extreme fire behavior today with short crown runs and long range spotting. Structures are threatened with Evacuation Orders in place. There is a threat to power lines. Road and trail closures are in place. There is a Red Flag Warning in the fire area today for thunderstorms on dry fuels. CA-Type 1,IMT 5 (Mueller) assigned with a planned inbrief 8/16.
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Mods, looks like KNF is all being managed as a complex going forward. Update from NOPS this AM
CA-KNF Happy camp complex: 3685 acres brush and timber, 0% contained. Complex fires:( Head-3580 acres, Elliot-60 acres, Scott- 30 acres, Malone- 15 acres). Structures are threatened with Evacuation Orders in place. There is a threat to powerlines. Road and trail closures are in place. There is a Red Flag Warning in the fire area today for thunderstorms on dry fuels. CA-Type 1,IMT 5 (Mueller) scheduled to assume command 8/18.
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Mod Note: A new Happy Camp Complex thread has been opened here: CA-KNF-Happy Camp Complex 2023
The Head Fire is now assigned to the Happy Camp Complex. All further updates should be posted in the Complex thread.
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