River Complex 2021 fires

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River Complex 2021 fires

What happened
In late July 2021, a group of more than 20 wildfires started in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou County, California. The fires were sparked by lightning during thunderstorms and were managed together as the River Complex.

How big it got
By October 25, 2021, the River Complex had burned about 199,343 acres and was 100% contained. The two largest fires were the Haypress–Summer Fire (about 183,145 acres) and the Cronan Fire (about 5,940 acres).

Progression and key events
- July: The first fires were reported around July 30–31. The Cronan Fire grew near Sawyers Bar. Some fires, like Bally Fire and Lime Fire, were contained early, and a few small fires remained.
- Early August: By August 2, thirteen fires were still active. The three biggest were Haypress, Summer, and Cronan. Smokejumpers were brought in to fight fires in remote areas. Evacuations began for nearby communities.
- August 6: Haypress had grown to about 13,500 acres, Summer to about 6,611 acres, and Cronan to about 662 acres. The total for the complex was about 29,783 acres, with only about 3% containment at that time. Evacuations were expanded to Summerville and Petersburg, and part of Callahan-Cecilville Road was closed.
- Ongoing: Fires continued to burn in difficult terrain, with crews focusing on protecting structures and evacuating residents as needed.

Effects
Smoke from the River Complex worsened air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area from August 6–8, leading to an air quality advisory for the region.

Evacuations and closures
- Mandatory evacuations included Caribou Road, Cecilville, Petersburg, Summerville, and Taylor Creek Road.
- Evacuation warnings covered areas such as Black Bear, Blue Ridge, Eddy Gulch Road, Forks of Salmon, Sawyers Bar, and Uncle Sam Mine.
- An evacuation center was set up at Etna Fire Hall in Etna, California.
- Road closures included Callahan-Cecilville Road.
- Recreational closures included the China Gulch Trailhead.

Context
The River Complex was part of the 2021 California wildfires. It formed from multiple lightning-caused fires in the Klamath National Forest and affected several communities before being fully contained.