UPDATE: The U.S. Forest Service just announced that the fires known as the Elkhorn, Hopkins, Willow, Vinegar and August Complex have all burned together and will be known going forward as the August Complex. For clarity, the large fire complex will be split into three zones: North, South and West. The complex’s West zone is […]
Kym Kemp
Kym Kemp is the editor and publisher of the news website Redheaded Blackbelt at www.kymkemp.com.
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Fully Engulfed Two-Story Building in Fruitland Ridge
Firefighters responded to a call of an engulfed two-story building in the 500 block of Brown Road in the Fruitland Ridge area near Dyerville Loop Road. UPDATE 4 p.m.: The fire spread to grass, a nearby tree, and a pickup. However, according to the photographer who sent these photos, firefighters still have it “pretty contained.” […]
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Fire East of Humboldt Slowed with Cooler Weather
The Hopkins Fire that is burning south of Ruth and causing evacuations in southwestern Trinity, southeastern Humboldt and northern Mendocino slowed its westward rush yesterday. According to maps from imagery taken right before 7 p.m. yesterday, the fire has not yet moved into Humboldt County. However, the fire threatens the communities of Ruth, Zenia, and […]
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101 Reopens Near Willits
U.S. Highway 101 reopened to through traffic this evening. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department Twitter account tweeted, “Highway 101 is now open! Please share!” The main artery from Oregon to Los Angeles has been closed since Sept. 7 after a quick burning fire send residents fleeing. The Sheriff’s Department’s tweet warned this does not mean […]
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UPDATE: Route 1 Near Leggett Back Open
UPDATE: Caltrans reports State Route 1 is back open. PREVOUS: State Route 1 is now closed with no estimated time of re-opening. The California Highway Patrol told KMUD News that a big rig has rolled over, completely blocking the highway, approximately three miles from its intersection with Highway 101 in Leggett. That means that there […]
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SECOND UPDATE: 101 Still Closed as Oak Fire Burns
SECOND UPDATE: U.S. Highway 101 remains closed Wednesday morning due to the Oak Fire, which CalFire reported in an update remains at 863 acres and 10 percent containment. Two structures have been lost. The cause remains under investigation. UPDATE: U.S. Highway 101 remains closed in the Willits area due to the Oak Fire, which started […]
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UPDATE: Woman Shot Near SR 96
Law enforcement is searching for a suspect or suspects who shot a 29-year-old woman before 6 a.m. today in the area of Mill Creek Road and State Route 96. According to Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, they received a call for assistance at 5:52 a.m. from the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police […]
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Fire Evacuations Near Ruth Lake
The tiny community of Three Forks in southwestern Trinity County near Ruth Lake is being evacuated. Deputies from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and firefighters from multiple departments in the area are being sent to the area for structure protection and to help residents evacuate safely. According to the Trinity County Office of Emergency Services, […]
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Fire Near Willits Closes 101
The Oak Fire which began about noon today northwest of Willits is now 1,000 acres and has completely closed U.S. Highway 101 in both directions. At least two structures have been destroyed. State Sen. Mike McGuire tweeted, “Highway 101 is now closed in both directions in Mendocino County due to the #OakFire. Northbound closure: North […]
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Property of Murder Suspect Searched: No Bodies Located
On Wednesday, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office not only assisted the DFW on serving a search warrant in the Sprowel Creek area and served their own search warrants on properties in Shelter Cove, but they conducted an investigation associated with murder suspect, Ryan Tanner. Late yesterday, Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the department told us via email, […]
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Medical Rescue Ongoing of a Paraglider Injured in a Crash Near Petrolia
About 2:48 p.m., a man who crashed his paraglider was injured in an accident near Prosper Ridge Road in the Windy Ridge Road area of Petrolia, according to the scanner. Petrolia and Honeydew Fire were dispatched to the scene. According to Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, “Cal Fire and Medical responded, […]
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Several Students Enrolled in the Southern Humboldt Unified School District Test Positive for COVID-19
Humboldt County Public Health notified the Southern Humboldt Unified School District that students enrolled in the district tested positive for COVID-19. According to the release, all the students and families involved have been identified and they had no direct contact with anyone at the school as schools are distance learning. We encourage students, staff, and […]