Salmon Fire Burns Steep, Wooded Ridge Southwest of Myers Flat

Smoke rose from a densely wooded ridge near Kerr Peak off Salmon Creek Road shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, as a vegetation fire believed to be a rekindle of a previous burn spread through grass, brush, and timber on the steep terrain southwest of Myers Flat.

The blaze, quickly designated the Salmon Fire, burned approximately 4 acres at a moderate rate of spread along a ridge between the Salmon Creek watershed and Myers Flat. The terrain complicated suppression efforts: the area is steep, heavily wooded, and difficult to access. Temperatures around 75 degrees combined with wind added pressure on firefighters working an exposed ridgeline.

Crews from Salmon Creek Fire and Myers Flat Fire responded alongside additional departments, with roughly 25 personnel engaged in total. Firefighters worked the fire on foot, pushing south-southwest uphill, while a hose lay was extended in from the north. Four engines and an inmate crew supported ground operations.

Overhead, Copter 611 made water drops over the fire before returning to Rohnerville Station to refuel at 4:52 p.m., with plans to return to the fire afterward. Video of the helicopter's drops, captured by Noel Soucy, was posted shortly before 4:33 p.m. The smoke column was visible across a wide stretch of the region, including from the home of Redheaded Blackbelt editor Kym Kemp.

Progress came quickly once resources were in place. Forward progress was stopped by 5:37 p.m. Twelve minutes later, at 5:49 p.m., the Salmon Fire was reported 100% contained. The cause remains listed as a suspected rekindle of a prior burn in the area, based on scanner reports, though no official cause has been confirmed. No injuries or structure damage were reported in any of the dispatches.