Public Safety · Siskiyou County
A wildfire named the Ridge Fire began at 10:19 a.m. on October 16, 2026, on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service in Siskiyou County, California. As of the 1:48 p.m. update, the fire had been burning for three hours with containment status unknown and cause undetermined. No specific community threats, evacuation orders, or road closures were reported at the time of publication.
Community News · Siskiyou County
Shasta Konomihu Elders and Culture Bearers in the remote Salmon River Watershed of Siskiyou County are requesting formal tribal consultation from agencies involved in tens of millions of dollars in river restoration projects, including the Salmon River Restoration Council (SRRC) based in Sawyers Bar, the California Fish and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Forest Service. The Konomihu community asserts they are the original inhabitants of the watershed but have been excluded from planning processes that cite the Karuk Tribe as the area's indigenous residents. Community members oppose proposed fish passage barriers on the North and South Forks of the Salmon River, citing sediment overburden from historical mining and fires including the 2013 Salmon River Complex, 2020 Red Salmon, and 2025 Butler Fires. Elders are requesting adherence to AB 52 consultation guidelines and inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge in restoration planning.
