State Route 96 will be reopened for limited travel between Hoopa and Weitchpec three times a day beginning Thursday, if fire conditions permit, with one trip north and one trip south.

According to a Mill Creek Fire interagency incident management team release, the roadway will be open at 7 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. daily for transportation with a pilot car escort, although times could change with little notice.

The Mill Creek Fire, which has been deemed arson, has burned more than 2,000 acres and created unhealthy air quality conditions in several areas, including Hoopa, Willow Creek and Orleans. Read more here.


Read the Mill Creek Fire interagency incident management team release below:

If fire conditions permit, and we can safely provide an opportunity for the public to drive Highway 96, through the Mill Creek 1 Fire Road Closure, Interagency co-operators are going to provide three openings daily, each direction. This includes one trip south and one trip north. A pilot car will escort travelers through the fire area.

Timeframes for this to occur:
Please be on time or you will miss the opportunity.
7:00 a.m.
12:00 (noon)
6:00 p.m.

Shuttle times may be canceled or delayed due to fire behavior and fire control efforts. Due to fire operations this may change at any time.

Please stay tuned to the local radio station, Hoopa Valley Fire Department Facebook Page and Hoopa Valley Tribe Facebook Page, Cal Tran and California Highway Patrol for updates.