By Amy Sienicki
 
June 24, 2009
 
NEAR HAPPY CAMP, Ca. - Fire officials say the Sims Creek Wildfire in Northern California has now burned about 225 acres.
 
Officials say the fire, located just off U.S. Highway 96 about seven miles west of Seiad, is about 25 percent contained as of Wednesday afternoon. They hope to have it fully contained by Wednesday night.
 
Fire managers say it sparked around 2 p.m. Tuesday. Officials say it was human-caused.About 17 different crews from Northern California, along with five helicopters, are battling the fire. The majority of those are hot shot crews.
 
The helicopters are making trips to and from the Klamath River. Fire officials say they also have a couple air tankers, but those haven't been as effective because of the vegetation.
 
Most of the firefighters are with the U.S. Forest Service, but Cal Fire crews and volunteers are also assisting.
 
"It's so steep on the hillside. It isn't tough putting the fire line in, but it's tough keeping all the stuff on the hill from rolling below us," says Hot Shot Superintendent Johnny Clem.
 
The U.S. Forest Service says Northern California is one of two main areas of concern for wildfires this year in the U.S.
 
The Klamath National Forest and Cal Fire Siskiyou Unit will host an informational open house next Tuesday, June 30th in Yreka at 5:30 p.m. At the Miner's Inn in Yreka.