Two fires burning near Foresthill have jumped the American River to become one.

The blaze has grown to char more than 18,000 acres in the American River canyons roughly 13 miles east of Foresthill.

The Government Springs Fire burning on the Interstate 80 side, and the Westville Fire, which has been burning on the Foresthill side, jumped the river late this week to combine and gain roughly 2,000 acres on the east end.

“With heat on both sides, it makes it easier to burn,” said Marian Swinney, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Officials are continuing to refer to the blaze as the American River Complex, and no longer as two individual fires.

An unexpected shift in winds late Tuesday night pushed the fires over a slope into the North Fork American River drainage, heightening its danger.

If not suppressed, the blaze could soon threaten homes and structures in the Blue Canyon community.

Swinney said Friday that the fire remains controlled from the northwest side of the canyon.

“It is catching spots, but crews are getting them out,” she said. “Today they are working on getting the line built up on the other side (of the fire) to tie a dozer line to Humbug Ridge.”

On Saturday, crews continued work on that line, according to Mike Lee, public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service. Lee added that crews were planning to fight the fire directly Saturday in an area between Sawtooth Ridge and the North Fork of the American River.

“Rather than wait for the fire to get to the line, they’re actually going to try and attack,” Lee said Saturday.

Lee said the fire lines and patrolling along Sawtooth Ridge have prevented the fire from moving into Blue Canyon, where homes could be threatened.

On Sunday, Rowdy Muir’s Western Great Basin Management Team will take over the American River Complex. For the past two weeks, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team has overseen the fire. Lee said team’s “time out” after about two weeks so they can rest.

The two blazes started three weeks ago when lightning strikes sparked hundreds of fires in Northern California.

Aerial support remained aggressive on the fire throughout the week with retardant and water drops.

More than 900 firefighters are on scene and resources include 18 crews, eight helicopters, 53 engines, 8 dozers and 24 water tenders. Crews from Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service and personnel from across the nation are helping battle the blaze.

Foresthill Road is now closed at Sugar Pine Reservoir, east of Foresthill, with bucket-equipped helicopters dipping for water there and boaters not allowed on the lake.

Texas Hill Road north of the American River and south of Emigrant Gap also remained closed Wednesday afternoon as a result of the fires.

The fire was estimated 20 percent contained Saturday afternoon.

The Journal’s Jenifer Gee contributed to this report. The Journal’s Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story.

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Firefighter appreciation

Foresthill resident Gloria Marie is inviting area resident to join her and her neighbors every night to show appreciation for firefighters working on the American River Complex fire. Residents are meeting from 7 to 10 p.m. every night on Foresthill and Bath roads (at the Upper Mill site). They hold signs and wave to firefighters as they drive past.

“You can see the smile on their face and that’s kind of what it’s all about,” Marie said. “We let them know we appreciate them and make them feel welcome because they work so darn hard. We’re so proud of them.”

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