8-28-17 Chetco Bar Fire Daily Update

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this update, click here.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Critical fire weather conditions will continue today. Extreme fire behavior is anticipated. Dry and unstable conditions will lower humidity into the night and the unstable air could lead to more lift and ventilation over the fire. “This means people may see smoke columns forming,” said Noel Livingston, Incident Commander.

Yesterday

Chetco Bar Fire burned toward Hog Mountain to the northwest, Snow Camp Trailhead to the north and above Emily Creek to the south. As smoke cleared in the afternoon helicopters dropped water to slow fire progression; helping firefighters who were working to hold fire within containment lines and build additional direct and indirect containment line.

Firefighters and heavy equipment worked to connect existing roads and dozer lines south and west of the fire. Crews also continued to assess buffer zones around houses and clear brush as needed to protect homes. They have moved into the Pistol River and Winchuk areas.

Due to very active fire behavior on the southwest side of the fire, Curry County Sheriff’s Office expanded and heightened evacuation levels for some residents. Evacuation information is online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5385/.

With 80 degree temperatures and 20% relative humidity, Chetco Bar Fire burned actively overnight and crews worked spot fires on the west and south perimeter.

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this map, click here.

For a downloadable, emailable PDF of this map, click here.

Today

Firefighters will use an infrared heat sensing device to locate, then suppress hot spots near the fire’s perimeter. As visibility and weather conditions allow, helicopters and aircraft will drop retardant and water to help slow the fire’s spread.

Crews will continue to construct direct dozer and handline, install and maintain hoselays, and scout for opportunities to extend containment lines north and south of the fire. Planned containment lines incorporate existing roads, sparsely vegetated ridgetops, and previously burned areas, including the 2002 Biscuit Fire. A structure protection group will continue to reduce fuels surroundinghomes, install and maintain hose lays.

Basecamps for Chetco Bar Fire will consolidate into a single location on Oceanview Drive.Evacuations/Closure Information: is online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5385/39102