09-02 JIC Summary

Joint Information Center (JIC)                                                                                swofireinfo@gmail.com

541-608-1243      http://swojic.blogspot.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MIDDAY JIC SUMMARY

September 2, 2017

OVERVIEW

Evacuations:  Active wildfires and changing weather conditions mean that evacuation levels may change. Poor air quality and visibility has been widespread across southwestern Oregon in recent weeks, and smoky conditions or ash in your area do not necessarily mean a fire is nearby.  Find out where your property is in relation to evacuation areas:

• Chetco Bar Fire Evacuation Areas Map (Curry County)
• Miller Complex Fire Evacuation Areas Map (Josephine and Jackson County)

For more information on what the evacuation levels mean, visit: http://www.rvem.org/general-evacuation-information.html

Labor Day Weekend Safety:  Labor Day travelers should be aware of closures that could affect their plans. There are currently area, road, and trail closures across the region to protect public and firefighter safety. Please stay safe and help our firefighters by honoring these closures.  The National Weather Service has also  issued an Excessive Heat Warning through the weekend.

Fire Prevention:  Fire danger will be extreme over Labor Day weekend due to hot, dry weather and widespread fire activity.  Please help prevent new fires by using caution while recreating outdoors.  Visit our Fire Prevention page for useful tips and information.  The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry are prohibiting the use of power saws and yarding.  No campfires are allowed.

FIRES AT A GLANCE

FIRE RESOURCES	CHETCO BAR	MILLER	HIGH CASCADES	TOTAL RESOURCES
Acres	142,321	16,012	27,321	185,654
Personnel	1,562	555	663	2,780
Crews	43	11	15	69
Engines	81	36	26	143
Dozers	20	6	2	28
Water Tenders	21	5	8	34
Helicopters	7	1	8	16

For more information on what the evacuation levels mean, visit: http://www.rvem.org/general-evacuation-information.html

See swojic.blogspot.com for the latest information.

Chetco Bar Fire

Fire Stats:

Start Date: July 12, 2017 Cause: Lightning  Acres: 142,321  acres  Total Personnel: 1,562

Current Situation

Tactical patrols on the southwest and western perimeter of the fire continue. Construction of direct and indirect lines northeast toward the Pistol River is ongoing. Crews are mopping up on the west and northwest side of the fire. On the eastern flank, firefighters continue to re-establish and improve the firelines that were constructed during previous fires. To the south, firefighters are looking at opportunities for fireline construction, which may extend into California. Aircraft may be hampered by dense smoke and limited visibility.

Extreme to Hazardous smoke impacts are being seen in local communities surrounding the Chetco Bar Fire. Reduced visibility along highway 101 and other local roadways should be expected. Coastal areas such as Gold Beach and Brookings-Harbor may see slight improvement this afternoon with a light sea breeze. Inland communities such as Agness, Cave Junction, Grants Pass that sit down valley of the fire will remain in heavy smoke.

Evacuations
Evacuations remain in place in Curry County. The Red Cross evacuation shelter is in Gold Beach at the Curry County Fairgrounds showcase building, 29392 Ellensburg Avenue. Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is also operating a shelter at the Xaa-wan’-k’wvt Village & Resort (old Ship Ashore) RV Park located at 12370 Highway 101 North in Smith River. Residents are encouraged to monitor the interactive evacuation map for changes: http://arcg.is/2vWQN2N 

Residents are encouraged to monitor the interactive evacuation map for changes: Evacuation Map

Chetco Bar Fire Infrared Map

High Cascades Complex

Fire Stats:

Cause: Lightning  Complex Size: 27,321 acres (acreage update not available) Total Personnel: 663

Complex Containment: 38%

Current Situation:

If conditions permit, tactical firing operations (burnouts) are planned in several locations across the Complex.  Burnouts are planned to merge the Paradise and Windy Gap fires, and along Forest Road 3282 southeast of the Blanket Creek Fire.  Firefighters should finish hand line construction on the east flank of the Blanket Creek Fire and continue developing lines to the southeast along Forest Road 3282 and the nearby road system.  Aircraft will monitor the area between the north edge of Blanket Creek and Hwy. 62.  Northeast of the Spruce Lake Fire, crews will evaluate options for reopening hand lines from the 2015 National Creek Complex.  Motorists and visitors should drive defensively, as smoke may be present on roadways in the area. 

Evacuations
A Level 1 Evacuation Notification remains in effect for the Union Creek area.  A Level 1 Evacuation Notification is still in place for Mazama Village in Crater Lake National Park.   

Closures
On September 1, the Fremont-Winema National Forest expanded the area near the Blanket Creek Fire.  The new closure extends eastward from the Sky Lakes Wilderness to Highway 62, and south to Sevenmile Marsh.  Road, trail and area closures remain in place across the complex.   For specific information visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5503/

High Cascades Complex Overview Map, 9/2/17

Miller Complex

Fire Statistics

Start Date: August 14, 2017 Cause: Lightning Complex Size: 16,012 acres Total Personnel: 555 Complex Containment: 40%

Current Situation

Heat will begin to build again Saturday afternoon and through the weekend. It will be extremely hot and dry with the potential of smoke column development in the afternoons. Winds will decrease with some north wind variability. Aircraft was used in Branch III on Friday as the inversion lifted and may be used again Saturday pending smoke conditions.

Evacuations

Find out where your house is in relation to the evacuation preparation levels:

http://tinyurl.com/MillerComplexEvacs

The following areas are under a Level 2 (Be Set) Evacuation Notice:

• Palmer Creek Road and Kinney Creek Road (Forest Service Road 1090)
• Both sides of Upper Applegate Road from Palmer Creek Road to the Applegate Dam Spillway (This includes Bolder City)
• Beaver Creek Road from its junction with Upper Applegate Road east for about a mile.

The following areas are in a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation Notice:

• Carberry Creek Road from Applegate Road up to and including Steamboat Ranch
• Palmer Creek Road/Applegate Road intersection north to 7449 Applegate Road and Eastside Road from Upper Applegate Road north to 2874 Eastside Road.
• South from Applegate Dam Spillway around all of Applegate Lake (1/8 mile buffer around water to include all private property), including French Gulch.

The following Recreation Sites:

• Hart-tish, Harr Pt, Watkins, Tipsu Tyee, Latgawa Cove, and Stringtown campgrounds
• Carberry Picnic Ground

Miller Complex Overview Map, 9/2/17

A Southwest Oregon Joint Information Center (JIC) has been established in Medford to serve as a ‘one-stop-shopping’ spot to get information on fires and information related to fires currently burning on federal and state lands.  Agencies represented at the JIC include the USDA Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Coos Forest Protective Association, Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service.