09-19-17 Chetco Bar Fire Updates (east and west)
09-19-17 (West) Curry Chetco Bar Fire Update
Rainfall over the Chetco East Zone Fire and Indigo Fire (784 Fire) areas totaled approximately ¼ inch on Monday. Cool, moist air and wet fuels resulted in very little active fire. Smoldering and some smoke production occurred in fuels sheltered by thick forest canopy and in small jackpots of dry fuel. Infrared flights have not occurred due to cloudy weather, so current fire sizes (Chetco Bar: 190,512 acres and Indigo: 578 acres) were determined using previous IR data and GPS points from observers.
Due to low risk of fire spread and well-established firelines in the West Zone, all previous evacuation levels in Curry County were withdrawn on Monday at noon. The Level 2 Evacuation “Be Set” is still in effect along Illinois River Road in Josephine County. Level 2 Evacuation means residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Please monitor the Illinois Valley Fire District Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ivfire/) or one of the information sources below for announcement of evacuation level changes.
Yesterday, masticators and fire crews constructed fireline on the north side of the fire to the west of Bear Camp. Temperatures in the area were in the mid-40s and conditions were slippery due to rain, so progress was slow. A warming tent and laundry service has been provided at camp to keep firefighters dry and healthy during the expected cold and damp weather.
Today, fireline construction, brush removal and mastication will continue west of Bear Camp and along the 076 Road east of the Indigo Fire as conditions allow. Due to subdued fire activity in the Illinois River Road area, pumps, sprinklers and hose lays set up for structure protection will be removed starting today. In the event that conditions change, they will be reinstalled. Fuel-free firelines will not be altered or rehabilitated until risk of fire movement has passed.
Weather and expected fire behavior: Up to ½ inch of rain is possible over the fire area today. Temperatures will range from 52 to 57 degrees on ridges with high minimum relative humidity (75-85%). These conditions will shut down fire activity except in the most sheltered, dry fuels. Winds are forecast out of the southwest with gusts up to 18 mph on ridges. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning from late this afternoon through Wednesday afternoon due to risk of runoff and debris flows on Chetco Bar Fire burn scars.
Smoke: Heavier rain should result in good air quality around the fire area. For current air quality information and forecasts go to http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.
At 6:00 PM Tuesday, Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) #13 will turn over management of East Zone Chetco Fire to Great Basin IMT 1 in Brookings. Fire crews will work in the East Zone as a branch of the Great Basin Team. They will continue to be based in a satellite camp at Lake Selmac.
Closures and Restrictions: A broad area of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is closed around the Chetco Bar Fire. Private land along the Illinois River Road within the National Forest is at a Level 2 “Get Set” Evacuation status; only residents and fire personnel can enter this area. There are currently no closures around the Indigo Fire. More details and maps are at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5385/
Fire at a Glance:
Size: 190,512 acres
Started: July 12, 2017 by Lightning
Containment: 68%
Assigned Resources:
Helicopters shared across the Chetco Bar Fire: three Type 3; three Type 2; two Type 1.
Ground resources on the Chetco East Zone: 9 Type 2 Crews; 5 Engines; 1 Dozer; 1 Water Tender; 1 Masticator; 1 Chipper; 1 Excavator.
09-19-17 Chetco Bar (East) Update Josephine County
Rainfall over the Chetco East Zone Fire and Indigo Fire (784 Fire) areas totaled approximately ¼ inch on Monday. Cool, moist air and wet fuels resulted in very little active fire. Smoldering and some smoke production occurred in fuels sheltered by thick forest canopy and in small jackpots of dry fuel. Infrared flights have not occurred due to cloudy weather, so current fire sizes (Chetco Bar: 190,512 acres and Indigo: 578 acres) were determined using previous IR data and GPS points from observers.
Due to low risk of fire spread and well-established firelines in the West Zone, all previous evacuation levels in Curry County were withdrawn on Monday at noon. The Level 2 Evacuation “Be Set” is still in effect along Illinois River Road in Josephine County. Level 2 Evacuation means residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Please monitor the Illinois Valley Fire District Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ivfire/) or one of the information sources below for announcement of evacuation level changes.
Yesterday, masticators and fire crews constructed fireline on the north side of the fire to the west of Bear Camp. Temperatures in the area were in the mid-40s and conditions were slippery due to rain, so progress was slow. A warming tent and laundry service has been provided at camp to keep firefighters dry and healthy during the expected cold and damp weather.
Today, fireline construction, brush removal and mastication will continue west of Bear Camp and along the 076 Road east of the Indigo Fire as conditions allow. Due to subdued fire activity in the Illinois River Road area, pumps, sprinklers and hose lays set up for structure protection will be removed starting today. In the event that conditions change, they will be reinstalled. Fuel-free firelines will not be altered or rehabilitated until risk of fire movement has passed.
Weather and expected fire behavior: Up to ½ inch of rain is possible over the fire area today. Temperatures will range from 52 to 57 degrees on ridges with high minimum relative humidity (75-85%). These conditions will shut down fire activity except in the most sheltered, dry fuels. Winds are forecast out of the southwest with gusts up to 18 mph on ridges. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning from late this afternoon through Wednesday afternoon due to risk of runoff and debris flows on Chetco Bar Fire burn scars.
Smoke: Heavier rain should result in good air quality around the fire area. For current air quality information and forecasts go to http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.
At 6:00 PM Tuesday, Northwest Incident Management Team (IMT) #13 will turn over management of East Zone Chetco Fire to Great Basin IMT 1 in Brookings. Fire crews will work in the East Zone as a branch of the Great Basin Team. They will continue to be based in a satellite camp at Lake Selmac.
Closures and Restrictions: A broad area of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is closed around the Chetco Bar Fire. Private land along the Illinois River Road within the National Forest is at a Level 2 “Get Set” Evacuation status; only residents and fire personnel can enter this area. There are currently no closures around the Indigo Fire. More details and maps are at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5385/
Fire at a Glance:
Size: 190,512 acres
Started: July 12, 2017 by Lightning
Containment: 68%
Assigned Resources:
Helicopters shared across the Chetco Bar Fire: three Type 3; three Type 2; two Type 1.
Ground resources on the Chetco East Zone: 9 Type 2 Crews; 5 Engines; 1 Dozer; 1 Water Tender; 1 Masticator; 1 Chipper; 1 Excavator.
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