09-24-17 Chetco Bar Fire Update

Pacific Northwest Team 2, Type I Incident Management Team, assumed command of the Chetco Bar and Indigo Fires at 4 p.m. yesterday.

Today Firefighters continue to secure line, mop up, implement suppression repair, backhaul equipment and chip downed woody debris. Isolated smokes persist within the fire perimeter in the Meadow Creek, East Fork Pistol River, Emily Creek, and Illinois River drainages. These hot spots are expected to creep and smolder without expanding significantly.

Repairing fire suppression lines is an emphasis at this stage. Stabilization measures taken by crews post-suppression help prevent soil erosion, aid vegetation recovery, minimize damage to prime fish habitat, and conserve water quality. Techniques include installing water bars and using heavy equipment to backfill soil from trenches and dozer lines. As natural slope contour is reestablished, crews disperse tree limbs, slash, and stones across the site, resulting in increased stability and a more naturalized effect.

Safety Hazard trees present a high risk to firefighters working within the fire perimeter and are a consideration when forest managers determine the necessity of forest closures. Drivers are encouraged to anticipate fire traffic on area roadways.

Closures Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District road and area closures remain in effect for all public lands adjacent to the Chetco Bar Fire area. These areas are closed to all uses. For further information call (541) 618-2200 or use the link under Online Resources. No evacuation orders are in effect for Curry or Josephine Counties.

Weather and Fire Behavior A warming and drying trend is expected through mid-week. Temperatures are expected to peak, while humidity readings minimize, around Thursday. Warming temperatures and lowering relative humidity will likely increase the amount of stump holes, snags and heavy fuels producing smoke. The continued warm weather will support suppression repair and recovery operations.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in effect over the Chetco Bar Fire area. Pilots are advised to seek more information, using the link under Online Resources.