9-04-17 Miller Complex Daily Update

Current Situation

The Burnt Peak and Abney Fires have grown in some areas; the acreage will not show much change until an infrared flight can be completed. A Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory is in place for Southwest Oregon, as there is potential for extreme fire behavior due to dry fuel conditions. Due to no visibility, air support was grounded yesterday.

Evacuations

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

• The Kinney Creek Road (1090 Road) and Palmer Creek 
• Both sides of Upper Applegate Road from Palmer Creek Road to the Applegate Dam Spillway (this includes Bolder City.
• Beaver Creek Road (Jackson County, Oregon) from its junction with Upper Applegate Road east for approximately a mile.

The following areas remain under a Level 1 (Be Ready) Evacuation:

• Carberry Creek Road from Applegate Road up to and including Steamboat 
• Palmer Creek Road/Applegate Road intersection north to 7449 Applegate Road and Eastside Road from Upper Applegate Road north to 2874 Eastside.
• 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 are included in the Level 1 Evacuation:

• Hart-tish, Harr Pt, Watkins, Tipsu Tyee, Latgawa Cove and Stringtown campgrounds, and Carberry picnic ground.

Joe Bar remains under an evacuation warning.

Branch I: Creedence (2,135 acres, 46% contained)

There was no growth on the Creedence and Bigelow fires yesterday. Remaining crews continue to work on both flanks, focusing on the north. Firefighters will hold, mop-up, monitor, and patrol firelines. Hose-lay and sprinkler systems are still in place on the north side of the Creedence fire.

Yesterday’s firing operations went as expected, and firefighters were able to successfully bring the fire down to the 1090 road. Thanks in part to previous fuels treatments and mitigation work done by the local agencies and private landowners, the fire creeped slowly to the control line. The fire is holding at the road; however, crews will continue to work the perimeter and do firing operations if needed, until the fire is contained.

Branch II: Burnt Peak Fire (3,616 acres, 20% contained)

Yesterday’s firing operations went as expected, and firefighters were able to successfully bring the fire down to the 1090 road. Thanks in part to previous fuels treatments and mitigation work done by the local agencies and private landowners, the fire creeped slowly to the control line. The fire is holding at the road; however, crews will continue to work the perimeter and do firing operations if needed, until the fire is contained.

Branches III and IV: Abney Fire (About nine miles north of Seiad Valley, CA; 12,164 acres, 5% contained) Resources are being reallocated from the other branches to assist on Branch III, as the most significant fire behavior occurred here yesterday. Today the Roosevelt hotshot crew will work to contain a small spot fire on Division R. Firefighters were able to complete dozer line and plumb it with a hose-lay on the northwest side of the fire in Division T.  Dozers and masticators continue to improve the 1050 road.

Branch IV is the section of the fire burning in the Klamath National Forest. Yesterday crews completed a key dozer line across Seiad Valley between the Goff and Gap Fire burn scars near the 47N17 Road. This line is key to keep the fire from progressing south into the populated south Seiad Valley. Crews completed handline to Copper Butte on the southwest side. The Eclipse Complex, which is based in California, is managing Branch IV. Specific information about Branch IV and the Seiad Valley is posted at www.inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5511.