9-05-17 Chetco Bar Fire Daily Update

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

Weather and Fire Behavior: A slight rise in humidity and decrease in temperatures is predicted over the next few days. Winds out of the southwest may help to help clear some of the smoke this afternoon. Moisture is expected to begin moving into the area, becoming more abundant Wednesday into Thursday; however, the potential for thunderstorms is a concern for Wednesday afternoon and evening. The potential for very active fire behavior still exists today, torching and crown runs are possible and spot fires may ignite up to three tenths of a mile from the main fire. 

Yesterday: Numerous spot fires were ignited by embers being cast across containment lines. The east side of the fire pushed 4.5 miles to the south and east prompting increased evacuation levels on Illinois River Road. Fire activity on the west flank led to a change from level 2 to level 3 in some areas.

Multiple air resources, including a heavy helitanker, took advantage of the improved visibility to aid firefighting operations. Good progress was made on the Illinois river road and crews wrapped approximately 80 percent of the structures in that area.

Today: Fire resources will continue to promptly identify, prioritize, and suppress or contain spot fires while holding and improving existing containment lines. In addition to fireline construction, the direct and indirect fireline work includes crews and dozers improving, or reopening, fireline that was constructed 15 years ago during the Biscuit fire and improving roads to be used as containment lines. 

To stop or slow fire growth, crews may strategically burn the vegetation between the main fire and containment lines. These operations would include careful consideration of terrain, vegetation, and predicted fire weather. Structure protection will continue in the Josephine County Oak Flat area. Two additional Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshall task forces will be arriving to join in structural fire suppression efforts. An incident management team will begin to arrive and will be taking command of the east side of the fire over the next couple of days.

For a downloadable, emailable map, click here.

Smoke & Air Quality: Thick and heavy smoke this morning will again lay low in communities surrounding the Chetco Bar fire. Through today, light Southwest winds will drift smoke inland giving coastal areas a reprieve. In the Brookings and Gold Beach area, moderate smoke impacts are expected by this afternoon before heavy smoke sinks back in overnight tonight. Inland communities, such as Cave Junction will continue to see very heavy smoke through the day and tonight.

Evacuations: In Josephine county, a level 3 evacuation order is in place for all residents on Illinois River road within the Forest Service boundaries, including the Oak Flat community. A level 3 evacuation is also in affect in Curry county along the Carpenterville Road, north of the Cape Ferrelo Road intersection to the Carpenterville Road and Bosley Butte Road intersection. A Level 1 evacuation order has been issued for the residents of the Illinois Valley west of Highway 199 from Hayes Hill to the California state line. Residents are encouraged to monitor the interactive evacuation map for changes: http://arcg.is/2vWQN2N.

Shelters: The Red Cross evacuation shelter is in Gold Beach at the Curry County Fairgrounds is relocating to the Nazarene Church 1600 Chetco Ave in Brookings, OR (541)-600-6068. 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.

Closures: Several large wildfires are burning in southwest Oregon. Area closures have been implemented on the Rogue River – Siskyou National Forest and BLM lands. Fire restrictions are in place: http://bit.ly/2erUN5B.