9-12-17 High Cascades Complex Fire Daily Update

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

Aerial resources assigned to the Broken Lookout and Pup fires helped initial attack personnel locate a new start on the southern boundary of the Rogue River‐Siskiyou National Forest yesterday. It was the third new ignition identified in two days. Fire conditions remain extreme, with the potential for wildfire starts from any heat source. For more information about preventing wildfires, visit www.keeporegongreen.com

Northwest Incident Management Team 6 is now based at Joseph H. Stewart State Park near Prospect.

Yesterday’s Activity: Helicopters dropped in the Wish Creek drainage water to head off the Pup Fire while fire managers continued scouting for potential containment lines within and around the

Rogue‐Umpqua Divide Wilderness Area.

Chipping, brushing and tactical burning proceeded on roads developed as contingency lines on the eastern, southern and southwestern flanks of the Broken Lookout Fire.

Today’s Planned Activity: On the Pup Fire, fire managers will continue scouting containment line options and helicopters will drop water as needed to slow the fire’s spread.  Crews will continue reinforcing contingency lines on the Broken Lookout Fire and fire managers will be assessing two roads that could be used to reduce the containment footprint.

Weather: Temperatures will begin dropping today, but relative humidity will remain low. Both fires are expected to be more active today, with the greatest potential for movement in the Squaw Creek drainage on the Broken Lookout Fire and around High Rock, Rabbit Ears and Hershberger creeks on the Pup Fire.

Closures: Road, trail and area closures are in place for the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness and surrounding lands on both the Umpqua and Rogue River‐Siskiyou National Forests. Forest visitors should familiarize themselves with these closures before venturing into the area. For a complete list of closures, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5503/

 Other restrictions: The Umpqua National Forest has lowered its Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to III (partial shutdown). The Rogue River‐Siskiyou National Forest remains under IFPL IV (general shutdown). For a complete description of IFPLs, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/rogue‐siskiyou/fire/?cid=fseprd545253

Quick Facts 

Approximate Size: Broken Lookout 16,606 acres Pup 6,547 acres

Fire Containment: Broken Lookout 20% Pup 8%

Incident Commander: Shawn Sheldon

Resources on the fire: Crews: 9, Helicopters: 4, Engines: 14, Water Tenders: 9, Dozers: 2

Total Personnel: 582

Jurisdiction: Rogue River‐Siskiyou NF, Umpqua NF

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5503

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Oregon Smoke Blog: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Southwest Oregon Joint Information Center: http://swojic.blogspot.com/