Miller Complex Fire Update

September 25, 2017 – 9:00 a.m.

Acres: 36,496
Percent Contained: 70%
Start Date: August 14, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Total Personnel: 167

Location: Private land and federal land on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 20 miles southwest of Medford, OR.
Fire Information: 541-838-0770, Email address: millercomplex2017@gmail.com

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Officials have reduced the Miller Complex Area Closure
The reduced area closure takes effect today, September 25, 2017. Due to the repair progress completed on both the Burnt Peak and Creedence fires, officials feel comfortable allowing recreationists and hunters back into the area. The Abney Fire area will remain closed for the time being as a safety precaution. For a more precise, technical definition of these closures, please see Forest Order Number 06-10-22-17-37, or visit the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest closure page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

Forest and fire managers ask that the public respect the area closure still in effect for the sake of public and firefighter safety. People driving or walking inside fire perimeters is a safety concern. When driving near fire areas, the public is cautioned to remain alert and drive with care as crews are likely to still be working in the area. With hunting season underway, it is particularly important that participants are informed on local area closures, fire restrictions, camping regulations and hazards found in recently-burned areas. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has a comprehensive list of informative links for hunters that can be found at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/fire.asp.

Fire personnel are planting seeds in areas disturbed by fire suppression tactics primarily where dozers were used. Planting seeds will promote regeneration in these impacted areas. Repair operations including water bar construction, chipping of woody debris, road improvement and backhauling of equipment have all been successful across the complex thus far, and will continue today.

The Elliot and Dutch Creak areas of the Abney Fire are the most active zone on the Miller Complex. Fire behavior is low, moving slowly across the forest floor consuming needle cast, leaf litter, and small scale twigs and brush. Visible smoke can be expected until a season ending event, such as snow. Weather is forecasted to become warmer and dryer as the week progresses. Firefighters have been collecting fuel samples from the field and testing moisture levels. Monitoring moisture levels in forest materials will allow fire managers to better estimate upcoming fire behavior, and plan accordingly.

Closures:
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has a closure area in place https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices. The Bureau of Land Management has closed the Grayback Mountain Trailhead. For Klamath National Forest closures see https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices.
Miller Complex Information Websites:
Inciweb - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5514/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MillerComplexFires/ and https://facebook/R6RRSNF
Miller Complex Abney Fire, south of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) - https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5511/

For all wildfires on the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF, Joint Information Center Blog - http://swojic.blogspot.com/

Miller Complex Road Closure update Map