09-26-17 Chetco Bar Fire Update

Community Meeting: There will be a public meeting, including a fire overview and update, at the Winchuck Volunteer Fire Station (363 Winchuck River Road, Brookings, OR) today at 6:00 p.m.

Today Infrared mapping has confirmed fire fighters’ observations on the Chetco Bar and Indigo fires. Pockets of heat remain, displayed as isolated smokes within the fire interior and in difficult to access areas in the Meadow Creek, East Fork Pistol River, Emily Creek, and Illinois River drainages. Firefighters are mopping up and patrolling these areas.

Firefighters continue to recover unneeded equipment and repair fire lines that are no longer required. Inserting waterbars along hand line and dozer line minimizes erosion potential. Crews place earthen berms, boulders, logs, slash and other vegetative material to obscure previously disturbed areas. In other instances, berms are removed to allow for waterflow and settling of topsoil for vegetative recovery.

Firefighters and support functions continue to be released as incident objectives are achieved.

Closures and Safety 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 due to residual fire activity, heavy equipment in transit, and hazards presented by fire-weakened trees.

Managers are assessing progress by firefighters, conditions on the ground, and other factors in order to reduce the scope of closures. Patience is requested and appreciated. For public and firefighter safety, please adhere to closures, whether staffed with road guards or unstaffed. For further information, please call (541) 618-2200 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

Weather and Fire Behavior Expect partly cloudy skies until noon, then sunny with temperatures of 75-85 degrees, and similar conditions Wednesday. Minimal fire activity will include a few smokes, smoldering and creeping. The continued warm weather will support firefighting efforts by making areas of heat easier to identify and extinguish.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in effect over the Chetco Bar Fire area. Before flying near the area, pilots are encouraged to check for the most current update at tfr.faa.gov.