Miller Complex Fire Update

September 27, 2017 – 9:00 a.m.

Acres: 36,496
Percent Contained: 75%
Start Date: August 14, 2017
Cause: Lightning
Total Personnel: 193
Location: Private land and federal land on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 20 miles west of Ashland, OR.

Fire Information: 541-838-0770, Email address: millercomplex2017@gmail.com

Over the next few days the Abney Fire will continue to respond to warming and drying trends as a thermal trough moves over the area. Warmer temperatures are drying fuels out, producing additional smoke from the incident. Firefighters are not able to access the steep, rough terrain on the east flank of the fire.

Isolated areas continue to burn, funneling smoke down Elliot Creek and West Fork of Dutch Creek. A morning inversion then traps the smoke, not allowing it to rise. This process is occurring between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and by midday the ground is heating up enough to cause the smoke to lift out of the inversion and disperse. With higher temperatures and lower humidity recoveries at night, the inversion is expected to last a few more days until predicted weather patterns change over the weekend.

Fire crews continue to monitor and patrol the Creedence and Burnt Creek fires, with a focus on repair work and removal of equipment, pumps, and hoses. Containment lines no longer in use have been reseeded with native flora, in coordination with district botanists and resource advisors. Crews on the Abney Fire are also focusing on road improvement work and pulling back berms on hand lines and dozer lines. Fire managers do expect an increase in fire behavior on the east flank of the Abney Fire, with geographic features and road systems serving as containment lines.

Closures: The Miller Complex area closure has been reduced. Roads bordering the Burnt Creek and Creedence fires remain closed. Although Carberry Creek Road has been opened, spur roads leading to the burn area also remain closed. Forest officials and fire managers ask that individuals adhere to the area closure still in effect for public and firefighter safety. Forest visitors are cautioned to remain alert and drive with care when near fire areas as crews will still be working in these zones. 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. 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/
ODFW Web Information about hunting and closures- https://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/fire.asp

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



Firefighter performing suppression repair work
Posted on: 09/26/17 10:49 am

Infrared Map