Joint Information Center Fire Update July 27, 2018

Information for Southwest Oregon Fires is available at the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 541-474-5305 8 AM – 8 PM.  Email:  swofireinfo@gmail.com;  blogspot:   swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
GARNER	25,097	25%	2,530
SUGAR PINE	2,095	N/A	762
NATCHEZ	9,991	10%	707
HENDRIX	1,081	60%	413
SOUTH UMPQUA	9,198	14%	1,285
TIMBER CRATER 6	3,125	65%	712

WEATHER

A red flag warning is in effect today for a combination of low relative humidity, gusty winds, and unstable conditions that will create the potential for significant fire growth this afternoon and evening in southwest Oregon. Periods of plume-dominated growth and spotting from existing wildfires will be possible this afternoon and evening. Historic hot and dry conditions continue in the region.

SMOKE
Poor air quality conditions persist throughout outlook area, ranging from unhealthy to moderate. Down-valley winds are likely to transport smoke as evening time sets in. As fire activity increases, air quality is expected to deteriorate. Fires across Southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California will remain active, producing the most amount of smoke in the mid to late afternoon.

Although smoke conditions became less severe yesterday across Oregon, clean air areas will remain a premium. The following areas are expected to have cleaner air for the next few days: North of Gold Beach along the coast, between Canyonville to Roseburg Oregon along I-5 and south of Eureka California along the coast.

EVACUATIONS

More info about evacuation levels and preparedness can be found at http://www.rvem.org.

Josephine County current evacuation information is available at the Josephine County Sheriff’s website at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/News.asp?SectionID=180.

Jackson County current evacuation information is available at the Jackson County Sheriff’s website at http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/News.

Douglas County current evacuation information is available at the Douglas County Sheriff’s website at http://www.dcso.com/#.

Information about fire evacuation levels is also available from the Joint Information Center at 541-474-5305.

CLOSURES

GARNER

NO AREA CLOSURES AT THIS TIME

NATCHEZ

The Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath National Forests have issued an emergency area closure for the Natchez Fire. Be sure to check the Forest websites for information about current conditions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices and https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/klamath/alerts-notices.

TIMBER CRATER 6

An emergency closure order has been put in place on the Chemult Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest bordering Crater Lake National Park. For more information go to: www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema

HENDRIX

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Hendrix Fire Area Closure for the southern portion of the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District has been updated but a closure remains in effect. Detailed information and a map of the area closure are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou.

The Pacific Crest Trail is now open on the Siskiyou Crest between mile 1695 and mile 1708. However, the Wrangle Campground on the north side of the Crest is still closed. Information is available at https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/oregon/.

SUGAR PINE

An Emergency Road and Area Fire Closure has been issued by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. All portions of the Forest west of Forest Roads 68 near the northern boundary and all of 6640 are closed. This area is bounded on the south by BLM and private land, to the north and west by the Umpqua National Forest and to the east by open portions of the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest.

SOUTH UMPQUA

The Umpqua National Forest has implemented emergency road and trail closures on the Tiller Ranger District because of the South Umpqua Complex. This closure order is a combination of roads and trails which had remained closed from last year’s fire season. With continued fire suppression operations, the closures are essential to allow for public and firefighter safety. In addition, this Forest Order includes previous closures on the Diamond Lake Ranger District and North Umpqua Ranger District to create a current and comprehensive list. More information is available at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Hendrix Fire: There will be a Hendrix Fire Community Meeting tonight, Friday, July 27, 2018 at 6 pm at the Ruch Branch Library 7919 Highway 238, Ruch, Oregon 97530. The meeting will be live streamed and a recording posted to https://tinyurl.com/yczf47z9.

OTHER INFORMATION

An animal evacuation center has been set up at Josephine County Fairgrounds. It is organized/managed by the following volunteer groups: Friends of the Shelter and Southern Oregon Emergency Aid.

When you want to help….

In a time of crisis people naturally want to reach out and help.  We appreciate those efforts and have a few suggestions for you to consider.

Most appreciated by firefighters:

• ·       Thank you notes and banners
• ·       Donation information:  http://www.roguevalley.recovers.org
• ·       Donations to Wildland Firefighter Foundation:  http://www.wffoundation.org

Other ideas:

• ·       Join or support your local fire department or emergency organizations- they appreciate your generosity since they are the first responders in many cases.
• ·       Donate to local charitable organizations like the Red Cross.
• ·       Donate to local food banks, which sometimes get forgotten when fires impact a community.
• ·       Create and maintain a defensible space around your home!  Give emergency responders and yourself a safe area to defend your home in or retreat to, if necessary.

Note: Fire camps cannot accept food items due to health and federal contract regulations.  We feed our assigned fire crews three meals a day plus snacks.

Links to Specific Incidents

Klondike-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5998/

Natchez- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5948/

Garner-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5935/

Hendrix-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5939/

Sugar Pine-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5966/

South Umpqua-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5940/

Timber Crater 6 -- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5986/