Joint Information Center Fire Update July 30, 2018

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Information for Southwest Oregon Fires is available at the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 541-474-5305 7 AM – 11 PM.  Email:  swofireinfo@gmail.com;  blogspot: swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary (as reported on at 9:00 a.m. July 30)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	24,965	8%	2,609 (Garner Complex)
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total for all fires)	60%	2609 (Garner Complex)
SUGAR PINE	5,257 (Combined total for all fires)	N/A	848
KLONDIKE	15,915	5%	403
NATCHEZ	5,360	10%	666
HENDRIX	1,081	70%	267
SOUTH UMPQUA	13,168 (Combined total for all fires)	16%	1,299
TIMBER CRATER 6	3,126	75%	656

WEATHER

The hot, dry weather is forecast to continue for the next few days, possibly cresting on Wednesday followed by slightly cooler, more typical seasonal temperatures beginning Thursday. Smoke from across the region is impacting weather conditions seen on the ground by firefighters. Fire behavior will be active to very active, depending on smoke and wind conditions.

SMOKE
Smoke production yesterday was significant but should gradually trend lower the next few days. Strategic burn outs, used by firefighters to help contain the fires, remain wildcards in the smoke production arena. Expect longer periods of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) and Unhealthy on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Also expect some areas to have brief periods of Very Unhealthy air, especially today.

Lots of upper level smoke was transported north yesterday. Cleaner air areas at the surface will remain along the Oregon coast north of Gold Beach as well as south of Eureka, California. The Roseburg area in Oregon should experience longer periods of good to moderate AQI levels despite the significant smoke aloft.

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/#.

Per the Natchez Fire Incident Management Team, the community of Sunstar, California has been placed in a Level 1 evacuation “Ready” status.

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

CLOSURES

GARNER

The Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Taylor Creek Fire Emergency Area Closure Order 06-10-22-18-62 closes national forest lands near the Taylor Creek Fire for public health and safety. Effective July 19, 2018 through October 31, 2018, unless sooner rescinded. Detailed information and a map of the area closure are available at https://tinyurl.com/RRSiskiyou.

BLM Medford District -- The Elderberry Flat Campground and dispersed campsites along the West Fork Evans Creek Road, including all BLM lands and roads within the closure area marked on the attached map are closed. This includes all BLM lands and roads within the following sections or portions of sections: T. 33S S., R. 03 W. Secs. 07, 08, 17-20, 29-33.

The Medford BLM today issued a closure order for lands and recreation areas along portions of the Rogue River. The order does not affect river operations, however access to the river is limited in the closed area. Information is available from https:/tinyurl.com/TaylorFireClosure.

NATCHEZ

The Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath National Forests have issued emergency area closures for the Natchez and Klondike Fires. 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

South Umpqua Complex: There will be a community meeting at the Tiller Rural Fire Protection District Station on Tuesday, July 31 at 6:30 pm.

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/