Joint Information Center Fire Update July 31, 2018

DOWNLOAD PDF

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 31)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	29,551	20%	1,165
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total for all fires)	65%	1,872
SUGAR PINE	6,086 (Combined total for all fires)	N/A	848
KLONDIKE	17,987	5%	384
NATCHEZ	6,174	15%	613
HENDRIX	1,081	70%	261
SOUTH UMPQUA	14,196 (Combined total for all fires)	16%	1,281
TIMBER CRATER 6	3,126	80%	352

WEATHER

Today will have near critical fire weather conditions. Smoke during the past two days moderated fire behavior on several area fires. Lower temperatures are predicted for later in the week, with potential for increased winds. The air mass over the fire area is very gradually cooling, however it will remain drier than normal for this time of year.

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 brief periods of Very Unhealthy air, especially today.

Upper level smoke was transported north yesterday. Lower level smoke will remain near the surface in interior valleys. 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, Oregon area 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

BLM Medford District issued a closure for 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.

TAYLOR CREEK

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.

There is a BLM 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.

The Oregon State Marine Board filed a temporary rule to close boating effective immediately on the Rogue River from Hog Creek to Galice due to the Taylor Creek Fire.

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.

  

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 today at 6:30 pm.

Klondike Fire: There will be a community meeting tonight at the Selma Community and Education Center in Selma at 6 pm.

Hendrix Fire: There will be a Hendrix Fire community meeting on Wednesday, August 1 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the Ashland Middle School, 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, Oregon.

The Red Cross has established a shelter at the Grants Pass High School for displaced residents affected by Level 3 (Go!) evacuations. Additionally, an animal evacuation center has been set up at the Josephine County Fairgrounds organized by the 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/

Taylor Creek-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6058/

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/