Information for Southwest Oregon Fires is available at
the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 541-474-5305 8 AM – 8 PM.
Hendrix Fire
Acres: 1,057 acres Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 520
Percent Containment: 15% Start Date: 07/15/18, 8:30 am
Location: 9 mi SW of Ashland, OR Expected Containment Date: 07/31/2018
There will be
a Hendricks Fire community meeting tonight at 6pm at the Ruch Branch Library, 7919 Highway 238, Ruch, OR 97530. The meeting
will be live streamed and a recording posted to https://tinyurl.com/yczf47z9.
No Facebook account is needed to view the video. Additional community meetings
will be held periodically.
The fire is expected to become
more active today, as atmospheric conditions become more unstable with a shift
in the weather. Yesterday helicopters dropped 33,000 gallons of water on the
fire, including 55 bucket loads of water. Much of the additional 110 acres of
fire growth yesterday was primarily due to strategic firing operations to help
secure the fire. If conditions are favorable, firefighters may utilize
additional strategic firing on a small portion of the southwest side of the
fire today to further protect this area. Firefighters
will be mopping up the area they burned yesterday on the northeast side of the
fire.
Firefighters will be scouting
ridgelines east of the fire to identify the best contingency lines. The
contingency line to the south of the fire along the Klamath National Forest
boundary has been prepped, including an extensive hoselay. Firefighters are
aggressively suppressing the fire where they can do so safely and effectively
to protect and minimize fire effects to values at risk including residential
structures, private property, and industrial timber lands. Public and
firefighter safety is the number one priority.
The lightning
caused Watershed Fire (9 ac), Bull Gap Fire (3.5 ac), and 288 Fire (0.1 ac)
remain in patrol status.
CURRENT EVACUATION ORDERS: Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations remain in place for residents near Hells Peak, southeast of Ruch. Details are available at http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/. Residents in the area are encouraged to sign up for Citizen Alert at http://www.jacksoncounty.org/alert. More info about evacuation levels and preparedness can be found at http://www.rvem.org.
CURRENT CLOSURES: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Hendrix Fire Area Closure for the southern portion of the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District remains in effect. Detailed info and a map of the area closure are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou. This closure will be revised to show Forest Road 20 as being OPEN, but all other areas will remain CLOSED, including access to Dutchman Peak Lookout.
CURRENT EVACUATION ORDERS: Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations remain in place for residents near Hells Peak, southeast of Ruch. Details are available at http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/. Residents in the area are encouraged to sign up for Citizen Alert at http://www.jacksoncounty.org/alert. More info about evacuation levels and preparedness can be found at http://www.rvem.org.
CURRENT CLOSURES: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Hendrix Fire Area Closure for the southern portion of the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District remains in effect. Detailed info and a map of the area closure are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou. This closure will be revised to show Forest Road 20 as being OPEN, but all other areas will remain CLOSED, including access to Dutchman Peak Lookout.
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is
closed from where the PCT meets National Forest Road No.40S01 (Observation Gap)
to the Grouse Gap Shelter. Re-route information is available at https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/oregon/hendrix-fire- southern-oregon/.
Smoke conditions are expected to
linger in the area at least through the weekend. A number of wildfires combined
with continued high temperatures and the possibility of lightning strikes are
expected to contribute to poor air quality in the region. Today’s smoke
forecast, including information about where the nearest clear air is located,
will be available later this morning at https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks.
Phone: 541-632-3567 (8AM to 8PM)
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y7dq7yaj
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RRSNF #Hendrixfire
Garner Complex
Acres: 7,949 Cause:
Lightning
Personnel: 1834
Percent
Containment: 10%
Start Date: 07/15/18, 9:00 am
Location: Josephine County Expected Containment Date: 08/07/2018
Last night crews continued to tighten and secure control lines. They continue to evaluate where to place containment lines around the Grave Creek and Taylor Creek fires. The Grave Fire continued to spread towards the Pleasant Creek Rd. The State
Fire Marshall’s Team was in place working to triage and
surface prep around houses to support the wildland firefighters.
Overnight the Taylor Fire
continued to spread as crews work to tighten direct fire-lines when possible
and work on contingency lines. The fire has spread on the south side onto
Forest Service ground. Overnight the State Fire Marshall had three Task Forces
in place working to assess and surface prep near homes.
The three Spencer Fires, King Mountain Fire, and Swamp Fire have been lined, plumbed and are in mop-up. The Pleasant Fire and Ditch Cr. Fire are still having control lines completed by hand and equipment.
The three Spencer Fires, King Mountain Fire, and Swamp Fire have been lined, plumbed and are in mop-up. The Pleasant Fire and Ditch Cr. Fire are still having control lines completed by hand and equipment.
Today there will be 30
aircraft working on the fires including four airtankers. Two DC-10 VLATs (Very
Large Air Tanker) began work on the fires yesterday. One 747 VLAT was used on
the Garner Fire and is planned to be used on the Taylor Fire today. An
additional Type-2 helicopter arrives today.
CURRENT EVACUATION ORDERS: Pickett Creek Rd and all crossroads are Level 2 and West Pickett Creek Rd is Level 3. Dutcher Creek Rd and all associated secondary roads are Level 2. Limpy Creek and Shan Creek Roads have been elevated to Level 3. Riverbank Rd is Level 1. Grave Creek Rd is Level 3 north of Ditch Creek Rd intersection. Pleasant Creek Rd is Levels 2 and 3. A Red Cross Shelter has been established at the Grants Pass High School at 830 NE 9th Street in Grants Pass, 541- 474-5710.
CURRENT EVACUATION ORDERS: Pickett Creek Rd and all crossroads are Level 2 and West Pickett Creek Rd is Level 3. Dutcher Creek Rd and all associated secondary roads are Level 2. Limpy Creek and Shan Creek Roads have been elevated to Level 3. Riverbank Rd is Level 1. Grave Creek Rd is Level 3 north of Ditch Creek Rd intersection. Pleasant Creek Rd is Levels 2 and 3. A Red Cross Shelter has been established at the Grants Pass High School at 830 NE 9th Street in Grants Pass, 541- 474-5710.
Public Information Line: (541)
660-8056
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5935/ Email: garnercomplexinformation@gmail.com
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5935/ Email: garnercomplexinformation@gmail.com
South Umpqua Complex
Acres: 3,469 Cause:
Lightning
Personnel: 964
Percent Containment: 10%
Location: 45 miles southeast of Roseburg, Oregon (Tiller Ranger
District)
There will be a Community Meeting at the Tiller Fire Station on Monday, 6:30 PM.
Firefighters
are making progress on the Miles Fire in areas that have been threatening
private residences, though the Level 2 Evacuation order remains in effect. The
fire continues to spread to the north and east beyond the private lands.
The Snowshoe Fire continues to be pushed to the southeast. It remains west of the West Fork of Trail Creek as it moves south on private land, and has remained north of Chicago Creek. Oregon Department of Forestry crews, working from the south, and federal interagency crews, working from the north, are striving to tie their respective fire lines together to prevent further spread of the fire. Spotting of up to half a mile has complicated the suppression effort. The Snowshoe Fire will be managed jointly with Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) under a unified command, with Melvin Thornton as the ODF Incident Commander.
Near the Columbus Fire, firefighters are falling hazard trees, opening previous fire lines, and working to protect the world’s tallest sugar pine tree. A historic cabin located on Butler Butte has been wrapped with fire resistant material in an attempt to protect it from possible damage from the Columbus Fire to the north or the Sugar Pine Fire (located on the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest) to the south.
Incident Meteorologist Scott Weisharr forecasts afternoon temperatures to be several degrees warmer than Saturday, with local areas of critical minimum humidity (12% or less). There will be less ridge-top wind, but a shift in transport wind will result in increasing smoke accumulation over the complex. Thunderstorm activity is NOT expected over the South Umpqua drainage on Sunday, but areas to the south and east may experience some lightning. The hot and dry pattern will persist through the first half of next week.
As Powwow participants head home this evening, heavy traffic is anticipated on local roads and highways.
The Snowshoe Fire continues to be pushed to the southeast. It remains west of the West Fork of Trail Creek as it moves south on private land, and has remained north of Chicago Creek. Oregon Department of Forestry crews, working from the south, and federal interagency crews, working from the north, are striving to tie their respective fire lines together to prevent further spread of the fire. Spotting of up to half a mile has complicated the suppression effort. The Snowshoe Fire will be managed jointly with Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) under a unified command, with Melvin Thornton as the ODF Incident Commander.
Near the Columbus Fire, firefighters are falling hazard trees, opening previous fire lines, and working to protect the world’s tallest sugar pine tree. A historic cabin located on Butler Butte has been wrapped with fire resistant material in an attempt to protect it from possible damage from the Columbus Fire to the north or the Sugar Pine Fire (located on the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest) to the south.
Incident Meteorologist Scott Weisharr forecasts afternoon temperatures to be several degrees warmer than Saturday, with local areas of critical minimum humidity (12% or less). There will be less ridge-top wind, but a shift in transport wind will result in increasing smoke accumulation over the complex. Thunderstorm activity is NOT expected over the South Umpqua drainage on Sunday, but areas to the south and east may experience some lightning. The hot and dry pattern will persist through the first half of next week.
As Powwow participants head home this evening, heavy traffic is anticipated on local roads and highways.
Fire Information: 541-825-3295
Email: SouthUmpquaComplexFire@gmail.com
Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5940/
Facebook: Umpqua National Forest
Natchez Fire
Acres: Klondike 4524 Natchez
1554
Personnel: 330
Percent
Containment: 0%
Start Date: 07/15/18
Locations: Natchez Fire 15 miles SE of Cave
Junction, OR
Klondike and
Granite Fires 9
miles NW of Selma, OR
Natchez Fire crews continue
to make good progress establishing indirect lines on the fire using heavy
equipment and hand crews. The terrain is rugged and crews are working on
widening existing roads to use as containment lines. Aerial resources including
large helicopters will be used to slow fire growth to as conditions permit.
Aviation resources will continue to be used as long as
weather conditions are favorable.
The Klondike and Granite
Fires have now grown together and will be referred to as the Klondike Fire
going forward. This area is very rugged and it has been unsafe to put fire
crews into the fire area. To limit future growth of the Klondike Fire, fire
crews and heavy equipment are being used to improve existing roads and old fire
lines on the eastern and southern sides of the fire. A strike team of engines
is being deployed to the Oak Flats area, east of the fire, to provide structure
protection. Yesterday a large helicopter was used to cool hot spots on the
Klondike fire but increasing smoke limited its use in the afternoon. Aerial
resources dropped 8,000 gallons of water yesterday.
The Poker Fire (14 miles SE of Cave Junction, just north of Natchez Fire) is contained at 3.8 acres and remains in patrol status.
The Poker Fire (14 miles SE of Cave Junction, just north of Natchez Fire) is contained at 3.8 acres and remains in patrol status.
The Northwest Incident
Management Team 10 will transfer command of the Natchez and Klondike Fires to
the Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 on Monday at 6am.
Closures and Evacuations:
Josephine County Sheriff’s office has issued a level 2 evacuation for the
residents of Oak Flat, NE of Selma, OR. For more information about the evacuation, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5948/44152/
or call 541- 597-4784.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou and the Klamath National Forests
have issued an emergency area closure in the area surrounding the Natchez Fire.
For more details go to: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5948/44133/
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5948/44085/
Fire
Information: (541)
597-4784
Incident
Information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5948/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/240850363188142/
Twitter: #NatchezFire
SUGAR PINE FIRE
LOCATION: Area is High Cascades Ranger
District, West of Crater Lake National Park. Groups of fires are described
based on being west and east of Hwy 62, but these fires do not threaten Hwy 62
or residences along Highway 62 at this time.
PERSONNEL: 650
START DATE: 07/15/18 Cause: Lightning
West of Hwy 62 (estimated 8-10 fires):
10 have been identified.
1. Sugar Pine - 235 acres. Crews continue to seek opportunities for direct line construction. Note: Sugar Pine is 4 miles east of the Miles Fire, which is part of the South Umpqua Complex.
1. Sugar Pine - 235 acres. Crews continue to seek opportunities for direct line construction. Note: Sugar Pine is 4 miles east of the Miles Fire, which is part of the South Umpqua Complex.
2. Hawk - 10 acres. No change.
Patrol status.
3.
Round Top - 124 acres. Indirect and direct fireline
construction has been completed. Firefighters expect to continue burnout
operations. Yesterday, firefighters completed approximately 1/5th of the burn
out operation. The fire has been
burning dead fuels on the ground, but has not been very active in green fuels.
4.
North Top – 1.5 acres. Contained 7/20/2018. Patrol status.
5.
Sunshine - 4 acres. Fireline construction is complete.
A hoselay was installed all the way around the fire and crews are mopping up.
6. Goodview - 140 acres. The fire is in heavy timber within the inaccessible Bitter Lick Creek Inventoried Roadless Area. This fire is continually being assessed for tactical engagement. It is challenging due to steep terrain, heavy fuels, and difficult access in the roadless area.
6. Goodview - 140 acres. The fire is in heavy timber within the inaccessible Bitter Lick Creek Inventoried Roadless Area. This fire is continually being assessed for tactical engagement. It is challenging due to steep terrain, heavy fuels, and difficult access in the roadless area.
7. Kettle - 1/10 acre.
Contained 7/19/18.
8. Buck Basin – 1.2 acres.
Contained 7/16/2018.
9.
Gravel - 3 acres. Lined. No change.
10. Junction - 6 acres. Firefighters have constructed fireline around the fire. Mop-up will take several days to complete.
10. Junction - 6 acres. Firefighters have constructed fireline around the fire. Mop-up will take several days to complete.
East of Hwy 62 (5-8 fires):
1.
Union - 104 acres. About 1.5 miles from Crater Lake
National Park. A helicopter was used yesterday to drop water on the fire. There
has been no further growth. Mop-up has begun and is progressing well. About 140
firefighters continue to work from a spike camp closer to this fire in order to
increase their work time and reduce
travel required to return to the main Fire Camp.2.
Alder - 4.25 acres. Patrol status. Contained 7/18/2018.
3.
Soldier - 1 acre. Contained on 7/18/2018.
4.
Coplen - 1.2 acres. Contained 7/17/2018.
5. Spring 2 – 1/10th acre. Detected July 20 on Crater Lake National Park. Contained 7/18/2018.
5. Spring 2 – 1/10th acre. Detected July 20 on Crater Lake National Park. Contained 7/18/2018.
The
fires east of Highway 62 are expected to be contained within the next 3 days.
CLOSURES: Closures in place as of
7/22/2018. The Huckleberry Mountain camping area and roads in that vicinity are
closed with barriers. Two formal closures affect small areas on the edge of
RRSF at the request of UNF associated with the Miles and Columbus fires. As fire
engagement alternate and contingency plans are developed for Sugar Pine and
Goodview fires, we are working with Forest Officials on possible road and area
closures as needed.
Warning signs have been posted at the access road to Fire Camp, just
south of the Hwy 62 Bridge at
Joseph Stewart State Park. The public is encouraged to slow down and be aware
of slow moving fire traffic in the area.
Twitter: @RRSNF #SugarPineFireFacebook: https://bit.ly/2LccFR3
Twitter: @RRSNF #SugarPineFireFacebook: https://bit.ly/2LccFR3
Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5966
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