Joint Information Center Fire Update August 1, 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. August 1)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	29,551	30%	1,122
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total for all fires)	68%	1,444
SUGAR PINE	6,505 (Combined total for all fires)	N/A	834
KLONDIKE	19,530	5%	549
NATCHEZ	6,988	15%	631
HENDRIX	1,082	70%	258
SOUTH UMPQUA	16,428 (Combined total for all fires)	16%	1,205
TIMBER CRATER 6	3,126	85%	303

WEATHER

Another day of near critical fire weather conditions is expected today before temperatures moderate with a change in weather. The cooler weather will bring higher relative humidity for the next several days, however fire is expected to remain active. Smoke during the day continues to shade some fires and moderate fire activity.

SMOKE
Smoke production remains high due to fire progression and strategic containment operations. Expect longer periods of smoke in the early morning due to smoke settling with cool evening temperatures and lower winds. Smoke has dispersed in the afternoons in most areas. Low areas, near water, are holding smoke for longer periods. Changes in weather patterns expected later this week may bring better air quality.

Upper level smoke is projected to move to the Northeast with lower level smoke moving to the southeast into the valleys. For relief from smoke, travel to the coast, or north of the Umpqua Divide.

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: https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/Pages/Rogue-River-Temporary-Closure.aspx.

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

Taylor Creek Fire: There will be a community briefing for the public to engage with fire officials managing the Taylor Creek Fire at North Valley High School at 6 pm tonight. The meeting will be streamed live on the Taylor Creek Fire facebook page. For more information follow https://www.facebook.com/TaylorCreekFire.

Garner Complex: There will be a public meeting at 6 pm Thursday, August 2nd at Evans Valley Education & Community Center, 8205 East Evans Creek Road, Rogue River.

Hendrix Fire: There will be a Hendrix Fire Community Meeting tonight at 7 pm. The meeting will be held at the Ashland Middle School, 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, Oregon 97520. The meeting will also be livestreamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HendrixFire2018/.

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/