Joint Information Center Fire Update August 11, 2018

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Information for Southwest Oregon Fires is available at the Joint Information Center (JIC) at

Phone: 541-474-5305

Hours: 7 AM – 9 PM

Email: swofireinfo@gmail.com; 

Blogspot: http://swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary (as reported on at 9:00 a.m. August 11)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	45,055	45%	1,200
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total)	87%	200
KLONDIKE	47,030	15%	600
NATCHEZ	12,449	52%	833
HENDRIX	1,082	80%	204
MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP	42,678 (Combined total)	4%-Miles 10%-Columbus 93%-Snowshoe 85%-Round Top	1,855

WEATHER

A dry cool front has moved through the area, bringing lower temperatures and breezy westerly winds today. The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures today will be in the mid-80’s and overnight lows between 55 and 60 degrees. Behind the cold dry front, windy conditions will continue again today with wind gusts trending upwards east of the Cascades. Red flag conditions are still expected in some areas today.  This weather pattern will lead to a warming trend into the middle of next week.

SMOKE
Some relief from smoky conditions is expected this weekend for the Rogue Valley, Southeastern and Eastern Oregon as winds help push smoke out of these areas. Moderate to gusty northwest winds today should maintain the improved air quality from yesterday. Winds will become light tonight and into Sunday. Light winds will continue into next week and stagnant smoky conditions may return to the area.

For relief from smoke, travel to the Oregon Coast, or north into the Roseburg area.

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. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for two residences near the terminus of South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and an evacuation warning for all residences accessed by the South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and all residences accessed by the Grayback Road north of the junction of South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and Grayback Road which may result in temporary delays.

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

RE-OPENING

Galice Road closure lifted at 5pm on August 7, 2018, restoring access to local businesses and boat ramps. Crews continue to patrol the area and protect structures. Drivers should expect to see firefighters along the road and drive with caution.

Bureau of Land Management has rescinded the Emergency Closure of Public Lands along the Merlin-Galice Road that was issued on July 28^th. The rescission document can be viewed online at https://tinyurl.com/merlin-galice.

Grayback Road (Forest Highway 48) remains open to public travel.

CLOSURES

GARNER COMPLEX

NONE

TAYLOR CREEK/KLONDIKE

Due to increased fire behavior and firefighting operations on the Taylor Creek Fire, Bear Camp and Peavine Roads remain closed due to firefighter activity. https://tinyurl.com/BearCampClosure.

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.

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.

A temporary forest closure order is in effect for the area around the Klondike Fire. Forest Roads 4103, 4105, 2512, and 2402-676 remain closed. Information on current conditions can be found at the Rogue River National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices.

NATCHEZ

A closure order was issued August 5th, effective until the Natchez Fire is declared out. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Natchez Fire Closure Area is prohibited. The Closure Area begins at the intersection of Forest Road No. 48 (Grayback Road), the Klamath National Forest boundary and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary. For details of the closure order please go to the Klamath National Forest Website at www.fs.usda.gov/klamath.

HENDRIX

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

MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP

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.

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.

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 Complex-- 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/

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.