Joint Information Center Fire Update August 12, 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 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Email: swofireinfo@gmail.com 

Blogspot: http://swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary (as reported on at 9:00 a.m. August 12)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	46,300	45%	1,232
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total)	87%	200
KLONDIKE	51,120	15%	529
NATCHEZ	12,667	52%	810
HENDRIX	1,082	80%	201
MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP	30,617 (Miles) 9,428 (Columbus) 3,816 (Snow Shoe) 154 (Round Top)	5%-Miles 10%-Columbus 93%-Snow Shoe 90%-Round Top	2,192

WEATHER

Sunday will be mostly sunny with areas of smoke. A warming and drying trend will begin today in southwest Oregon and continue through Monday. The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures in the lower 90s in the valleys to lower 80s on the ridges, with overnight lows between 55 and 60 degrees. Light and variable winds will continue throughout the day, with gusting winds as high as 25 mph coming out of the north and becoming northeast.

SMOKE
Moderate to gusty northwest winds today should maintain the improved air quality from yesterday. Winds will become light through Sunday. Light winds will continue into next week and 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.

Evacuees seeking assistance can contact the American Red Cross at (888) 680-1455.

RE-OPENING

Galice Road remains open, 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.

All Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands along the Merlin-Galice Road remain open.

Grayback Road (Forest Highway 48) remains open to public travel. Short-term delays may occur.

CLOSURES

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

Closure orders are in effect on Klamath National Forest and Rogue River-­Siskiyou National Forest within the vicinity of the Natchez Fire. 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.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Klondike Fire: There will be a Community Meeting on Monday August 13, at 6 pm, at the Selma Community and Education Center, 18255 Redwood Highway (Hwy.199).

  

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/

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.