Joint Information Center Fire Update August 17, 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. – 8 p.m.

Email: swofireinfo@gmail.com 

Blogspot: http://swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary (as reported on at 9:00 a.m. August 17)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	52,222	52%	757
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total)	87%	200
KLONDIKE	62,731	15%	799
NATCHEZ	18,618	57%	874
HENDRIX	1,082	90%	64
MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE	32,715 (Miles) 9,762 (Columbus) 3,816 (Snow Shoe)	30%-Miles 28%-Columbus 100%-Snow Shoe	1,897

WEATHER

Friday will be sunny, with patchy smoke, and high temperatures in the low-90s. Overnight lows will remain between 55 and 60 degrees.  Winds are expected to be calm early in the day, from five to  eight mph. A wind event is forecasted for this afternoon, bringing winds from the northeast, with gusts up to 20 mph and is expected to continue through the weekend. North winds in the Rogue Valley should improve air quality today.

SMOKE

Overall air quality improved overnight.  Winds today will continue to move smoke out of the area but will push smoke southwest towards the coast and the community of Brookings. There may be continued high haze due to the fires to the northeast, sending some smoke towards the region. Pay attention to changing conditions and visibility in your area. Intensity of the smoke will depend on the activity of the fires, and variable winds.

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.

Evacuation levels in Josephine County have recently changed. 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.

Evacuation levels in Jackson County have recently changed. Please check the website. Jackson County current evacuation information is available at the Jackson County Sheriff’s website at http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/News.

Evacuation levels in Douglass County have recently changed. Douglas County current evacuation information is available at the Douglas County Sheriff’s website at http://www.dcso.com/#. Existing Level 2 evacuations in Douglas County remain.

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 expanded an Evacuation Order for the area south of the Natchez Fire, near the terminus of South Fork Road (FSR 17N32), including an additional residence in the South Fork of Indian Creek.

On August 13, 2018, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office modified the prior evacuation warning, making it effective for all residences accessed by the South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and residences on or accessed by the Indian Creek/Grayback Road from the intersection with Dolittle Creek, north to West Branch Campground. The warning was issued as a precautionary measure and is still in effect. Those that are in the warning area are reminded to remain vigilant in the possible event that the evacuation warning is upgraded to an evacuation order.

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. The risk of trees and other debris falling on these roads continues as firefighters mop up areas of the fire. 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.

  

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

Natchez Fire: There will be a community meeting tonight Friday, August 17, at 6 pm at the Happy Camp Grange, 64501 2^nd Street, Happy Camp, CA.

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.