Slater and Devil Fire Morning Update for September 17, 2020

U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region

Klamath National Forest 1711 South Main Street Yreka, CA 96097

News Release

September 17, 2020 Media Contact: Public Information Office 530-324-2528

www.facebook.com/KlamathNF www.facebook.com/SixRiversNF

www.facebook.com/R6RRSNF www.facebook.com/SlaterAndDevilFireInformation

InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7173/

Slater and Devil Fire Morning Update for September 17, 2020, 9 a.m.

HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA — The Slater and Devil Fire South Zone (Happy Camp to Seiad communities) will be holding a virtual public meeting at 3 p.m. today, September 17, 2020. Join us at facebook.com/SlaterAndDevilFireInformation.

Incident Commander Doug Turman and his Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the North Zone of the Slater Fire (including areas around Gasquet, California) yesterday. The South Zone of the Slater Fire and the Devil Fire will remain under command of California IIMT 10 for now. Information will still be disseminated at facebook.com/SlaterAndDevilFireInformation to avoid confusion.

NORTH ZONE: Near Gasquet, firelines are holding along Knopki Road, despite limited available resources there. Equipment operators are using bulldozers to establish control lines along Monkey Ridge to prevent the fire from crossing Highway 199.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has mobilized 10 task forces of structural fire engines, six from Oregon, three from Utah, and one from Washington State. Today, operations continued to implement direct and indirect fire strategies. The heavy smoke inversion lifted late afternoon yesterday over the North Zone of the Slater Fire, causing increased fire activity, but fire personnel were able to maintain control lines in and around Illinois Valley. Note to Level 3 evacuees: We are working hard to get you back into your homes. Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure your safety. Northern Rockies Team 2 continues to work with the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon Department of Forestry and other local and federal agencies to contain the northern spread of the Slater Fire.

SOUTH ZONE: A low-pressure system crossed over the Slater Fire area from west to east, clearing smoke out and increasing fire activity yesterday afternoon into last night. Firefighters were able to contain several spot fires on the west side of the Thompson Creek drainage yesterday. Air quality is expected to improve around Happy Camp today, although smoke levels are predicted to remain unhealthy.

Priorities for the Slater Fire

South Zone today include preventing rolling material from crossing control lines along Highway 96 and protecting life and property in the Thompson Creek drainage, where fire is backing towards homes. Meanwhile, work continues to build direct and indirect fireline around Seiad to contain the Devil Fire, which spread to the west and northeast yesterday.

The Slater Fire has now burned an estimated 143,092 acres, while the Devil Fire is at roughly 6,907 acres, aerial heat detection flights show. The Slater Fire remains at 10 percent containment,while the Devil is still 0 percent contained.

The Fox Fire burning southwest of Callahan in the Klamath National Forest is now estimated at roughly 1,512 acres. EVACUATION ADVISORIES and ORDERS are in effect for the Callahan area due to this fire – see the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Facebook page for updated details. The Fox Fire has shown active fire behavior and produced intense heat. The Slater Fire’ South Zone is supporting suppression efforts on the Fox Fire until additional resources arrive. CALFIRE is also assisting in response to this fire. It is currently 0 percent contained.

Due to extreme fire danger, all National Forests in California closed September 9, and remain closed. More details on these closure orders, along with fire restrictions orders, can be found on National Forest websites and on InciWeb

Due to public safety concerns associated with fire danger and fire activity, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has temporarily closed the Wild Rivers Ranger District and the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District. Closure orders and maps are available on the RRSNF website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices

As a result of extreme fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management Medford District has temporarily closed all Bureau of Land Management-administered public lands south of Grants Pass, Interstate 5, and U.S. Route 199 to the border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land Management’s website: www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.

Highway 199 remains closed from O’Brien south almost to Gasquet. Highway 96 is now open to one-way controlled traffic. Drivers traveling these sections of highway should expect delays and use caution due to increased fire traffic, poor visibility and possible falling trees or rolling material. Other highways in Oregon are also being impacted by the smoke.

EVACUATION INFORMATION:

Current evacuation orders are posted on Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/. 

For Del Norte County evacuation information, see www.facebook.com/DelNorteOfficeOfEmergencyServices www.preparedelnorte.com/

Evacuation order/warning info and other resources for Josephine County can be found by calling Josephine County Fire Information Center 541-474-5305 (7am-10pm) or online at: www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM, www.co.josephine.or.us/fire, or www.rvem.org