Slater and Devil Fires Update
Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 7:30 a.m.
South Zone Slater/Devil Fire Info (530) 324-2528; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
North Zone Slater Fire Info (503) 867-8593; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
General Fire Info - Wildland Info Center: (458) 206-3043; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Media Information: (541) 249-5117; 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Website: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7173/
Summary
The fire line continues to hold well with minimal movement and growth observed. Winds will continue to blow smoke into the area from large active fires to the south in California. Fire officials remind the public to use extra caution due to the extreme fire conditions
Slater Fire: In both the north and south, the primary work for firefighters is mop-up, patrol, and securing the fire’s edge as fuels continue to dry. Crews will continue to monitor and build containment line from the Oregon/California border on the west side of Highway 199 east to the Sucker Creek area. Firefighters are using direct and indirect attacks to tie in the slop-overs west of Hwy 199. The contingency line at Oregon Caves National Monument is nearly complete. Crews continue to work down the left fork of Sucker Creek and around Swan Mountain, building firelines along the northeast perimeter and down the east flank.
The area north of Sanger Lake is being scouted for possible direct firelines. Firefighters are mopping up and holding Knopki Creek as well as areas south of Holland Loop along Althouse Creek Rd. Crews are also tying in and securing firelines from Hwy 199 into the Illinois Valley along the northwest flank of the fire.
In the Elk Creek drainage and Browntown area, crews continue to go direct and construct containment line as close to the fire as they can. Over the next several days, small firing operations may be used to clean up fuels between the main body of the fire and the constructed fire line in the Monkey Creek Ridge area, the area south of Browntown to Number Eight Gulch, and along the east side of the fire.
Crews in the Happy Camp area continued to patrol and mop-up along the fire line. Work is focused on mop-up and patrol of containment lines around Happy Camp, along Hwy 96, and along the southwest perimeter of the fire. Direct line construction and road prep is continuing above Thompson Creek on the east side, moving north to meet the crews moving south from Sucker Creek and Swan Mountain. Crews are working from both the north and the south on hazard tree mitigations along Grayback Rd.
Devil Fire: Aerial water drops were used along the north edge of the fire to help with hotspots. Firefighters continue to mop-up, patrol, and secure the fire’s edge. Contingency lines are in place. The south edge of the fire has containment line from the Pacific Crest Trail towards Fort Goff Creek.
Weather: High temperatures and low relative humidity will continue through the week. Winds will remain light while temperatures persist in the 90s through the week. As fuels become available across the fire area, flanking, backing, and potential interior torching may be observed.
Evacuations
There have been some evacuation changes, please refer to your local county’s Sheriff’s Office for details. County Sheriffs continue to work with fire leadership to determine when to modify evacuation levels.
Josephine County information: 541-474-5305 or www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM, www.co.josephine.or.us/fire, or www.rvem.org
Siskiyou County information: (530) 841-2900 or www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/
Del Norte County information: (707) 464-7213 or www.facebook.com/DelNorteOfficeOfEmergencyServices and www.preparedelnorte.com/
Closures: The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region extended the Regional Order through September 30, 2020, temporarily closing nine national forests, including the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests. The region is under emergency fire restrictions.
Portions of both the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest’s Wild Rivers Ranger District and Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District reopened for use. Some areas remain closed for emergency crews’ safety and to allow for fire suppression and burned area recovery. Find updated closure orders and maps at: www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices
The Bureau of Land Management Medford District has public lands closures in effect near the Slater Fire and the South Obenchain Fire. Closure area maps are available at: www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions
No comments:
Post a Comment