Wednesday, October 7, 2020; 9:00 a.m.
Fires always look closer and bigger in the dark! With the earlier evenings in Fall, more
people are noticing and reporting flames from fuels that continue to burn and
smolder within the interior of the fires. Firefighters expect this burning to
continue until prolonged wet weather moves into the area. Residents are asked
to familiarize themselves with the location of fire perimeters. Flames observed
within them should not be reported. Fires outside of established containment
lines should always be reported to 911 or local fire protection authorities.
Slater Fire – 155,510 acres and 67% containment
Little new growth has been observed on the fire since yesterday, however, minimal fire spread is expected to occur on the eastern flank. This area has been obscured by smoke and could not be visually monitored. On all flanks, the strategy is to strengthen containment lines where access permits, and monitor unlined portions of the fire for movement that could potentially expand the burned area.
On the north side of the fire, mop-up, patrol, and structure defense continue along containment lines, and firefighters are increasing the depth of containment. Crews have completed containment lines south of Browntown, including the Deadman’s Gulch area. The containment lines along Sucker Creek are secure and crews have extended hand line to Swan Mountain.
On the east side, the containment line up through Mill Creek is holding and direct line construction continues above Thompson Creek. Firefighters continue to monitor the area between Swan Mountain and Mill Creek.
On the south side, crews continue to patrol, monitor, and reinforce containment lines in Happy Camp and along the southwest side up to Kelly Lake. Firefighters are cleaning up spot fires as well as increasing the depth of containment.
The most active fire suppression efforts are underway in the southwest portion of the fire, in the Knopki and Chicago Creek drainages, where firefighters are working to keep it contained east of Chicago Creek. Additional crews have been assigned to the area. The trend toward cooler temperatures and higher humidity makes fire spread increasingly unlikely in that location.
Crews are felling hazard trees that are likely to fall onto the road from steep slopes along both sides of the Grayback Road (also known as Happy Camp Highway) between Takilma and Happy Camp. This high-priority work is required to provide safe, reliable access for firefighters, residents, and those working to restore power to Happy Camp. Additional emphasis is being placed on other roads needed for fire and suppression activities.
Devil Fire - 8,723 acres and 32% containment
A period of increasing humidity
and decreasing temperatures begins today. Winds will be from the south to
southeast in the morning, switching through the day to west-southwest. Inversions
will trap smoke in the valleys in the morning, possibly lifting in the
afternoon. Increasingly cooler and damper conditions are expected over the next
several days, with precipitation expected Saturday afternoon.
Evacuations
Anyone interested in accessing their
home or property should contact the local sheriff’s office.
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
Klamath, Six Rivers, and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests have issued fire
area closure orders for the Slater and Devil Fires. The Pacific Southwest
Region is under emergency fire restrictions, although the use of gas stoves is
allowed in open developed recreation sites. Find closure orders and maps at: www.fs.usda.gov/klamath, www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou, and www.fs.usda.gov/srnf.
Portions of both the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest’s Wild Rivers Ranger District and Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District have reopened for use. Some areas remain closed for emergency crews’ safety and to allow for fire suppression and burned area recovery. Find 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 South Obenchain Fire. Find closure area maps at: www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions.
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