Southwest Oregon District firefighters started their day tackling a 2-acre lightning-caused fire in the Wards Creek area, north of the City of Rogue River. Later in the morning, a tenth-acre fire was found in the Miller's Gulch area, just south of Gold Hill, and fire crews hiked in and put it out.
More than 30 lightning-caused fires have been found on ODF's Southwest Oregon District since last Tuesday's thunderstorms. All are either being mopped up or are in patrol status.
Reconnaissance flights continue today, and will keep flying throughout the weekend. Fire lookouts will also be on duty all weekend. A few more sleeper fires are expected to pop up.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Updates on Other Fires in the Region
The Oak Flat Fire is 1,706 acres and 18 percent contained. The fire is approximately 2 miles northeast of the junction of the Illinois River and Briggs Creek, about 20 miles southwest of Grants Pass.
Resources on the fire include 34 20-person hand crews, 8 helicopters, 30 engines, 6 dozers, and 15 water tenders.
Smoke will continue to be visible from Illinois and Rogue valleys.
The Illinois River Corridor is open. The public is reminded to drive with caution in the area since the access to the fire and spike camps includes many of the forest roads in the area.
For more information about the Oak Flat Fire, see the InciWeb page devoted to the fire, or call (541) 597-4250.
Fire activity resulting from Tuesday evening’s thunderstorm on the Umpqua National Forest is on the downward turn.
Two additional fires, each less than one-quarter of an acre in size, were located and contained yesterday. One fire was located on Dinner Ridge in the Cottage Grove Ranger District and the other on Grouse Mountain in the North Umpqua Ranger District. All fires are staffed. Eighteen of the 21 lightning caused fires have been declared contained or controlled. All but two fires are less than one acre in size. The Jackson Fire, located in the Tiller Ranger District, is three acres and completely trailed. The Saint Peter Fire on the North Umpqua Ranger District is two acres and burning in steep terrain. Firefighters are continuing to work to secure containment lines on this fire and are being supported with helicopters making bucket drops.
The search for sleeper, or holdover, fires will continue over the next several days. Other agencies assisting the Umpqua National Forest include firefighters from Central Oregon, the Roseburg District Bureau of Land Management and Douglas Forest Protective Association.
While cooler weather is expected over the next several days, fire managers are still cautioning people using the forest that fire danger remains high. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level II remains in effect. Forest visitors should be careful with fire when enjoying the woods.
For additional information on public and industrial fire restrictions, please call the Umpqua National Forest at (541) 672-6601 or visit the Umpqua National Forest web page.
Resources on the fire include 34 20-person hand crews, 8 helicopters, 30 engines, 6 dozers, and 15 water tenders.
Smoke will continue to be visible from Illinois and Rogue valleys.
The Illinois River Corridor is open. The public is reminded to drive with caution in the area since the access to the fire and spike camps includes many of the forest roads in the area.
For more information about the Oak Flat Fire, see the InciWeb page devoted to the fire, or call (541) 597-4250.
Fire activity resulting from Tuesday evening’s thunderstorm on the Umpqua National Forest is on the downward turn.
Two additional fires, each less than one-quarter of an acre in size, were located and contained yesterday. One fire was located on Dinner Ridge in the Cottage Grove Ranger District and the other on Grouse Mountain in the North Umpqua Ranger District. All fires are staffed. Eighteen of the 21 lightning caused fires have been declared contained or controlled. All but two fires are less than one acre in size. The Jackson Fire, located in the Tiller Ranger District, is three acres and completely trailed. The Saint Peter Fire on the North Umpqua Ranger District is two acres and burning in steep terrain. Firefighters are continuing to work to secure containment lines on this fire and are being supported with helicopters making bucket drops.
The search for sleeper, or holdover, fires will continue over the next several days. Other agencies assisting the Umpqua National Forest include firefighters from Central Oregon, the Roseburg District Bureau of Land Management and Douglas Forest Protective Association.
While cooler weather is expected over the next several days, fire managers are still cautioning people using the forest that fire danger remains high. An Industrial Fire Precaution Level II remains in effect. Forest visitors should be careful with fire when enjoying the woods.
For additional information on public and industrial fire restrictions, please call the Umpqua National Forest at (541) 672-6601 or visit the Umpqua National Forest web page.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sleeper Fires Awaken
Aerial reconnaissance and fire lookouts spotted several new lightning-caused fires today, all of which have been contained by firefighters. The new fires are sleeper (holdover) fires sparked by the thunderstorms on Tuesday.
Crews are now working their way into two small fires reported late this afternoon in the McConville Peak and Sykes Creek areas.
It often takes several days before all fires started by a thunderstorm are discovered.
Crews are now working their way into two small fires reported late this afternoon in the McConville Peak and Sykes Creek areas.
It often takes several days before all fires started by a thunderstorm are discovered.
Thirty Fires Found After Lightning Storm
A total of 30 fires have been found on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands after the lightning bust earlier this week. All of the fires, except for the 11 acre Anderson Creek Fire, have been less than 1.5 acre in size.
Eighteen of the lightning fires are less than .10 acre, and all but two are 100% mopped and lined. The remaining two fires are in the mop-up stage and are expected to be completed this afternoon.
Greg Alexander, ODF SWO assistant district forester, said, “The working relationships we have with our interagency partners, county officials and landowners has played a large role in our fire suppression.” The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Jackson and Josephine counties and landowners have helped keep wildfire damage to a minimum.
Reconnaissance flights will be made today to detect new fires and all lookouts are staffed.
Eighteen of the lightning fires are less than .10 acre, and all but two are 100% mopped and lined. The remaining two fires are in the mop-up stage and are expected to be completed this afternoon.
Greg Alexander, ODF SWO assistant district forester, said, “The working relationships we have with our interagency partners, county officials and landowners has played a large role in our fire suppression.” The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Jackson and Josephine counties and landowners have helped keep wildfire damage to a minimum.
Reconnaissance flights will be made today to detect new fires and all lookouts are staffed.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
ODF Grants Pass Unit Firefighters Find Four Fires
Adding to the tally from Tuesday's thunderstorms, ODF's Grants Pass Unit firefighters found four lightning-caused fires within their protection area.
Dixie Gulch: 0.1 acre
Ditch Creek: 0.1 acre
Pleasant Creek: 0.1 acre
Wards Creek: 0.01 acre
The Grants Pass Unit' firefighters respond to fires on private, state, county and BLM lands in Josephine County and the western edge of Jackson County
Dixie Gulch: 0.1 acre
Ditch Creek: 0.1 acre
Pleasant Creek: 0.1 acre
Wards Creek: 0.01 acre
The Grants Pass Unit' firefighters respond to fires on private, state, county and BLM lands in Josephine County and the western edge of Jackson County
Seven Small Fires Found From Tuesday's Thunderstorms
ODF Medford Unit firefighters raced hither and yon late Tuesday chasing reports of smoke after a series of thunderstorms shot nearly 800 lightning bolts into Jackson and Josephine counties' forests. So far, seven fires have been found, the largest being an 11-acre blaze that was quickly corralled on Anderson Butte. The rest of the fires are:
May Creek: o.5 acre
Cleveland Ridge: 0.25 acre
Bessie Creek: 0.25 acre
Butte Creek: 0.1 acre
Sardine Creek: 0.01 acre
Little Battle Mountain: 0.01 acre
A reconnaissance flight will be flying over the forests later this morning. It is likely that more fires from yesterday's storm will be found.
May Creek: o.5 acre
Cleveland Ridge: 0.25 acre
Bessie Creek: 0.25 acre
Butte Creek: 0.1 acre
Sardine Creek: 0.01 acre
Little Battle Mountain: 0.01 acre
A reconnaissance flight will be flying over the forests later this morning. It is likely that more fires from yesterday's storm will be found.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Lightning Widespread Across District
Today's thunderstorms shot bolts of lightning across much of Jackson County and the northeast corner of Josephine County. As of 6:00 p.m., one fire had been located -- an 11-acre blaze on Anderson Butte, southwest of Talent. Fortunately, many of the areas hit by lightning were also deluged with rain.
Oregon Dept. of Forestry crews and firefighters from other jurisdictions are responding to reports of smoke in the East Evans Creek and Ramsey Canyon areas.
Oregon Dept. of Forestry crews and firefighters from other jurisdictions are responding to reports of smoke in the East Evans Creek and Ramsey Canyon areas.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Quiet Weekend on ODF-Protected Lands
Thunderstorms crept into southern Jackson County late Saturday night, but only two small fires were started by lightning. A 1.6-acre fire northwest of Lincoln was extinguished by ODF engine crews, and a single-tree fire in the Tolman Creek Rd area, south of Ashland, was quickly taken care of on Sunday morning.
The Oak Flat Fire, burning on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest west of Selma, is estimated at 500 acres and is being managed by a Type II incident management team. For information, contact Tom Lavagnino, incident information officer, at (530) 598-9303.
The Oak Flat Fire, burning on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest west of Selma, is estimated at 500 acres and is being managed by a Type II incident management team. For information, contact Tom Lavagnino, incident information officer, at (530) 598-9303.
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