Fort Complex Update

The Fort Complex is composed of:   

The Goff Fire, 246 acres, in the Klamath National Forest;

The Lick Fire, 174 acres, in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest;

The Hello/Fruit Fire, 296 acres, also in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  

 All three fires are in very steep terrain with difficult access.  These fires are currently being managed as a complex for both national forests by the Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team One.

Currently hand crews are working on strategic line construction complemented with helicopter water drops and airtankers as needed.  Hazardous conditions for firefighters include large burning logs rolling downhill and torching snags.  Fires may increase in size in order for firefighters to work safely in defensible areas.  Minimum impact fire suppression tactics will be used in the Red Butte Wilderness to keep the landscape as close to pre-fire conditions as possible.

For more information, see the complex's InciWeb page, or call (909) 379-9339.

Grass Fire on N Applegate Road Burns 4 Acres

A grass fire broke out around 2:45 p.m. today on North Applegate Rd., a couple of miles west of the town of Applegate, and burned 4 acres of grass. Oregon Dept. of Forestry engines from the Grants Pass and Medford units responded, along with engines and water tenders from Applegate Valley Fire District 9. Workers in area provided a bulldozer and put in a fireline around the blackened area.

The fire was quickly contained, but mop-up may take several hours. The grassy field, part of a vineyard, had been mowed and embers were buried in the deep layers of grass. Extinguishing the fire will take a lot of water and a lot of time to turn the clumps of grass over and over and over again.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries occurred and no structures were threatened.

SW Oregon/N California Fires Update

[ Changes 1:23 p.m.: Fort Complex map link added and fire information contact changed ]

The Barry Point Fire, located 22 miles south of Lakeview on the Fremont-Winema National Forest has spread to 7,500 acres, approximately 2,700 acres of which is now on ODF-protected lands. The fire is moving approximately 3 miles/day in heavy timber and the threat to private lands is expected to continue. Yesterday, the Oregon Dept. of Forestry sent 2 engines and 12 personnel to the fire.

The management of suppression efforts for the Barry Point Fire was transferred on Thursday to Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 4 led by Incident Commander Brian Watts. A level 3 evacuation order was issued late yesterday afternoon for residents near Drews Reservoir and structure protection resources have been staged in the evacuation area.

The public is advised to avoid the Dog Lake area of the Fremont-Winema National Forest if possible, and if in the area to watch for increased fire traffic.

Dog Lake Campground was evacuated Wednesday and remains closed. For information, call (541)576-4974.

The Fort Complex, a cluster of fires burning south of Applegate Reservoir in the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath national forests, is 340 acres in size [ map ]. An incident management team has set up a fire camp at Cantrall-Buckley County Park near Ruch. For information, call (909) 379-9339.

See the Goff Fire from the Treetops

A video posted on the Klamath National Forest website delivers a view of the Goff Fire from a helicopter's perspective. The fire is one of several in the newly formed Fort Complex.

If you've never taken a lap around a wildfire in a helicopter, you may find this interesting.

The snags inside the fire area are trees that were killed during a wildfire that struck the area in 1987.

IFPL 2 Also Goes Into Effect Tomorrow on National Forest Lands

Effective Friday, August 10, at 12:01 a.m., the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest will enter Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) II.  This change will apply to all ranger districts across the forest, including High Cascades, Siskiyou Mountains, Wild Rivers, Gold Beach and Powers.

“We are experiencing a period of hot, dry weather that has caused the grasses to cure out and the heavier woody fuels to dry,” said Fire Staff Officer Kevin Donham.  “As the fire danger continues to climb, it is important for industrial equipment operators and the recreating public to be vigilant about the potential for wild land fires and follow any restrictions that are in place.”

Industrial Fire Precaution level II, also known as "partial hoot-owl", prohibits blasting, welding, cable yarding or the use of power saws except at loading sites, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The restrictions apply to all contractors and permit holders, including those with permits to cut personal-use firewood.  For current information on IFPL levels, visit the Medford Interagency CommunicationsCenter's website.

Red Buttes/Fort Complex Update

Steep terrain, rolling material, heavy fuel loads and hot dry weather are hindering suppression efforts on the Lick and Hello Fires.  Additional crews and equipment have arrived to assist in working these two fires.

The Lick Fire, burning outside the wilderness approximately two miles south of Applegate Lake, is estimated at 80 acres and is 10% contained.  Seven 20 person handcrews and two felling teams will be working today to establish control lines on this fire.  The Hello Fire, burning within the Red Buttes Wilderness, is now estimated to be 220 acres and remains at 0% containment.  Today five 20 person handcrews and the 10 smokejumpers that originally attacked the fire will be working this fire.  Both fires will be supported by 5 helicopters. 

A Type 2 Incident Management Team (Norm Walker – IC) will assume command of the Lick and Hello Fires as well as the nearby Goff Fire on the Klamath National Forest tomorrow.  All of the fires will be reported as the Fort Complex Fire. 

The Emily, Cedar Basin and Goff Butte Fires have been declared out.  The Fruit Fire has been declared contained.

The public is reminded that there are now road and trail closures and increased fire restrictions in place on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District.  Please drive carefully along Upper Applegate River Road as there is heavy fire support traffic and helicopter operations occurring near the road.

For additional information of the public use restrictions and a map of the road and trail closures go to:  www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou.

Where to Get Information About Red Buttes Wilderness Fires

The cluster of lightning-caused fires in the Red Buttes Wilderness, and other national forest lands in the vicinity, has been lumped into the Fort Complex. An online information page has been posted on InciWeb.

Wednesday's Fire Update from the Red Buttes Wilderness

 

Firefighters had varying degrees of success on the six fires burning within or near the Red Buttes Wilderness on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Wednesday.  The Lick and Hello Fires have challenged firefighters due to the steepness of the terrain causing the fires to spread upslope and laterally as burning material rolls out of the fires igniting dense unburned fuels.  The Hello Fire is now estimated at 220 acres with 0% containment.  The Lick Fire, burning outside the wilderness is now estimated at 80 acres and at 10% containment.  Due to the arrival of additional resources and fire complexity, the Lick Fire transitioned today to a Type 3 incident command structure – Brad Clayton IC.  The Goff Butte, Cedar Basin and Emily Fires have been declared out and the Fruit Fire has been fully contained with mop-up continuing.

A Type 2 Incident Management Team will take over management of the fires now burning on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District as well as a number of fires currently burning nearby on the Klamath National Forest beginning Friday, August 10.  “Our firefighters have done a great job working in some incredibly tough country,” said Siskiyou Mountains Fire Management Officer Gary Smith.  “The steep terrain and poor access, coupled with aggressive burning and rollout compromised our ability to keep these two fires small.”

Due to heightened fire danger and ongoing wildfire activity the following road and trail closures and increased fire restrictions are now in effect on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

• Road Closure: Forest Road 1040 from its junction with Forest Road 1050 west to Camp Gulch.
• Trail Closures:
• Trail #954 (Shoofly Trail)
• Trail #957 (Butte Fork Trail) from its junction with Trail #958 (Horse Camp Trail) west to Azalea Lake
• Trail #958 (Horse Camp Trail) from the trailhead on Forest Road 1040 south to the Red Buttes Wilderness boundary.
• Fire Restrictions (The following acts are prohibited):
• To build, maintain, attend or use a fire except in approved fire rings, fireplaces or stoves at the following sites:
• Squaw Lakes Campground
• Wrangle Campground
• Jackson Campground
• Beaver Sulphur Campground
• Mckee Day Use Area
• Grouse Gap
• Hartish
• Carberry
• Watkins
• Commercial stoves fired by liquid fuel or propane are permitted
• To smoke except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is cleared of all flammable material or while aboard a watercraft while on a waterway.
• To operate an internal combustion engine except a motor vehicle operated on Forest Development Roads or within designated parking areas; and except recreational dredges must remain in the middle of the stream, remain in the water 1 hour after shut-down, never be left unattended while operating, have a certified compliant spark arrester, and shut-down by 1 p.m.
• Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame.

For detailed information of the public use restrictions and a map of the road and trail closures go to:  www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou or call or visit any Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest office.

Fire Update: Red Buttes Wilderness

Firefighters made significant progress yesterday on the six fires burning in remote backcountry within or near the Red Buttes Wilderness on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  The Goff Butte and Emily Fires have been declared out, the Fruit Fire has been contained, and the Cedar Basin Fire is expected to be contained today.  The Lick Fire is now estimated at 26 acres and at 40% containment.  The Hello Fire, burning in extremely rugged terrain within the wilderness, is now estimated at 50 acres with 0% containment.

Resources assigned to the fires today include seven twenty person hand crews, seven engines, two felling teams and additional overhead assisted by five Forest Service helicopters and two Oregon Department of Forestry helicopters, available as needed, for water bucket drops, crew shuttles and support. The use of mechanized equipment (helicopters and chain saws) has been authorized for use within the wilderness to suppress these fires.  Two 20-person hotshot crews have been ordered to assist.

Closures:

• Forest Road 1040 from Seattle Bar Campground west to Bean Gulch. Barricades and posted orders will be placed at these locations.
• Trail #954 (Shoefly) as posted
• Trail #957 (Butte Forks) and junction of Shoefly and Trail #958 Horse Camp Trails west to Azalea Lake as posted
• Trail #958 (Horse Camp) as posted

For more information, call (541) 480-0094

Goff Fire in Difficult Terrain; Dillon Creek Fire Contained

YREKA, CA-  Across the Klamath National Forest many small fires were ignited by lightning on the evening of August 5th.  Firefighters successfully checked the spread of all but two of those fires.

The 15 to 20 acre Goff Fire, located on the Happy Camp Oak Knoll Ranger District near Portugese Bar is presenting difficulties for fire fighters. It is burning in extremely difficult and inaccessible terrain.  Yesterday a hand crew spent over six hours to hike to the scene of the fire.  A type 2 incident management team has been ordered to help support fire fighting forces assigned to the Goff Fire.

The Bill Fire, located near Billberry Creek in the Scott Bar Ponds area of the Scott River Ranger District remained at 50 and 60 acres today.  Crews made good progress building direct fireline to check the spread of the Bill Fire from moving towards the community of Scott Bar.  As a precaution, a strike team of local government fire engines will stand watch through the night to protect structures if necessary.

The twelve other small fires,  six on the Scott River Ranger District , six on the Happy Camp Oak Knoll Ranger District are either contained or expected to be contained by tomorrow. Each of these fires was a half acre in size or smaller. 

All fires are staffed with fire fighters and are being managed with a full suppression strategy.

Fire crews and equipment standing by from the Dillon Fire have been reassigned to help extinguish these new fires.  The Dillon Fire, ignited on Friday August 3rd,, 15 miles southwest of Happy Camp, CA near Dillon Creek, is now contained.  There will be no additional updates on the Dillon Fire.

Please call (530) 841-4485 for more information.

Six Fires Burn in Red Buttes Wilderness

Six fires are burning in remote backcountry within or near the Red Buttes Wilderness on the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  Ignited by lightning on Sunday, August 5, 2012, the fires cumulatively total an estimated 15 acres and all are currently staffed. 

Five of the fires are located within the Red Buttes Wilderness, the largest of which is the Hello Fire estimated at over 10 acres.  Other fires within the wilderness are the Fruit Fire (estimated at over 3 acres) and the Emily Fire, Goff Butte Fire and Cedar Basin Fires all at less than 1/10 acres. The Lick Fire is located just outside the wilderness boundary and is estimated to be over 2 acres.

Today five twenty person hand crews as well as Siskiyou Rappellers and smokejumpers will continue to work to establish containment lines on these fires, assisted by two Oregon Department of Forestry helicopters performing bucket drops of water.  The use of mechanized equipment has been authorized for use within the wilderness to suppress these fires.  Additional ground and aerial resources have been ordered. 

For information, contact Virginia Gibbons at (541) 618-2113.

IFPL Change Takes Effect Friday

Increased fire danger on forestlands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District has made it necessary to increase the fire prevention measures on industrial operations, such as logging sites and other commercial operations. Industrial Fire Precaution Level II (two) takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 10, and includes the following restrictions:

• The use of fire in any form will be prohibited
• The use of power saws will be prohibited, except at loading sites, between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• The use of cable yarders will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Blasting will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Welding or cutting of metal will be prohibited between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Additionally, commercial operators on forestlands are required to have fire suppression equipment on site and provide watchman service.

These regulations affect all state, county, private and Bureau of Land Management lands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The regulated use zones affected by this proclamation include SW-1, SW-2, SW-3, SW-4, SK-3, RR-1, RR-2 and RR-3, and all forestland within one-eighth of a mile of these zones.

For more information about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s fire season regulations, contact the unit office in your area:

• Medford Unit, 5286 Table Rock Rd., Central Point. Phone: (541) 664-3328
• Grants Pass Unit, 5375 Monument Drive, Grants Pass. Phone: (541) 474-3152

Southwest Oregon District fire precaution level information is also posted on the World Wide Web at www.swofire.oregon.gov.

Dillon Fire Nearly Contained

Yreka, CA- Firefighters have nearly contained the 318-acre Dillon Fire burning on the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests. The Dillon Fire is now 90% contained and full containment is expected today.  No additional fire growth is expected however there are still pockets of fuel that will continue to burn causing some smoke to be visible from Highway 96.

The Dillon Fire was started as a series of approximately 20 fires on August 4th along California Highway 96 between Coon Creek and Ti-Bar.  The cause is under investigation.  Most of the fires were quickly contained however 2 fires grew into larger fires.  One of the fires is on the Six Rivers National Forest and has burned 186 acres.  The other is on the Klamath National Forest is 136 acres.  The fires have been burning in very steep and rugged terrain.

Starting Monday the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests have implemented Fire Restrictions.  Initiating fire use restrictions will help minimize the potential of human caused wildfire starts.

Highway 96 is open with one-way controlled traffic with a pilot car through the fire area from Coon Creek to Ti-Bar.  Travelers should be alert for fire equipment and firefighters along the roadway.  Some debris continues to fall onto the road.  CalTrans is working to keep the roadway clear.

Firefighters Battle Lightning Starts on the Klamath National Forest

YREKA, CA-  Eleven small fires are confirmed to have been started by Sunday night’s lightning across the Klamath National Forest.  Six of the fires are burning on the Scott River Ranger District and five are located on the Happy Camp Ranger District.  A twelfth fire burning in the area, the Emily Fire, is located just over the Forest boundary within the Red Buttes Wilderness on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. All fires are being managed with a full suppression strategy.

Nine of the eleven fires are one half acre in size or smaller, with the smallest being a single burning tree near the Shackleford Creek Trailhead.  The largest of the fires, the Bill Fire, is located near Billberry Creek in the Scott Bar Ponds Area and is estimated to be between 6 and 10 acres. 

Fire crews and equipment standing by from the Dillon Fire are available to help extinguish these new fires.  The Dillon Fire, ignited on Friday August 3rd,, 15 miles southwest of Happy Camp, CA near Dillon Creek, is now 90% contained.  Regular updates on the Dillon fire can be found on InciWeb.

The Klamath National Forest is now in fire restrictions.  Forest visitors are reminded to use care while in the Forest.

Please call (530) 841-4484 for more information.

Monday Morning Fire Update

The thunderstorms predicted to hit southwest Oregon over the weekend never materialized until late Sunday. Seventeen lightning strikes were recorded in southeast Josephine County, roughly from the California border to Manzanita Mtn. No fires have been reported but watchful eyes will be on the area throughout the day.

The Kelsey Creek Fire, located in the deep woods 17 miles west of Glendale, will be in patrol status by the afternoon. This means mop up of the area by crews will be complete today, and engine crews will return to the area over the next few days to monitor the burned site for smokes.