Wednesday, August 6, 2014

8/5/2014 PM Beaver Complex Update



Oregon Department of Forestry Team 2- Chris Cline, Incident Commander
Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office Blue Team – Scott Magers, Incident Commander
CAL FIRE – Phill Veneris, Incident Commander

Oregon Fire Information number:  (541) 488-7726 (New Phone Number)
California Fire Information number:  (530) 842-2266
Hours of operation: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

August 5, 2014
9:00 p.m.         



Special Message: 
Every second counts when it comes to wildfire.  Take time to be prepared for a wildfire should one ignite near you.  Make a plan for evacuation and assemble an emergency kit so that you and your family can be prepared to leave should an emergency arise.  Suggestions for how best to prepare can be found on the Red Cross’ website at: www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire

Current Situation: 
Oregon Gulch Fire
Crews continue to make steady progress towards the goal of containing the fire, and have tied in the last remaining section of line along the southeast side of the fire.  Priority work for overnight includes continuing to secure the fire lines and clearing brush to remove fuel.  The addition of resources reassigned to the Oregon Gulch Fire from the Salt Creek Fire will help to accelerate progress.

Predicted lightning, which came into the area early Monday morning, ignited three new fires near the Oregon Gulch Fire.  One, located near Parker Mountain approximately a mile north of the main Oregon Gulch Fire line, grew to about seven acres.  Nightshift crews working nearby each new start were able to quickly respond and contain them in initial attack.

Structural task forces continue to assist with structure protection under the direction of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Incident Management Blue Team.  The Lane County task force was demobilized today. 

Salt Creek Fire
Fire personnel working on the Salt Creek Fire continue to make significant progress on mopping up the fire and a number of resources have been reassigned to assist with containing the Oregon Gulch Fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Thunderstorms in the area of the Oregon Gulch Fire should dissipate overnight, but could result in a stray lightning strike.  There is a 20% chance of showers.  Temperatures should be around 52 to 57 degrees with relative humidity around 65 to 75%.  Rain received over the Oregon Gulch Fire last night was not enough to provide much assistance to firefighters, but tonight’s weather should help to keep the fire activity low.

Fire Statistics for Salt Creek
Location:  20 miles northwest of Medford, OR                      Percent Contained: 87%                            
Size: 155 acres                                                                        Cause:  Lightning                               
Start Date: 7/30/14                                                    

Fire Statistics for Oregon Gulch
Location:  15 miles east of Ashland, OR                                     Percent Contained: 30%                         Size:  36,568 acres (9,464 acres in California)                                       Cause:  Lightning                          
Start Date: 7/30/14                            

Oregon wildland resources assigned to the complex include: 3 Type 1 crews, 44 Type 2 hand crews, 86 engines, 30 dozers, 23 water tenders, and overhead personnel. 

California resources include:  9 dozers, 10 engines, and 4 crews.
Air resources:  20 helicopters and 2 air tankers.
Total personnel:  1573
Evacuation orders by county:

Jackson County
Addresses from the 6,000 block on Copco Road and south to the Oregon border have been reduced from Level 3 Evacuation to Level 2 Evacuation. Level 2 Evacuation means “BE SET” to evacuate.  You must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.  This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area.  Residents choosing to remain should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Copco Road from the junction with Highway 66 is closed to public traffic.
 
Klamath County
The Klamath River canyon from John C. Boyle Dam to the California border will change from a Level 3 Evacuation to a Level 2 Evacuation.  This includes Topsy Grade Road, Picard Road, and all other normally accessible roads south of Highway 66 east to the Klamath County line in Oregon. Current roadblocks are at Topsy Grade Road and John C. Boyle Dam, south of Highway 66.

Siskiyou County
All evacuations in Siskiyou County have been lifted.

For the complex, 270 homes and 50 outbuildings are threatened; 6 homes were destroyed.

Places to get information:
Twitter - www.twitter.com/swofire/
Southwest Oregon District Blog - www.swofire.com/
Smoke Information - oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office - www.facebook.com/JacksonCountySheriff
CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go - www.readyforwildfire.org/
CAL FIRE – www.fire.ca.gov
Siskiyou County Pollution Control District - tinyurl.com/ljzak8a

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