8/6/2014 12:00 Beaver Complex Update

Special Message: 

Governor John Kitzhaber visited the Oregon Gulch fire camp today and extended his appreciation for the efforts in extinguishing the Beaver Complex fires.  The Governor encourages all Oregonians to be vigilant in preventing wildfires during this exceptionally active fire season.  The slightest spark from a car idling over dry grass or a tossed cigarette can lead to disastrous results.

Current Situation: 

Oregon Gulch Fire

The fire is now 100% lined and is 35% contained.  Crews will be working today to continue to strengthen fire lines and mop up hot spots. 

All structural task forces assigned to the fire have been released.  The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Incident Management Blue Team will be demobilizing tomorrow. 

Salt Creek Fire

Fire personnel working on the Salt Creek Fire are working today to continue to mop up the fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior:  Weather today will be mostly sunny and a few degrees warmer than yesterday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the area.  Temperatures are expected to be between 85 and 90 degrees with relative humidity between 18 and 23%. 

Fire Statistics for Salt Creek

Location:  20 miles northwest of Medford, OR                      Percent Contained: 95%                            

Size: 155 acres                                                                        Cause:  Lightning                               

Start Date: 7/30/14                                                    

Fire Statistics for Oregon Gulch

Location:  15 miles east of Ashland, OR                    Percent Contained: 35%                             

Size:  36,568 acres (9,464 acres in California)                          Cause:  Lightning                             

Start Date: 7/30/14                            

Oregon wildland resources assigned to the complex include: 7 Type 1 crews, 54 Type 2 hand crews, 82 engines, 20 dozers, 28 water tenders, and overhead personnel. 

California resources include:  9 dozers, 10 engines, and 4 crews.

Air resources:  12 helicopters.

Total personnel:  1720

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/

DEQ - www.deq.state.or.us/AQ/burning/wildfires/index.htm

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office - www.facebook.com/JacksonCountySheriff

Inciweb - inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4034/

NWCC - www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.aspx

CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go - www.readyforwildfire.org/

CAL FIRE – www.fire.ca.gov

Siskiyou County Pollution Control District - tinyurl.com/ljzak8a