June 9, 2015
The thunderstorms early this morning started 16 fires on ODF’s Medford Unit and 5 fires on the Grants Pass Unit. The largest fires are:
- Rosebud, approx. 15 acres
- Left Fork Foots Creek, 5 acres
- South Fork Little Butte Creek, 4 acres
- Jump Off Joe Creek, 2 acres
- Wards Creek, 1 acre
The rest of the fires are 1 acre in size or smaller; most are smaller than 1/10th of an acre. The Rosebud Fire (photo below), located 5 miles south of Pinehurst in the Soda Mountain Wilderness, has had helicopters dropping water on it for most of the afternoon, and crews are working their way in by foot and by helicopter shuttle. No engine access.
The Left Fork Foots Creek Fire is burning in heavy fuel and helicopters have been dropping buckets of water onto hot spots for much of the afternoon. A bulldozer has been constructing fire line.
The South Fork Little Butte Creek Fire is also a walk-in fire, and helicopters with buckets have been supporting firefighters on the ground.
All of the fires 1 acre in size and smaller have been lined and the fires 1/10th of an acre and smaller have been 100 percent mopped up.
A reconnaissance plane has been flying the district all day and another flight is planned for Wednesday.
June 9, 2015
Firefighting resources have responded to a number of new lightning-caused fires across the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest today, and additional resources have been ordered to assist with continued response to new starts.
On the Gold Beach Ranger District, the “Tom Fry” Fire (#355), two initial attack crews initially responded to this fire. The fire has grown to 4 acres in size and short range spotting is occurring. A heavy helicopter and air tanker are currently assisting with firefighting efforts on the ground. A Forest Service engine, rappellers and Coos Forest Protective Association resources responded to Fire #346, located near Hog Mountain. The fire is 1.5 acres in size and firefighters have completed a line around it.
On the Wild Rivers Ranger District (Grants Pass/Cave Junction), Fire #358, in the Limpy Creek area, a fire 1/10 acre in size has been completely lined. This fire was staffed by a crew, one engine and additional resources from Oregon Department of Forestry.
The Red Dog Fire is expected to be 100% contained by end of shift this evening. The Winema Hotshots have been reassigned to the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District in the Ashland/Applegate areas to support potential new starts.
Additional resources have been ordered to assist local firefighting resources with lightning-caused fire starts and have arrived on scene, or are en route:
- Prospect/Butte Falls: One 20-person veterans’ crew and a strike team of engines
- Gold Beach: Prineville Interagency Hotshots
- Grants Pass/Cave Junction: Wolf Creek Interagency Hotshots and one additional engine
- Ashland/Applegate: Redmond Interagency Hotshots
June 9, 2015
Sixteen lightning-caused fires have been found and staffed on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. A dozen of the fires are on the Medford Unit and four on the Grants Pass Unit. Two of the fires were 1/2 acre in size and most of the others are 1/10th of an acre in size or smaller.
Firefighters and equipment are making their way into fires in the Jump Off Joe Creek area, north of Grants Pass; the Little Butte Creek area, east of White City; and in the Soda Mountain Wilderness, east of Ashland.
Three helicopters have been available to the firefighters for dropping water on hot spots. An airplane has also been flying all day, searching for smokes and assisting firefighters by providing fire location and access information.
June 9, 2015
Firefighting crews have made excellent progress suppressing the 12-acre Red Dog Fire, having created a strong containment line by late yesterday evening. A lightning-struck tree was identified as the cause of the fire. The fire is currently 50% contained and is expected to be fully contained at the end of shift this evening. Resources will continue to mop up the fire; if additional resources are needed for response to other priority incidents, crews may be reassigned. This includes the Rogue River Interagency Hotshot crew, the Winema Hotshots and a 20-person Grayback initial attack crew.
Last night, abundant dry lightning strikes occurred across SW Oregon with very little to no precipitation. In response, firefighting resources are pre-positioning for patrolling and response to new lightning-caused fire starts across the Rogue Rover-Siskiyou National Forest. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for abundant lightning activity through 11 p.m. tonight.
Increasing thunderstorm activity will create erratic fire behavior and new starts in Curry, Josephine, and Jackson Counties. Scattered thunderstorms this morning will start to diminish, then become scattered again this afternoon and evening. Gusty winds from 40-50 mph will be possible with the stronger thunderstorms. Some of the storms will produce moderate to heavy rainfall. Abundant lighting on existing very dry fuels could cause numerous fire ignitions. Gusty and erratic winds could also create explosive fire growth potential.
“We are aggressively pre-positioning our available firefighting resources for quick response to new fire starts,” said Dan Quinones, Deputy Fire Staff & Aviation Officer.
One new lightning-start has been detected on the Gold Beach Ranger District that is located on the border with Coos Forest Protection Lands. The new start is three miles SE of Three Tree Campground.
The Merlin Helibase has two medium helicopters, one rappel aircraft (John Day) and one helitack platform (Lakeview). Two fixed wing aircraft are available for aerial reconnaissance as of 0830 this morning. In addition, a heavy helicopter has been ordered from LaGrande.
In the Siskiyou Mountains, one engine is available for patrol and response. In addition, the Winema Hotshots are scheduled to be assigned to the area this afternoon after being released from the Red Dog Fire.
In the Prospect/Butte Falls area, in addition to the normal staffing of firefighting resources, a task force of engines and hand crews are pre-positioned for response. This includes 5 engines, one 20-person initial attack crew and several overhead leadership positions. Additional resources are being ordered.
In the Gold Beach area, a 15-person hand crew and engine is available for patrol/response, and in the Powers area, an engine and a prevention unit are also available, in addition to the increase air reconnaissance and air support that is being provided across the forest.
Firefighting resources will be moved and reassigned across the forest as new starts are detected and priorities change, utilizing information from lightning strike detection maps, aerial reconnaissance and smoke reports.
June 9, 2015
A widespread thunderstorm early this morning scattered lightning across Jackson and Josephine counties. ODF Medford Unit firefighters are working on five small fires in the Foots Creek and Galls Creek areas. The largest fire so far is 1/4-acre on Pikes Peak (T 37S, R 3W, Sec 6). ODF Grants Pass Unit engine crews are responding to reports of smoke in the Wards Creek, Cheney Creek, Birdseye Creek, Horesehead Creek and Fish Hatchery Road areas.
A reconnaissance flight is going aloft after 10:00 a.m. to detect other fires.
