August 4, 2015
Good progress was made during day shift on the 17,166-acre Stouts Creek Fire, burning in rugged, densely forested country 16 miles east of Canyonville in Douglas County. Hoses were being strung down the miles-long western flank of the fire and mop-up was underway in that part of the fire. Mop-up was also continuing along the northern edge of the fire. Crews on the east and south flanks were punching in fire line with bulldozers and other heavy equipment. In areas where equipment could not be used, fire line was being dug by crews.
The evacuation levels in the Upper Cow Creek Rd. area, Milo and Drew remained at Level 2 (Set). A small area along the Tiller-Trail Highway north of Trail in Jackson County is under a Level 1 (Ready) evacuation alert.
The Stouts Creek Fire is burning on private timberlands, other tracts of private land, Bureau of Land Management and Umpqua National Forest lands.
The fire is 10 percent contained. Nearly 1,600 personnel are assigned to the fire, and crews are working day and night shifts.
The cost of the fire suppression effort to date is $4.4 million.
Spot fires along the east and southeast flanks of the fire today prompted action from several of the helicopters assigned to the fire. They dropped water onto the spot fires and crews worked to keep them as small as possible.
Elsewhere, as crews completed stretches of fire lines, burnouts were conducted to consume unburned vegetation on the ground between the fire lines and the edge of the wildfire. Night shift crews will continue fire line construction and burn out in portions of the south and east flanks.
The Stouts Creek Fire is being managed cooperatively by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, and the U.S. Forest Service. Wildland fire suppression direction is coming from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1. Structural fire protection is being handled by task forces under the command of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team.
Public Information Phone: (541) 825-3724 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
August 4, 2015
On Monday, firefighters took advantage of favorable weather conditions by constructing fire lines and conducting burn out operations. The fire increased to 17,166 acres as crews burned out vegetation to help protect a communications site and reinforce dozer and hand lines. Last night, crews were able to put in more miles of line than expected. Fire officials stated that four or five more days as productive as yesterday will make a difference.
“Good progress has been made, we’ve gained a foothold,” said Bill Hahnenberg of the US Forest Service, one of the Incident Commanders with the unified command managing the fire.
The fire is 10% contained with 1,272 people working on this incident representing multiple local, state, and federal natural resource and fire service agencies. The incident has an excellent safety record despite the difficult terrain and extremely hot and dry weekend weather.
The weather forecast projects continued favorable conditions that should help firefighters make gains on containing the fire. Smoke and flames from burn out operations are expected to be visible from Tiller and Drew areas. Structural firefighters are providing “point-protection” as needed around residences adjacent to the fire. The smoke inversion that has been a regular occurrence on this incident is expected to lift by mid-day, allowing additional air support available to firefighters.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Team, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1, Roseburg Resources and other landowners, and structural fire resources from Lane, Linn/Benton, Lincoln, and Marion counties are working with dozens of private contract crews on the Stouts Fire. The Red Cross evacuation shelter in Canyonville has closed, but staff remains on call in case circumstances change. Contingency plans are in place to open a shelter on the eastern or southern end of the fire if necessary.
Evacuations Levels 1 and 2 remain in effect for 317 homes. Evacuation Level 1 (Ready) is in place for the Milo Academy area and three residence along the Tiller Trail Highway in Jackson County. Level 2 (Set) evacuations are in place along the Upper Cow Creek Road on the south side of the fire; Ferguson, Stouts Creek, and Conley lanes on the north side; and the Drew Valley along the Tiller Trail Highway from milepost 28 to 39 on the east side. No Level 3 (Go) evacuations are in place at this time.
For more information about the Stouts Fire:
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