Stouts Creek Fire 15 Percent Contained

Much of today’s fire suppression focus on the Stouts Creek Fire is on connecting fire lines and doing burnout operations along the east and south flanks. Crews on the fire’s west and north flanks are running hose lays and doing mop-up along the fire’s edge. Some burnout operations are also being conducted along the west side.

The fire has grown to 17,500 acres. Most of the increased size is due to fireline relocation and burnout operations. The fire is 15 percent contained.

Helicopters will be seen much of the day over the Stouts Creek Fire because the smoke has cleared out allowing the aircraft to fly earlier than normal. Seven helicopters are assigned to the incident for fire suppression support. Another helicopter is on standby to respond to medical emergencies. Air tankers are available on an as-needed basis.

The evacuation levels in the Upper Cow Creek Road 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.

A task force of structural fire protection engines is in place in the Upper Cow Creek Road area and another task force is stationed in the Drew area. Residences and other structures have been evaluated for defensible space. Vegetation reduction has been completed in many areas to make homes more defensible against fire. Portable water ponds, pumps, hoses and sprinklers have been stationed in several areas among the homes.

Smoke continues to drift from the fire area and will be stronger when burnout operations are taking place. Most of the smoke will drift in a south/southeast direction from the fire. For updates on smoke density and public health advisories, see www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.

Stouts Creek Fire Evening Update

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.) 

Crews on Stouts Fire Make Good Progress on Fireline Construction

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:

Public Information Phone: (541) 825-3724 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

#StoutsFire

Two New Lightning Caused Fires In Northeast Josephine County

Two new fires ignited by lightning overnight in the remote Kelsey Creek drainage north of the Rogue River in far northeast Josephine County have been aggressively attacked by firefighters of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest Oregon District. Hand crews, bulldozers, engines, and helicopters have successfully established a fireline around the seven acre East Kelsey Fire with mop-up operations in progress. The Trappers Camp Fire, also estimated at seven acres in size, is currently 60% lined. Firefighters will continue to work on both of these fires through the night in order to achieve full containment as quickly as possible.

Stouts Fire Slows on Sunday, Holds at 15,000 Acres

Firefighters had a good day Sunday, as moderating weather conditions created calmer fire behavior on the Stouts Fire. Crews took advantage of the lower temperatures, higher humidity, cloud cover, and smoke inversion to build additional fire line, prepare contingency lines, and assess the areas around structures that need clearing and starting work to help protect them if the fire moves that way. The fire grew slightly but remains just over 15,000 acres, and is estimated at 5% containment. About 1400 firefighters continue fighting the Stouts Fire around the clock. Over 160 community members turned out to last night’s meeting at the Milo fire hall.

Working together protecting homes, the wildland firefighters will start clearing road systems and constructing line along the east side of the fire today, while the structural firefighters keep working around homes clearing the areas to help prevent a wildfire from harming homes. Smoke remains heavy and may start lifting around noon. The crews are using the weather to their advantage to make some gains on the fire.

“The crews are doing an excellent job,” said Roseburg Resources Forestry Manager Mark Wall. “They are literally working night and day to get this thing under control. No doubt, this is a difficult job, but I’m confident it’ll get done as quickly as possible and most importantly, safely.”

The Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, and the USDA Forest Service Stouts Fire continue managing this fire under unified command. The Incident Management Teams representing these agencies train together, work together, and cooperate together under the Incident Command System (or ICS). The fire is burning approximately 1/3 on private land, 1/3 on Bureau of Land Management land, and 1/3 on National Forest land.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal Green Team, Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1, Roseburg Resources and other landowners, dozens of private contract crews, and structural firefighters from Clackamas, Lane, Linn/Benton, Lincoln, Marion and Yamhill counties continue fighting the Stouts Fire.

The number of structures threatened is 317. 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. The Red Cross evacuation shelter remains at the Canyonville YMCA.

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