August 8, 2015
The Krauss Lane Fire is currently a fire burning near Cave Junction. The fire originated on the south side of the river in Cave Junction. The fire has recently jumped the river and has grown to 25 acres in size. Josephine County Emergency Services and Oregon Department of Forestry have issued a Level 3 “GO NOW” evacuation order for all Patton Bar Road, Ken Rose, Ivy Road, Logan Cut, Simmons Cuts Road, Mesa Verde, Fernwood, and White Oak residents in Cave Junction. All residents are urged to evacuate immediately. There may be no time for further warning.
There are currently four air tankers, three dozers, 35 engines, four hand crews, two water tenders and multiple Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 aircraft on scene.
A LEVEL 3 evacuation means that you need to LEAVE IMMEDIATELY! Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be available to assist you further. DO NOT delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home.
There is an information line set up Illinois Valley, you can reach it at 541-592-2225.
August 8, 2015
Friday’s night crews continued to make significant progress on the Stouts Creek Fire with several areas of the fire in the mop up stages and containment increasing to 30%. Now at 21,858 acres, the fire remains active on the northeast and southeast edges of the perimeter and residents can expect to see smoke and possibly flames on the ridge above Tiller-Trail Highway.
Helicopters will continue to be visible along the South Umpqua River as they work on hot spots and in support of fire fighting activities. Residents¬¬ also might see air tankers working in addition to the helicopters depending on the fire activity level. Motorists are encouraged to use extreme caution if they encounter smoke on roadways. Treat it as you would fog and turn on your headlights. We encourage those wanting to stop along the road to watch the firefighting efforts to continue moving in order to maintain traffic flow along the roadway.
The Upper Cow Creek Road and Milo area, as well as a small area along the Tiller-Trail Highway north of Trail in Jackson County, are under a Level 1 (Ready) evacuation alert. Drew (milepost 28 to 39) remains at Level 2 (Set).
Structure protection resources and the OSFM Green Team personnel demobilized today after determining that protection benchmarks were met. Mitigation efforts included creating defensible space around threatened homes, fuel chipping, strategic placement of portable water tanks and pumps and placement of sprinkler kits where necessary. Fire managers also ensured that a structure protection plan is in place for both the assigned wildland resources and county fire agencies. Two structure task forces from Douglas County are available if needed.
More than 1,500 personnel are assigned to the fire suppression effort. The cost of suppression so far is $12.1 million.
The Stouts Creek Fire is burning on private timberlands, other tracts of private land, Bureau of Land Management and Umpqua National Forest lands.
The Stouts Creek Fire is being managed cooperatively by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Wildland fire suppression direction is coming from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1.
August 7, 2015
Night crews continued to work on the flare-up of the east flank of the Stouts Creek Fire. The fire actively burned in this area till 3:00 am. Crews were able to maintain the fire within the constructed hand dug lines south of the 3220 road and west of the Tiller-Trail Highway.
A structure protection task force, comprised of engines protected homes near the community of Drew. A second task force of engines from structural protection fire districts in Jackson County arrived last night to provide additional structure protection. Both task forces are working a flex schedule to maximize protection during the afternoon and evening burning periods. The tasks forces are under the direction of an Oregon State Fire Marshal incident management team.
Fire activity around the rest of the 20,804-acre Stouts Creek Fire was relatively calm overnight. Mop-up continued along the north and west flanks. Fire line construction also continued along the lower portion of the west flank, the south flank and portions of the east flank. Heavy equipment being used includes bulldozers, excavators and feller-bunchers. The equipment is not only building a wide fire line but is removing excess trees and brush adjacent to the line. Where the heavy equipment cannot work, due to steep terrain, fire crews are building fire line by hand.
The fire is 25 percent contained. 1,545 personnel are assigned to the fire suppression effort.
The cost of suppression so far is $10.4 million.
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.
Smoke will continue 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.
The Stouts Creek Fire is burning on private timberlands, other tracts of private land, Bureau of Land Management and Umpqua National Forest lands.
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.
August 5, 2015
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.
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.)
