Garner Complex Morning Update 7-31-18 12:00 pm

GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE
Morning Update 7-31-18 – 12:00 pm
(NOTE: The Taylor Creek fire statistics will be reported in a separate report and no longer included in the Garner Complex Quick Facts or updates. Taylor Creek updates will be at Taylor Creek Fire Information
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 8,886 acres (No Taylor Creek)
Change in last 24 hrs. 0 acres
Containment: 65% – Garner Complex
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Personnel: 2,609
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 48
Engines: 45
Dozers: 8
Water Tenders: 17
Assigned Aircraft: 4
Structure Task Forces: 0
Structures Threatend: 564
Injuries: 8
Evacuations: Level 1 & 2 in effect
At the morning briefing for the Garner Complex, John Flannigan, Day Shift Operations Section Chief remarked, “Very impressive work so far, we need to keep making progress. With the potential for new fire starts to grow rapidly, crews have been notified that they have initial attack responsibility to help the local district.”
The north, east, and west sides of the fire are holding well and looking good. Fire crews are taking their time through the mop up process and insuring that areas are cool. The south end of the fire was the last place to have containment line put in and has more heat closer to control lines . Overnight, two crews used infrared cameras to detect residual heat. On the north side of the fire, they found isolated pockets of heat within 200 feet of the control lines. In other areas of the fire they found hotspots and flagged them for dayshift crews to suppress.
Air operations will be available at the helibase today when needed. Flights will be conducted throughout the day to monitor and look for areas that need support.
Overhead personnel are meeting with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to discuss a suppression repair plan. They will coordinate a plan to mitigate or eliminate environmental resource impacts caused by the fire suppression effort and rehab the area to as natural conditions as possible.
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s ODF Team 1 will continue to manage the fires in the complex until they are safe to turn back to the district.
For a printable, downloadable copy of this update please visit: https://tinyurl.com/7-31-18GarnerComplexAMupdate

Garner Complex Morning Update – 7-30-18 – 9:00am

GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE
Morning Update 7-30-18 – 9:00am
(NOTE: The Taylor Creek fire statistics will be reported in a separate report and no longer included in the Garner Complex Quick Facts or updates)
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 8,886 acres (No Taylor Creek)
Change in last 24 hrs. 0 acres
Containment: 60% – Garner Complex
Taylor Creek Fire – 8%
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Est. Cost: $31 million
Personnel: 2,609
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 81
Engines: 119
Dozers: 24
Water Tenders: 45
Assigned Aircraft: 21
Structure Task Forces: 11
As of 6 am today, the Garner Complex Fire is separate from the Taylor Creek Fire. The Taylor Creek Fire is now under command of the Pacific Northwest Type-1 Incident Management Team 2 (Schulte). The Oregon Department of Forestry Type-1 Incident Management Team 1 (Hessel) has command of the Garner Complex.
The Grave Creek Fire is the largest and most active of the fires in the complex. The other fires within the Garner Complex are the Pleasant Creek, Spencer Creek and King Mountain Fires. Each of those fires are smaller and less active.
Reports on the Taylor Creek fire will be issued separately. Transitions of this nature are common in wildland firefighting, teams work together closely to insure that operations continue seamlessly. Firefighter and public safety continue to be the highest priority.
Fire managers working on the Grave Creek Fire say that it is a success. Lines are holding and crews are conducting fire suppression and repair operations in coordination with landowners and resource advisors. Mop-up is being conducted 100-200 feet in from the perimeter. Lines are holding and the situation looks good, as crews work to secure the area and build more lines.
Smoke from the Klondike Fire, about 9 miles to the southwest has shaded the Taylor Creek Fire which has decreased fire behavior. The smoke can also impact aviation operations due to decreased visibility.
FIRE ACREAGES BY FIRE:
Pleasant Creek 835
Grave Creek/Section 14/Ditch Creek 7,816
Spencer Creek 228
King Mountain 6
For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here –
https://tinyurl.com/GarnerComplexAMUpdate7-30

Garner Complex Evening Update – 7-29-18 10:00PM

GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE
Evening Update 7-29-18 – 10:00pm
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 31,660 acres
Change in last 24 hrs. +2,748 acres
Containment: 60% – Garner Complex
Taylor Creek Fire – 8%
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Est. Cost: $31 million
Personnel: 2,609
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 81
Engines: 119
Dozers: 24
Water Tenders: 45
Assigned Aircraft: 21
Structure Task Forces: 11
The Taylor Creek Fire was active again today on the northeast side. The fire crossed primary containment lines and moved into the Galice Creek drainage, but the fire was still within secondary dozer lines. Crews overnight are working around the fire securing and holding the line.
With the Graves Creek Fire in good shape and largely in mop-up mode, two of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s structure task force teams have been reassigned to work on the Taylor Fire.
Weather today was 3-5 degrees cooler than yesterday with higher humidity. Smoke from the Klondike Fire burning in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness helped to suppress temperatures. The increased smoke limited the use of aircraft for suppression efforts.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office issued Level-2 evacuation orders today. A Level-2 “Be Set” evacuation means you must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Information on evacuations is available from the Southern Oregon Joint Information Center (541-474-5305).
Starting tomorrow, two Type-1 Incident Management Teams will be taking command of the fires. The Pacific Northwest Team 2, Incident Management Team led by Chris Schulte will assume command of the Taylor Creek Fire at 6:00 a. m. tomorrow. The Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1 led by Joe Hessel will assume command at noon tomorrow of the Garner Complex which will include the Grave Creek Fire, the Pleasant Creek, Spencer Creek and King Mountain Fires. Fire management teams typically work 14-day assignments. Transition after a 14-day assignment is normal. Incoming teams are fully briefed and prepared before the transition is made final.
FIRE ACREAGES BY FIRE:
Taylor Creek – 22, 774
Pleasant Creek – 835
Grave Creek/Section 14/Ditch Creek – 7,817
Spencer Creek and King Mountain – 234
For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here – https://tinyurl.com/ybm2m2g8

Garner Complex Morning Update – 7-29-18 8:00am

GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE
Morning Update 7-29-18 – 8:00am
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 31,660 acres
Change in last 24 hrs. +2,748 acres
Containment: 30% – Garner Complex
Taylor Creek Fire – 8%
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Est. Cost: $27.1 million
Personnel: 2,683
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 81
Engines: 125
Dozers: 28
Water Tenders: 39
Assigned Aircraft: 26
Structure Task Forces: 11
Smoke from the Klondike Fire cast shade over the Taylor Creek Fire on Saturday, providing some relief from high temperatures and lowered the active fire behavior. The Klondike Fire is burning in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness about 9 miles southwest of the Taylor Creek Fire.
Firefighters were able to hold and strengthen all Taylor Creek Fire lines, for the first time in several days. The weather trend will continue today, which means hot and dry conditions could stimulate the fire. However, smoke from the Klondike might provide some relief again today. Conditions remain difficult for firefighters because of steep topography coupled with the weather conditions.
On the Grave Creek Fire, on the east side of the complex, structure protection and mop-up work continues.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office continues to adjust evacuation orders. Mandatory evacuations ( Level 3—GO!) have expanded. More than 1,000 people are now subject to the evacuation orders. Information on evacuations is available from the Southern Oregon Joint Information Center (541-474-5305).
The Bureau of Land Management today issued a closure order for recreation areas along portions of the Rogue River. The order does not affect river operations, however access to the river is limited in the closed area. Information is available from http//www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/newsroom/index.php.
(Dowloadable link here –
https://tinyurl.com/BLMClosureAnnouncement7-28-18)
Management of the Garner Complex will be changing on Monday. The Oregon Department of Forestry IMT 2 is transitioning management of the fire to two incoming teams. The Taylor Creek Fire will be separated from the complex and designated as a separately managed fire. The Garner Complex will comprise the Grave Creek Fire and the Pleasant Creek, Spencer Creek and King Mountain Fires. Fire management teams typically work 14-day assignments. Transition after a 14-day assignment is normal. Incoming teams are fully briefed and prepared before the transition is made final.
FIRE ACREAGES BY FIRE:
Taylor Creek 22, 774
Pleasant Creek 835
Grave Creek/Section 14/Ditch Creek 7,817
Spencer Creek and King Mountain 234
For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here –
https://tinyurl.com/GarnerComplexPMUpdate7-29

Garner Complex Evening Update – 7-28-18 – 9:00pm

GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE
Evening Update 7-28-18 – 9:00pm
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 29,039 acres
Change in last 24 hrs. +3,942 acres
Containment: 30%
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Est. Cost: $27.1 million
Personnel: 2,683
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 81
Engines: 125
Dozers: 28
Water Tenders: 39
Assigned Aircraft: 26
Structure Task Forces: 11
The combination of continued high temperatures, low humidities and dry fuels produced active fire behavior across large portions of the Taylor Creek Fire today. Fire crews used a combination of aircraft, line construction and burnout operations to keep the fire in check. Crews reinforced alternate containment lines on the eastern flank of the fire where it passed over primary lines. Improved air quality allowed fire managers to fly numerous helicopter missions dropping water to cool hot spots.
This evening, structure suppression and wildland forces will be working together to construct and reinforce containment lines to halt the fire’s forward progress. Eleven task forces from the Oregon State Fire Marshalls office will patrolling the fire’s perimeter, support the wildland crews completing burnout operations, provide water sources, and protect structures if needed.
On the northern flank of the fire, crews will construct new dozer lines that will allow them to use the Rogue River as part of the containment line.
The historic heat wave hitting the region is expected to continue till Monday when temperatures should begin to moderate. The forecasted weather will continue to promote active fire behavior which will challenge the fire crews. Fire activity from burnout operations will continue to be visible to local residents.
Mop up operations are in full swing on the Grave Creek Fire on the eastern side of the Garner Complex. Fire managers aim to mop up 150 feet from the fire’s edge. Perimeter control lines have held for several days, allowing fire managers to focus more resources on the Taylor Fire.
The Josephine County Sheriff on Thursday afternoon extended the mandatory evacuation areas to a level 3 (GO!) between the eastern flank of the fire and the Rogue River. Up-to-date information on evacuations is available from the Joint Information Center at 541-474-5305 (8 a.m. to 11 p.m.).
For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here –
https://tinyurl.com/GarnerComplexPMUpdate7-28
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