July 19, 2018
CURRENT SITUATION
Situation Summary:
Garner Complex Fire Information in Josephine/Josephine County will be released separately by the Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2. The fires within the complex include: Spencer Creek, Grave Creek, and Pleasant Creek Fires. The updates will still be shared on our @ODFSouthwest Facebook page and
www.swofire.com.
Wagner Creek Complex in Jackson County
Total Complex Size: 250 Total Complex Containment: 50%
Green Top Mountain: 5 miles northeast of Eagle Point. Mapped at 121 acres. Containment has now reached 70%. Handheld infrared cameras will be used on the interior of the fire tonight to identify hot spots that may not be easy to locate with the human eye, or that may be feet-deep under the mineral soil. This will allow crews to thoroughly eliminate any chance of interior smoldering to occur moving forward. No structures are threatened. This will be the final update for this fire, unless conditions change.
Sterling Creek: 7 miles south of Jacksonville. The 32 acre fire is now 70% contained. Mop up operations will continue until we reach 100% containment. No structures threatened. This will be the final update for this fire, unless conditions change.
Trail Creek & Elk Creek Drainage: The last of the dozen challenging fires burning in the Trail and Elk Creek drainages, Cleveland Ridge #3, is being wrapped up today. Starting tomorrow, we will be cold checking all of the fires. The largest of the series, 5.5 miles north to northwest of Shady Cove, remains the 13-acre West Fork Trail Fire. All others are an acre or less in size. The entire series of fires is approximately 70% contained. No structures threatened. This will be the final update for this fire, unless conditions change.
Railroad Gap: Mutual aid to Umpqua National Forest. While firefighters were able to wrap a hand line around the fire last night, mop up operations are just beginning. Heavy timber and steep slopes will make for a slow and steady mop up to reach full containment. The fire is 33 acres, and 5% contained. Smoke will be present while we knock down the interior heat. No structures are threatened.
Fires in Josephine County:
Taylor Creek: 7 miles west of Merlin. Wind gusts, warm conditions, and steep slopes have been challenging firefighters on the line. Several hand crews, dozers, engines, and aerial resources have been attacking this fire all day. The fire is now estimated to have grown to be 338 acres, with a partial control line constructed. Overnight, firefighters will continue to build and strengthen additional fire line. Evacuations remain in place (see below.)
EVACUATIONS
Taylor Creek:
The following residences and businesses are being placed on a LEVEL 2 “Be SET” Evacuation Notice: Pickett Creek Road, West Pickett Creek Road, Green Tree Loop, Bickford Drive, Sanders Creek, Paradise Garden Road, Sallsten Road, Hussey Lane, Steelhead Lane, Cliffside Drive, and Bartlett Lane.
In addition, a LEVEL 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notice is also being issued to the residents of Shan Creek Road.
To learn more about wildfire preparedness & fire restrictions please visit:
www.swofire.comJuly 19, 2018
GARNER COMPLEX
#UPDATEMorning Update 7-19-18 – 9:00am
QUICK FACTS:
Size: 1,130 acres
Change in last 24 hrs. +170 acres
Containment: 8%
Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m.
Expected Containment Date: 7/31/18
Location: Josephine County
Cause: Lightning
Est. Cost: $1,450,000
Personnel: 902
Assigned Resources:
Handcrews: 31
Engines: 10
Dozers: 7
Water Tenders: 8
Assigned Aircraft: 15 helicopters
Today’s goal for all of the fires in the complex is to continue construction of fire lines around each fire and to catch the smaller ones with more personnel and equipment. We continue to aggressively fight all fires in this complex. The fire team is expecting two large air tankers crossing over from Canada today. In addition, two Chinook helicopters are on order from the Oregon National Guard will be arriving tomorrow. Many of the fires are located in very steep and hard to access areas where helicopters are the most effective equipment. The use of helicopters in steep terrain minimizes the number of fire fighters needed, thus providing for their
safety.
Today’s weather will be similar to Wednesday. Morning inversions will be present, but should be below most fire locations. This means that north-northeast winds will be present at ridgetops in the morning. It will be hot and dry again today with winds shifting slightly to the north-northwest in
the afternoon. Steve Ziel, Fire Behavior Analysist, for the fire said “there will be critically low dry humidity at night and it maybe as low as today”.
Firefighters will experience active fire behavior over night.
Each afternoon fire activity typically picks up as the temperatures rise and winds become more prominent. The public may see more smoke visible during the day. Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing health conditions and those who are particularly sensitive to air pollution. If you would like more information about air quality in the area you can go to the Oregon smoke blog here
http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/Cooperating Agencies: Oregon Department of Forestry, Bureau of Land Management, Rogue Valley Fire Chiefs Association, U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou, Umpqua National Forest
To learn more about wildfire preparedness & fire restrictions please visit:
www.swofire.com
July 19, 2018
The fire danger level on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine counties rises to “extreme” (red) at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 20. This affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands within ODF’s Southwest Oregon District.
The Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will remain at Level 2 (two).
The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those beginning tomorrow affects the public use of power-driven equipment, such as chain saws and mowers, to name a few. The use of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited.
Here are the details of the adjusted fire restrictions taking effect on July 20:
• The use of power saws is prohibited.
• The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.
• The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited.
• The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not specifically mentioned above is prohibited.
The following fire prevention regulations are currently in effect and will remain in effect until the fire danger level drops significantly:
• Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water, and designated locations.
• Debris burning is prohibited.
• Burn barrel use is prohibited.
• Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in approved fire rings at designated campgrounds. In other locations, portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed.
• Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may only be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.
• Fireworks are prohibited.
• Any electric fence controller in use shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the Department of Consumer and Business Services; and operated in compliance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• The use of exploding targets is prohibited.
• The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base is prohibited.
• Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and one gallon of water or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher.
July 19, 2018
Taylor Creek Fire
#UPDATEThe current size of the Taylor Fire is 160 acres. Additional resources of 10 and 20 person crews will be added to the fire today. Additional aircraft will also be working the fire.
Crews will be taking a direct and aggressive attack on the fire today. They will be working to open a ridge line as a fire break today.
The Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service out of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest are in unified command of the Taylor Creek Fire.
A level 2, Be Set, evacuation order by the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office remains in place as a precaution.
An additional update will be coming out later for the Wagner Complex.
