GARNER COMPLEX #UPDATE Morning Update 7-21-18 – 8:30am QUICK FACTS: Size: 6382 acres Change in last 24 hrs. +2327 acres Containment: 8% Start Date/Time: 7/15/2018 9:00a.m. Expected Containment Date: 8/7/18 Location: Josephine County Cause: Lightning Est. Cost: $4.085 million Personnel: 1355 Assigned Resources: Handcrews: 45 Engines: 33 Dozers: 11 Water Tenders: 12 Assigned Aircraft: 19 There will be a joint information center set up today to answer questions about all of the fires in the surrounding areas. If you have questions about other fires you can call the center at 541-474-5305. There will be a new Facebook page created today specifically for the Garner Complex fire. You will still find information about the Southwest Oregon fires on the ODF Southwest Facebook page. Last night the Grave Creek #3 Fire continued to burn actively. Crews continue to put in contingency lines around the fire hoping to stop fire activity at contingency points. Operations in considering burning back towards the fire to strengthen the fire lines. The Spencer Fire continues to have great success and is holding in place. Crews have been working to secure the fire lines. The Pleasant Creek Fire is holding within the control lines and mop-up has begun. The Taylor Fire, which was added to the complex at 6:00 P.M. last night was much more problematic than expected. Karl Witz from night Operations said, “the Taylor Fire ran like crazy all night long”. The fire continued to actively push to the south more than tripling in size. Today crews will engage the fire where safety permits, while aircraft will assist in slowing the rapid spread. A fleet if 19 aircraft will continue to fly today with eight more on order. You may not see them right away in the mornings due to inversion layers that hold smoke in place. As the day progresses the inversion lifts and aircraft begins to fly during the peak fire activity times of the day. Aircraft will be flown on this complex as often as safely possible. Current Evacuation Orders: -Pleasant Creek Rd: Levels 2 and 3 -Grave Cr. Rd is Level 3 north of intersection with Ditch Cr. Rd. -Pickett Rd and all cross roads are Level 2 and West Picket Rd. is Level 3. 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
