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

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