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

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