RamseyCanyonFire 08/25/18 PM update
QuickFacts:
Incident Start Date: 8/22/2018
Incident Start Time: Approx. 12:45 p.m.
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Under Investigation
Incident Location: near Sams Valley, Jackson County, Oregon
Land Threat: Private, BLM, Industrial
Command Agency: ODF/OSFM
Fire Size: 1,861 acres
Containment: 25%
Expected Full Containment: 9/10/2018
Civilian Injuries: 0
Firefighter Injuries: 0
Structures Threatened: 498
Structures Destroyed: 1
Structures Damaged: 0
Current Situation:
Fire crews had another successful shift on the Ramsey Canyon Fire.
Along East Evans Creek Road, crews focused on burning out small
pockets of fuel near the fireline. In the southern and western sections of
the fire, firefighters worked to secure water sources and hose lays for
mop-up and conducted mop-up operations. On the eastern portion of
the fire, firefighters found and extinguished two small spot fires that
were smoldering outside the containment lines. Wildland and structural
crews will monitor these areas through the night.
All these actions were preparation for the mop-up phase of the fire.
“Mop-up is the name of the game,” said Operations Section Chief Trainee
John Tillotson. Mop-up is a methodical process of putting the fire
completely out. On some parts of the Ramsey Canyon Fire mop-up has
already begun. In other places, crews have been busy putting the
required equipment into place; such as water tanks, pumps and hose
lays. Fallers began cutting down snags that may pose a threat to crews
mopping up at night.
Smoke may be visible in the interior of the fire due unburnt fuels
continuing to burn.
“The Department of Forestry is proud of its aggressive night shift. We
are even prouder of the excellent safety record our night shift crews
have maintained,” said ODF IMT 2 Incident Commander Joe Hessel.
“Night shift did great work last night with the burnout operation. I ask
that you once again set your day shift colleagues up for success.”
Gusty winds of 14-20 miles per hour on the ridges will test the fire lines.
The Red Cross has setup a shelter at Hanby Middle School in Gold Hill at
806 6th Ave, Gold Hill, OR 97525. The phone number is 1-888-680-
1455.
Evacuations:
Level 3 “Go”
East Evans Creek Rd., beginning at the address of 17935, and continuing east including addresses 18505, 18509 (all accessed off of West Fork Evans Creek Rd.), then continuing to include the address of 19373 at the intersection of Meadows Rd; West Fork Evans Creek Rd., the addresses 18504 and 18508; Ramsey Rd., beginning at the address 13469 and proceeding north to include 13001 and 14738 (accessed off of BLM 35-2-20) and continuing to the Meadows Rd. intersection; Meadows Rd, proceeding south from East Evans to include the address of 16880.
Level 2 “Be Set”
East Evans Creek Rd., beginning at the address 15513 and ending at 16995, and beginning at the address of 19395 and continuing to include the address of 21043 East Evans Creek Rd.; Meadows Rd, beginning at the address 16800 and 16821, then proceeding south to include the address 14765; Ramsey Rd., beginning at the address 13465 and proceeding south to include the address of 11655.
For additional information regarding evacuations, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assigned Resources:
Engines: 66
Water Tenders: 14
Helicopters: 8+
Hand Crews: 30
Dozers: 8
Total Personnel: 1072
Air Tankers: As needed
Cooperating Agencies:
Oregon Department of Forestry, BLM Oregon & Washington, Rogue Valley Fire Chiefs Association, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office – Oregon, Jackson County Emergency Management, American Red Cross, U.S. Forest Service- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.