***This will be the final update for the Panther Gulch Fire unless conditions significantly change.***
Fire lines on the Panther Gulch Fire, located in the Applegate Valley, held overnight Thursday, and allowed nightshift crews to make good progress. Containment has increase to 34%, and accurate GIS mapping has placed the fire at 65 acres, very close to the size firefighters estimated it to be.
Five crews, seven engines, two bulldozers, one tender, four
fallers, and two medics will be on the fire lines on Friday. Firefighters will
continue gridding the landscape for interior hot spots, with a goal of mopping
up 75 feet into the fire from the perimeter. Aircraft is available if needed.
The Panther Gulch Fire was reported to ODF crews Tuesday
evening around 6 p.m. With the help of aircraft, firefighters on the ground
were able to gain the upper hand on the first shift. ODF Southwest Oregon
District greatly appreciates the support of our partner agencies working
alongside our crews, including Applegate Valley Fire District and Williams Fire
Rescue.
There are no evacuations or road closures near this fire. The
cause is under investigation.
Firefighters
continue to make steady progress on the Panther Gulch Fire, burning in the
Applegate Valley. Despite a few small fires along portions of our perimeter
Wednesday night, crews were able to strengthen lines and continue mop-up
operations, making progress on the containment of the fire, now 20%. It remains
an estimated 70 acres.
Crews
will continue mop-up operations today, with a goal of moving 50 feet into the
interior of the fire. Crews will also be taking down snags, visible in the
second picture, that could pose risks to firefighters. Safety remains a top
priority on the line. We’ll also have at least three helicopters on the fire
today, and potentially one more if available.
The Panther Gulch Fire was reported to ODF crews Tuesday evening
around 6 p.m. With the help of aircraft, firefighters on the ground were able
to gain the upper hand on the first shift. ODF Southwest Oregon District
greatly appreciates the support of our partner agencies working alongside our
crews, including Applegate Valley Fire District and Williams Fire Rescue.
There are no evacuations or road closures near this fire.
Investigators will continue to look into the cause today.
Updates are also available online at our Facebook page: @ODFSouthwest.
Firefighters were able to confirm in the
daylight today that the Panther Gulch Fire burning in the Applegate Valley is
completely lined, and crews were able to hold those lines today. The fire is
still estimated to be around 70 acres, however the steep terrain has made
walking the perimeter and mapping the fire for an exact acreage difficult. The
fire remains 15% contained tonight and more than 100 people are staffing it.
This evening, four crews, four
engines, one water tender and one bulldozer will be taking over. Safety is
tonight’s top priority; hazards include snags, rolling logs, and steep terrain.
Firefighters are tasked with finishing laying hose throughout the fire, before
beginning mop-up. When those operations begin, crews will begin by moving in 25
feet from the perimeter, extinguishing hot spots as they work inward.
Investigators were on scene today, working to determine the
cause of the fire. At this time, it is still under investigation. No
evacuations or road closures have been made.
Updates are also available online at our Facebook page:
@ODFSouthwest and our website: www.swofire.com.
Firefighters were able to make great progress overnight on the Panther Gulch Fire, lining nearly the entire fire in the first shift. This morning, it’s estimated to be 50 acres, however gps mapping today is expected to give a better picture of the size of the fire. The primary goal today is to hold the lines that were built overnight, and continue forward progress toward further containment with a focus on firefighter safety.
Crews were first alerted to the Panther Gulch Fire just before 6 pm on Tuesday evening; it was reported as a grassfire with a large plume of smoke above Panther Gulch road. ODF crews, along with Applegate Valley Fire and Williams Fire Rescue responded, however aircraft were first to reach the scene. Four helicopters, five SEATs, two LATs, and an air attack plane were engaged until the sun set. Air crews initially reported the fire to be seven acres. When firefighters arrived on scene, it was determined to be closer to 25. Four dozers and four 20-person hand crews also engaged in the fight, and worked through the evening. Steep terrain and snags in the area have been added challenges to fire crews, and the potential for rolling logs has posed a risk as well.
Our air attack will resume today with four helicopters, one fixed wing aircraft, one air attack plane and five SEATs. Four crews, six engines, two water tenders, and two dozers have taken over the line this morning, and will remain on scene today. With light wind and temperatures mirroring yesterday’s forecast, conditions will be favorable for firefighters on the line.
No evacuations or road closures are in place at this time. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
The Milepost 97 Fire is burning on land protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association.
NOTE: Acreage has been updated using an infrared flight overnight. Acreage will be updated twice daily, evening and morning. All other stats will be updated once. Other news will be posted as it happens and is confirmed.
Fire Summary: Strong winds continued over the fire through most of the evening shift, causing the fire to remain active through most of the night. Ground crews worked to contain spot fires across I-5 near the Turkey Creek/Milepost 94 area and along I-5. The focus of today’s work will be to continue the work on the spot fire and to safely construct line along the I-5 corridor and along the south and southeastern edges. Crews are making progress along the northern edge of the fire, having constructed line and starting to plumb. The western edge is being constructed along the ridgetops to create a continuous line, where possible. Crews will continue to build this line and strengthen what has been constructed.
The Douglas County Sheriffs Office issued a Level 2, “Set” evacuation level for all residences on the west side of the freeway between Interstate mileposts 88-83 which includes: Barton Road, Azalea-Glen Road, Old Booth Lane, Harrel Lane, Hobbs Lane, Fortune Branch Road on the Azalea-Glen side, Forrest Road, Realty Road, Quines Creek Road, Mobley Drive.
Additionally, all residences off of Upper Cow Creek Road starting at Interstate 5 milepost 88, east to the base of Galesville Dam are being elevated to a Level 2. A Level 1 ” Be Ready” notice is also being issued for all residents living on Windy Creek Road at and above Woods Creek Road. Barton Road south to Glendale Junction Road.
A community fire information meeting will take place tonight at Glendale High School at 7pm.
Size: 11,009 Acres Containment: 5% Start Date: July 24, 2019 10:00pm Expected Containment Date: Unknown Location: One mile south of Canyonville, Oregon Cause: Human Caused Est. Cost: $2,100,000 Personnel: 931
Resources: 37 hand crews 41 Engines 11 Dozers 6 Water Tenders
Aircraft: 5 Type 1 Helo 5 Type 2 Helo 3 Type 3 Helo 2 SEATs Evacuations: Level 2 and Level 1 Structures Threatened: 586 Structures Damaged: 0 Structures Destroyed: 0
