Update for Sept. 17, 2020, morning
Northwest Incident Management Team 9 (Incident Commander Brian Goff)
Email: 2020.archiecreek@firenet.gov
Phone: 971-334-7674 Hours: 7am-8pm
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7176/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Archie-Creek-Fire-Information-120244459815292/
Evacuations, shelter areas: The Douglas County Sheriff announced that Idleyld residents will be allowed to visit homes today, Sept. 17 from 12 noon until 7:00 p.m.
An interactive map of current evacuation area can be found at www.dcso.com/evacuations. For more evacuation information, visit the Douglas County Sheriff website www.dcso.com/evacuations and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCoSO
Fire summary:
Today is a day of transition for the Archie Creek Fire with a change in weather and a change in team leadership. A weather system moving inland from the coast brought higher humidity to the area overnight. It will likely bring showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Gusty winds, small hail and heavy rainfall are possible.
As happens frequently, incident management teams change during the duration of an incident. Northwest IMT 9 (Goff) will turn over management of the Archie Creek Fire to Southern Area Red Team (Dueitt) tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 18. The teams are working together today to ensure a seamless transition. This transition affects only a small number of the personnel working on the fire. Crews and other on-the-ground firefighting personnel will remain.
Fire destroyed the Douglas Fire Protection Agency Guard Station near Rock Creek. A lone chair survived. Credit: Kyle Reed, DFPA
Fire activity picked up Wednesday evening along the southeastern portion of the Archie Creek Fire in the Little River area. The activity was within the fire line near E-mile Creek where it reaches Little River Road. Firefighters worked there into the night and structure protection resources are on site. The Douglas County Sheriff reminded people of the current Level 3 “GO” evacuation level in the area and again urged residents there to leave.
Air resources were unable to fly yesterday due to the thick smoke. Four helicopters and two Single Engine Air Tankers are available for use when the smoke clears.On the far eastern portion of the fire, crews are working to hold the fire on Panther Creek Road. North of Highway 138E, in the Steamboat area, firefighters are working to keep the fire west of Canton Creek Road. Contract crews and National Guard crews continue mopping up hot spots near both containment lines and structures in these areas.
Highway 138E remains closed to all non-fire traffic from Milepost 21 through Milepost 83. Crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Douglas County Public Works Department, Pacific Power and their contractors continue to work along Highway 138E, Rock Creek Road and other county-maintained roads within the footprint of the fire.
The Archie Creek Fire has burned 128,020 acres and is 20% contained. There are currently 1,029 personnel assigned to this incident.
Archie Creek Fire Donations: At this time, the Archie Creek Fire management team does not need donations. To help firefighters and their families, contact the Wildland Firefighters Foundation at www.wwf.org or 208-336-2996.
To support the community, the following agencies and organizations are looking for donations and volunteers to help those who were affected by this fire.
- Glide Helping Hands: 541-733-6860
- Greater Douglas United Way: https://gduway.org/campaigns/fire-relief-fund/
- Roseburg Rotary: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3D2BEGT2AJBRS&source=url
- Douglas Timber Operators / Umpqua Fisheries Enhancement Derby: https://donorbox.org/2020-archie-creek-fire-relief-fund
- Saving Grace: savinggrace.info 541-672-3907.
- Red Cross: Located at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Check for current needs.
- DHS: Check for current needs. Food items will not be accepted. Donations can be dropped off this week at Roseburg DHS building 738 W Harvard, Roseburg OR M-F, 9am-4pm through 9/18/20
Air quality: The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at http://www.oregon.gov/deq
Closures:
- Roads – Monitor tripcheck.com for updates on the highway closures.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – All lands east of Interstate 5, within the Swiftwater Resource Area are closed.
- Umpqua National Forest – Maps and closure orders can be found on Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7176/. Additional information on the Forest Service closures are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices managed lands east of Interstate 5, within the Swiftwater Resource Area are closed.