Ramsey Canyon Fire 08/25/18 AM 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: 17%
Expected Full Containment: 9/10/2018
Civilian Injuries: 0
Firefighter Injuries: 0
Structures Threatened: 498
Structures Destroyed: 1
Structures Damaged: 0
Current Situation:
Last night, crews successfully completed burnout operations on the northwestern portions of the fire. Wildland and structure firefighters worked side by side to bring the fire down to control lines just behind the structures on East Evans Creek Road. The burnout operations added several hundred acres to the fire’s size and significantly increased the ability of control lines to stop the fire’s spread.
“It was a pivotal day. Yesterday, we were we able to build a fire line and hold it—which has been a very rare occasion this summer,” said Joe Hessel, ODF IMT 2 Incident Commander. “Our mission is to keep the fire behind the homes. I’m asking our firefighters to work really hard today to hold and secure these lines before the warm weather hits.”
Last night’s primary mission was to put fire on the ground in a safe and controlled manner. Today’s objective is to hold it. Holding operations today will include strengthening control lines where needed, burning any unburned pockets of fuel near containment lines, and watching for rolling debris and other material that may bring fire across control lines.
Fire crews will begin bringing water to the fire (aka “plumbing the fire) to support mop up and suppression operations. Structure crews from Oregon State Fire Marshall will be supporting wildland crews and providing ongoing structure protection.
Additionally, equipment operators will open strategic roads outside of the fire’s perimeter to use as contingency control lines.
The inversion moderating fire behavior will lift this afternoon, causing an increase in fire behavior. Winds of 10-12 miles per hour with gusts up to 15 will test the fire lines.
The fire burned one outbuilding on August 22, 2018 during initial attack.
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 an interactive map please visit: https://bit.ly/2uUku2C
For additional information regarding evacuations, please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Assigned Resources:
Engines: 45
Water Tenders: 12
Helicopters: 8+
Hand Crews: 21
Dozers: 9
Total Personnel: 795
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