Saturday, June 27, 2015

06/27/2015 Buckskin Fire Update

This will be the last Buckskin Fire Update from Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (Oregon Team 3).  A Type 3 organization, incident commander Monte Edwards, will assume command of the Buckskin Fire at 6 am tomorrow morning.

Oregon Team 3 wishes to thank the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Wild Rivers Ranger District, multiple partners, and surrounding communities for the great cooperation and support while we safely managed the suppression efforts on the Buckskin Fire.

The Buckskin Fire remains estimated at 5,345 acres.  Overall containment remains at 60%. Full suppression of this fire remains the operational strategy.  

Despite the gusty winds, higher temperature and lower humidity there was very little fire activity on the Buckskin Fire today.  A heavy lift helicopter dropped buckets of water on a visible smoke near the southwest containment line.  A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for abundant lightning tonight throughSunday. These thunderstorms could produce dry lightning and erratic winds creating very active fire behavior.  Firefighters are prepared and will remain vigilant to take additional suppression actions needed on the Buckskin Fire.

Helibase at the Illinois Valley Airport has been closed and all helicopters moved to the Grants Pass Airport. The heliwell will remain near the Illinois Valley Airport for use.  All water used in bucket drops from helicopters for any additional suppression efforts will come from the heliwell to protect critical Coho habitat in Baldface Creek.

Although there are containment lines surrounding the fire, several interior unburned islands remain within the primary containment lines.  Smoldering of these unburned islands will likely continue until a season ending event.

Resources no longer needed in the suppression efforts of the fire are being released for reassignment or to return home.

Smoke from the southern California wildfires has been drifting north and mixing from light smoke from the Buckskin Fire. To review the air quality throughout the state the Oregon Smoke at http://OregonSmoke.BlogSpot.com is an excellent resource for air quality information. 

A Fire Area Closure Order remains in place closing forest land around the wildfire area to provide for public health and safety.  For more information, please see the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Buckskin Fire Inciweb, or Buckskin Fire Facebook web pages.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR):  The TFR in place over the Buckskin Fire will be removed this evening.  Please check the NOTAMs for current information. 
Start Date - June 11, 2015 
Location - 10 miles southwest of Cave Junction on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Cause - Lightning 
Resources - Crews – 4; Engines –1;  Water Tenders – 4;  Helicopters – 3
Total Personnel - 200

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