August 10, 2014
9:00 a.m.
Special Message:
Thunderstorms
expected today in the area of the Oregon Gulch Fire pose a significant threat
to safety. If you see lightning and hear
thunder following in less than 30 seconds, take shelter in a vehicle or
building. If you are outdoors, find a
low spot away from tall trees and conductive objects. Do not resume work in exposed areas until 30
minutes after the storm has passed.
Current Situation (Oregon
Gulch Fire):
Dry lightning is predicted for
today, creating a high potential for new fire starts in the area. Fire managers directed crews today to stay
vigilant on the primary mission of full containment of the Oregon Gulch Fire,
while at the same time keeping an eye on the big picture and being ready to
respond to any new fires which may start nearby. Lightning safety plans are in place for fire
crews on the line as well as personnel stationed at the Incident Command Post.
Good progress has been made
on the mop up process and the fire perimeter is more secure each day. Crews will be using thermal imaging equipment
today to identify and extinguish hot spots within 500 feet of the edge of the
fire. Unstable weather, thunderstorms
and fuel conditions create the potential for extreme fire behavior.
Weather and Fire Behavior:
The National Weather Service
has issued a red flag warning starting at 11:00 am today, extending to 11:00 pm
Tuesday. Thunderstorms are expected to
arrive in the fire area this afternoon bringing with them abundant dry
lightning. Any new fire starts may grow
rapidly due to the dry fuel conditions.
There is a good potential for extreme fire behavior given the fire
weather conditions. Temperatures should
be between 87 and 92 degrees with relative humidity between 13 and 18%.
Fire Statistics for
Oregon Gulch
Location: 15 miles east of Ashland, OR Percent Contained: 64%
Size: 35,129 acres (9,464 acres in California)
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 7/30/14
Oregon wildland resources assigned to the complex include: 48 Type 2 hand crews, 4 camp crews, 44 engines, 13 dozers,
29 water tenders, and overhead personnel.
Air resources: 7 helicopters
Total personnel: 1458
Evacuation
orders by county:
Jackson County
The evacuation level for
residents from the 6,000 block south to the Oregon Border on Copco Road remains
at a Level 1 Evacuation. Access to Copco
Road is limited to residents and emergency services only. Residents living along Highway 66 in Jackson
County between the 11,000 and 22,000 block are still under a Level 1
Evacuation. This does not impact
people living in Keno. Level 1
Evacuation means “BE READY” for
potential evacuation. Residents should
be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services
websites and local media outlets for information.
Klamath County
Current
roadblocks remain at Road 106 (Camp 4) south from Highway 66.
For the complex, 270 homes
and 50 outbuildings are threatened; 6 homes were destroyed.
Places
to get information:
Twitter - www.twitter.com/swofire/
Southwest Oregon District
Blog - www.swofire.com/
Smoke Information - oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
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