06/23/2015 Buckskin Fire AM Update

Buckskin Fire – Cave Junction, Oregon

Fire Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Incident Commander: Doug Johnson

Information Center – 541-597-2223

Inciweb :http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4286/

Email: Buckskinfire2015@gmail.com

The Buckskin Fire has grown to 4,993 acres as firefighters continued burnout operations yesterday along the southern perimeter near Baldface Creek.  Overall containment has improved to 45%. 

Today, crews along the southwest edge of the fire will work to complete interior burnout operations.  Helicopters will support the burnout with bucket drops, sling load cargo off the line and shuttle personnel.   Crews working the eastern flank are in various stages of mop up, repair and monitoring.  WIldland Fire Modules on the western flank continue to monitor the inactive fire edge. The fire area will continue to smolder and creep in the drainage creating visible smoke until a season ending event occurs, likely later in the Fall.

Forecasted oppressive heat, over 100 degrees will test the fire lines into the weekend. Interior fuels which have been smoldering could become more active.  Fire managers will take suppression actions as needed.

Suppression repair guidelines have been prepared by resource advisors on the Buckskin Fire in conjunction with the Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest specialists.  Where necessary, suppression repair will be implemented by fire crews. 

Oregon Smoke at http://OregonSmoke.BlogSpot.com is an excellent resource for air quality information.  The burnout operations might produce some level of smoke in the Illinois Valley and surrounding communities.  

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):  A TFR remains in place over the Buckskin Fire.  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 – 10;  Dozers – 1; Engines – 6;  Water Tenders – 7;  Helicopters – 10

Total Personnel - 497