8/15/2015 Collier Butte AM Update

Fire Update 

Saturday, August 15, 2015, AM

Collier Butte Fire – Gold Beach, Oregon

Fire Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Incident Commander: Doug Johnson

Information Center: 541-247-4447

Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4461

Email: Collierbuttefire@gmail.com

Facebook:  U.S. Forest Service-Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest

Current Situation:

The 5,607-acre Collier Butte Fire is 20 percent contained with 549 personnel working on this wildfire. The fire is burning in the northwest portion of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and remote Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest System lands on the Gold Beach Ranger District.  Fire managers have implemented indirect containment lines to protect values at risk located to the south, west, and north of the fire while reducing firefighter exposure.

Yesterday’s rain and cool air is expected to transition today, as warm, dry winds from the northeast align with the topography of the Collier Creek drainage generating the “Chetco Effect”. Sustained high winds are anticipated, with gusts as high as 30-35 mph over ridges. Weather conditions are projected to reach critical fire weather levels by 6 pm this evening and continue through 12 pmSunday.

Burnout operations have been completed in the northwest and current tactics will focus on mopping up and extinguishing burning and smoldering fuels to reinforce control lines. In the west, fire managers will monitor conditions and are prepared to begin burnouts if the opportunity presents itself prior to the shift in weather. Firefighters took advantage of favorable weather on the southwest perimeter yesterday by constructing approximately one mile of direct line along the edge of the fire and plan to tie this section to an anchor point today. Crews working the south are on alert and prepared to respond to an advancing fire driven by Chetco winds.

All personnel working the Collier Butte Fire are reviewing safety zones and escape routes as an additional precaution. Alternate containment lines are in place in the north along FR 3680, and in the south along FR 1376 from Mineral Hill to Tolman Ranch. Managers continue to scout locations for additional containment lines and evaluate natural barriers on all sides of the fire. Firefighter safety is the primary concern, and the rugged terrain, limited access and abundant snags present a multitude of challenges.

A helicopter dip tank is located on the bank of the Illinois River in Agness to treat and rinse buckets for water drops as an added safeguard against the potential spread Port Orford cedar root disease. Resource advisors work with firefighters to provide protection measures for wilderness values, including habitat for coho salmon, northern spotted owl, and marbled murrelet.

Closures:

Businesses along the south coast and Rogue River remain open.  Residents and visitors to Gold Beach, Brookings and nearby communities are encouraged to drive carefully as firefighter traffic in the area has increased.  Although the Event Center on the Beach is currently closed to the public, the Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach will host the Fair August 27-30 as planned.

For information on closures on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, please see the Facebook page or the Inciweb page listed above.