8/15/2015 Collier Butte Fire - Southwest Oregon

Saturday, August 15, 2015, PM

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

Oregon Smoke Information:  http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/

Current Situation:

The estimated 5,800-acre Collier Butte Fire is 20 percent contained with 534 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 direct and indirect containment lines to protect values at risk located to the south, west, and north of the fire while reducing firefighter exposure.

Temperatures and wind speeds increased throughout the day, drying fuels and increasing fire activity on exposed slopes. Meteorologists forecast this trend to continue through mid-day tomorrow as Chetco winds from the northeast are expected to force the fire southwest toward control lines. Although winds are anticipated to decreaseon Tuesday, temperatures are projected to rise and reach near-record highs. An incident-specific Red Flag Warning has been issued for the area of the fire from tonightthrough Monday morning.

Several resources in the north and northwest concentrated on alternate containment line construction, while others patrolled and monitored existing primary lines. Firefighters in the south and southwest also patrolled and monitored primary lines, making improvements where necessary. Additionally, aircraft were utilized to slow the fire’s advance in the Collier Creek drainage. 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 of Port Orford cedar root disease. Resource advisors work with firefighters to provide protection measures for wilderness values and 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.