8/26/2015 Collier Butte Fire Update

Fire Update 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/

Tuesday, August 25, 2015, PM

This will be the last Collier Butte Fire Update from Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3 (Oregon Team 3). A Type 3 organization, incident commander Monty Edwards, will assume command of the Collier Butte Fire at 6 am tomorrow morning. The Incident Command Post is located at the Gold Beach High School and the Information Center contact number will remain the same. Oregon Team 3 wishes to thank the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Gold Beach Ranger District, multiple partners, and surrounding communities for the great cooperation and support while we safely managed the suppression efforts on the Collier Butte Fire. Current Situation: 11,100 acres 55% Containment 190 Personnel 3 Crews 2 Helicopters 5 Water Tenders 6 Engines Today, firefighters worked along the south and southwest flanks to mop up and secure those containment lines. By the end of shift, its anticipated crews will have mopped-up 50 ft. into the interior of the fire. Crews continued to rehabilitate Forest roads and chip the large piles of brush and slash created during development of the alternative containment lines. Other suppression areas which are no longer needed are being repaired to standards provided by local resources advisors. Waterbars and pulling berms back onto lines are examples of repair strategies, these actions allow the impacted areas to return to a more natural state by holding soil and vegetation in place. As the wildfire continues to slowly spread in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, natural barriers with sparse vegetation are limiting fire growth to the east. This flank of the fire will be monitored by air and if necessary, helicopter water drops will be used to cool the fire’s edge. Today, smoke blew in from California wildfires towards the Oregon coast causing smoky conditions in Brookings. Smoke may be visible along south coast communities and Agness for the remainder of the fire season. The Emergency Area Closure remains in place on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest please see the Facebook page or the Inciweb page listed above for all the closure information. The temporary flight restriction over the fire area will remain in place. With bow hunting season opening this week-end, hunters and recreationalists using private and public lands should use caution while enjoying the outdoors. Extreme drought conditions are occurring in southwest Oregon creating very receptive fuels. Any type of spark or flame may ignite a wildfire. Please follow local fire restrictions and remain mindful of fire prevention.