8/26/2015 Collier Butte Fire Update

Fire Update Collier Butte Fire - Gold Beach, Oregon Fire Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Incident Commander: Monty Edwards 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/

Wednesday, August 26, 2015, AM

Management of the Collier Butte Fire has transitioned to a Type 3 organization. As of 6 am this morning, incident commander Monty Edwards has assumed command. The Incident Command Post is located at the Gold Beach High School and the Information Center contact number remains the same. Current Situation: 11,100 acres 55% Containment 190 Personnel 3 Crews 2 Helicopters 5 Water Tenders 6 Engines As mop-up continues along the primary containment lines, other personnel and equipment will carry on rehabilitating Forest roads and chipping the large piles of brush and slash created during development of alternate and contingency lines. Local resource advisors oversee the reparations in areas where active suppression is no longer needed. Installing 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. The fire continues to slowly spread in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, but 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. Southern winds will continue to move smoke north from California wildfires toward the Oregon coast. Smoke may be visible along south coast communities and Agness for the remainder of the fire season. For information concerning smoke impacts, please visit the Oregon Smoke Information website listed above. 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 closure information. The temporary flight restriction over the fire area also remains in place. Bow hunting season opens this weekend. Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts should use caution while recreating on private and public lands. Extreme drought conditions exist in southwest Oregon creating very receptive fuels. Any spark or flame may ignite a wildfire, so please follow local fire restrictions and remain mindful of fire prevention.