8/7/2015 Collier Butte Fire Update

Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Doug Johnson, has assumed command of the Collier Butte Fire at 6:00 AM this morning. The Incident Command Post is located at the Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach, Oregon.

Driven by strong, steady winds, the Collier Butte Fire became active in the afternoon and grew to approximately 600 acres. Smoke could be seen from several coastal communities including Brookings and Gold Beach. Air tankers dropped retardant on the west flank to slow fire growth. A hotshot crew contained a one-acre spot fire on the west side of Forest Road 1376, keeping the fire within boundaries established by Team 3.

The wildfire is burning in the northwest portion of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in the burn scar of the 2002 Biscuit Fire on the Gold Beach Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Fire management officials are developing a full suppression strategy, which includes evaluating road systems and ridge tops to be used for indirect containment lines. Limited road access, steep terrain, tall brush and large standing dead trees (snags) pose challenges to firefighter safety. Safety zones, escape routes and medevac sites are also being identified to facilitate safety in a hazardous environment.

As fire crews, equipment and helicopters arrive, firefighting efforts will focus on securing the western edge of the wildfire in order to protect values at risk. The Snow Camp Lookout is in the wildfire vicinity and will be closed. Firefighters are protecting the lookout by wrapping the structure in fire resistant foil in case the fire reaches the lookout.

With an ongoing drought in southwestern Oregon, water for fire suppression efforts is limited. Fire officials are currently evaluating water sources for helicopter water bucket operations.

Natural resources at risk from the Collier Butte Fire include: critical Coho Salmon habitat, Northern Spotted Owl habitat, Marbled Murrelet habitat, and wilderness values. Local Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest specialists are readily available to identify areas with sensitive plant and animal species in order to help protect these valuable natural resources during the fire suppression effort.

Port Orford Cedar root rot disease is present in adjacent areas on the Forest. Resource advisors are providing specific measures in order to mitigate the spread of this disease. Additional measures to reduce the spread of the root rot disease and invasive plant species to lands in and around the fire include implementing a “weed wash station” to clean vehicles going to and from the Forest.

Communities and businesses along the south coast and the Rogue River remain open to the public. Residents and visitors are encouraged to drive carefully as firefighter traffic in the area has increased. Residents along Hunter Creek Road, the main access route to the fire, will also see an increase in fire traffic. Helicopter operations are based in Agness.

Smoke from the Collier Butte Fire and northern California wildfires may be visible along the south coast. Detailed air quality information can be found on Oregon Smoke at http://OregonSmoke.BlogSpot.com.

Closures:

The Curry County Fairgrounds and the Day Use Area behind the fairgrounds are temporarily closed to public access.

Start Date - August 2, 2015

Location - 18 miles east of Gold Beach on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Size - 600 acres

Cause - Lightning

Resources - Crews – 1; Helicopters – 1, Water Tenders – 1;

Total Personnel - 100

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A TFR is in place over the Collier Butte Fire. Please check the NOTAMs for current information.