Fire Location: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Incident Commander: Doug Johnson
Information Center – 541-247-4447
Facebook: U.S. Forest Service-Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest
There will be a Community Meeting to provide information about the Collier Butte Fire onMonday, August 10 at 6 pm. The meeting will be held in Showcase Hall at the Curry County Fairgrounds, 29352 Ellensburg Avenue in Gold Beach.
Emergency Road and Area Closure implemented on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Relative humidity was very high overnight which slowed fire activity. Winds are expected to be light again today. The Collier Butte fire is estimated at 1,762 acres, burning in the northwest portion of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and remote Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest System lands. Limited road access, steep terrain, tall brush and large standing dead trees (snags) continue to pose challenges to firefighter safety and guide management tactics used to fully contain the wildfire.
An area of concern is along Collier Creek in the northwestern portion of the fire. As the fire eventually crosses the creek and begins to move upslope, the fire will become more active and more smoke will be noticeable. Another area of concern is the location of the containment line to the south along the Craggies and keeping the fire north of this location.
Firefighters continue to use both direct and indirect tactics to contain the fire. Dozers are being used to reopen and improve existing roads for firefighter access and to serve as containment lines. Firefighting crews are removing brush to reduce the fuels along these roads. The 460 road towards the east is being reopened and hand crews are scouting for opportunities for line construction within the wilderness.
Forest Roads 3680 and 1376 on the western portion of the fire are being reopened and connected. This is being done in preparation for a potential burnout operation in that area to aid in containing the fire.
Communication infrastructure and the Snow Camp Lookout, currently wrapped in fire-resistant foil, will be protected. The strategy is to keep the fire west of the Illinois River and minimize impacts to habitat, watersheds, wilderness qualities, and threatened and endangered species.
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity forecasted for the fire area are expected to help the fire suppression efforts over the next few days. Firefighters will use this cooler weather to their advantage as they continue to contain the fire. With the on shore flow and southwest wind, smoke should be transported in an easterly direction away from the coast.
Natural resources at risk from the Collier Butte Fire include: critical Coho Salmon habitat, Northern Spotted Owl habitat, Marbled Murrelet habitat, and wilderness values. Resource advisors are readily available to identify areas with sensitive plants, animals, and cultural resources, in order to help protect these valuable natural resources during the fire suppression effort.
Also at risk is the spread of Port Orford Cedar root rot disease that is present on the Forest. Resource advisors are providing specific measures to mitigate the spread of this disease by treating potentially contaminated water with bleach. An additional measure 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 and welcome 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. Driving sight distance on roads in the fire area access is very limited with sharp corners and few turnouts on narrow roads. 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.
Closures:
The Curry County Fairgrounds and the Day Use Area behind the fairgrounds are temporarily closed to public access. The facilities are currently being used as an Incident Command Post for the Collier Butte Fire.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has implemented an Emergency Road and Area Closure for Public Health and Safety. This closure is effective as of August 7, 2015. Specific information for the closure is available on the Collier Butte Inciweb site listed above.
For information on other fires and closures on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest please see the Facebook page listed above.
Start Date - August 2, 2015
Location - 18 miles east of Gold Beach on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Size– 1,762 acres
Cause- Lightning
Resources– 11 Crews , 5 Helicopters , 9 Engines, 5 Dozers, 4 Heavy Equipment, 8 Water Tenders
Total Personnel - 452
Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A TFR is in place over the Collier Butte Fire. Please check the NOTAMs for current information.
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