August 20, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Umpqua North Complex Update
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Recorded Information: (855) 419-2349
Incident: During the week of Aug. 9, lightning started dozens of fires across the northern Umpqua National Forest, along both sides of Highway 138 East, east of Roseburg in Douglas County, Ore.
Incident Command: Unified Command – Alaska Interagency Incident Management Team; Tom Kurth, Incident Commander, Douglas Forest Protective Association; Dan Thorpe, Incident Commander.
Current Size: 6,878 acres estimated total of complex.
Containment: 1%
Current Resources: Crews: 19, Helicopters: 3, Engines: 55, Dozers: 9, Water Tender: 14, Masticator: 2
Total Personnel: 760
Closure Notice:
Highway 138 East from Mile Markers 43 to 54 remains closed due to concerns with falling debris and fire activity. Road shoulders and pullouts between Mile Markers 31 to 35 of the highway are also closed to provide for public and firefighter safety.
The North Umpqua River remains closed from Boulder Flat Raft Launch to Susan Creek Campground to boaters and anglers due to falling trees and rolling debris.
Evacuation Notices:
Level 1 Evacuation Notice – “Get Ready” (threat in the area) – NEW: the Clearwater area, along Highway 138 East from Mile Marker 53 to Mile Marker 61, the Susan Creek residential area and the BLM Susan Creek Campground, HWY 138 E from Mile Marker 28 east to the Forest Service/BLM.
Level 2 Evacuation Notice – “Get Set” (threat is increasing) – Moore Hill Lane.
Level 3 Evacuation Notice – “Go” (threat is imminent) – Dry Creek and Illahee areas.
Current Situation:
With clear morning skies over the western portion of the complex, fire activity increased substantially much earlier in the day on Saturday. By midafternoon multiple spot fires were detected from the Happy Dog Fire, at Mile Marker 49 north of HWY 138 E near the Illahee area, east of Dry Creek. As a result of the fire’s easterly movement, the Level 1 “Get Ready” area was announced for the Clearwater area. The structure protection group along with additional crews and engines spent the remainder of day and well into the night fighting fire around the structures in both the Dry Creek and Illahee areas. No structures were reported lost overnight. The fireline along the west side of Happy Dog held throughout the night. The portion of Happy Dog, south of HWY 138 E, moved south and east.
On the Fall Creek Fire, the 4711 Road, Wright Creek Road, along the east flank continues to hold against strong variable winds. Helicopters dropping buckets of water slowed the western spread, giving time for crews to continue construction and improvement of indirect lines toward the North Umpqua River. This line will connect with a contingency fireline constructed by Douglas Forest Protective Association crews.
Other fires within the complex were active overnight as well.
Weather Conditions:
Today is the start of a warming and drying trend lasting through the middle of the week. Its forecast to be sunny today, with temperatures in the mid 80’s and north to northeast ridge top winds gusting to 16 mph in the afternoon. Valley winds will be terrain driven and lighter, causing fires to spot in multiple directions. Fire managers are preparing crews for very active fire behavior with spotting up to a .25 mile this afternoon and tonight. Monday, eclipse day, will be mostly clear, with temperatures in the 90’s and ridge top winds to 10 mph.
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality listed air quality for the Umpqua North Complex as “Moderate to Good” for Sunday. For further information, go to: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.
Flight Restrictions:
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been established over the fire complex. Pilots looking for additional information on the TFR go to: http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.
Umpqua National Forest Closure Orders:
The Umpqua National Forest remains closed in areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. For current closure information please see Public Notices at:http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.