9/14/2017 Umpqua North Complex Update

Umpqua North Complex Update
Thursday, September 14, 2017

Fire Information Line: 541-378-6944

Date Started: August 11, 2017	Cause: Lightning	Size: 40,856 acres	Total Personnel: 842
Structures Destroyed: 0	Firefighter injuries to date: 1	Total Complex Containment: 38%
Fire Resources: 16 crews, 45 engines, 5 helicopters, 4 bulldozers, and 19 water tenders

Current Information:

There has been little change in the perimeter of the fires during the past few days.  Eagle Rock, Devil and Brokentooth Fires have active fire burning near the edge and firefighters are monitoring these areas closely.  The weather is expected to moderate fire activity which will assist fire personnel in the next few days. 

Last night’s shift reported little to no fire activity.  Temperatures were low and humidities were high, leading to a quiet shift.

Today, crews will continue the work in the Soda Springs and Eagle Rock Campground areas.  Weather permitting, helicopters will also be working along the Highway 138 East Corridor, dropping buckets of water on hot spots.  Firefighters will start mopping up around the Devil fire.  The Falls Creek Fire is in patrol status; visible areas near this fire will continue to smoke and smolder inside the perimeter, but there is no threat to the line.

The weather is changing today, which could lead to a heightened fire environment.  A dry cold front will pass through the complex from the northwest, resulting in possible erratic winds on receptive fuels.  Temperatures will range from 66 to 72 degrees with relative humidities in the 35 percent range. 

The Type I California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 will begin the process of transitioning management of the fire to a Type II team today.  Great Basin Team 3, under Incident Commander Rohrer, will inbrief today and shadow the existing team tomorrow.  The Incident Command Post (ICP) in Glide will relocate to the existing camp in the Diamond Lake area by Saturday.

The Umpqua National Forest released a revised set of closures on Tuesday, September 12.  See the revised order at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd558669.pdf.   Regular fire updates can also be found on the Umpqua National Forest Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/UmpquaNationalForest/ and on Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5505/#

Evacuations:

The areas of Dry Creek, Illahee, and Slide Creek along Highway 138 East, Mile Markers 53 to 56, and the Clearwater area, Mile Markers 56 to 61, are in Level 1 Evacuation Notice “Be Ready.”

Road Closures:

Vehicles continue to be piloted through the wildfire zone on Highway 138 East, between Mile Markers 47-53. Be aware that conditions could change at any time and the highway may be closed due to safety concerns.  Multiple trees have fallen across the highway in the past few days, but no injuries have resulted. 

The Umpqua National Forest remains closed in areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. The North Umpqua River remains closed to boaters and anglers from Soda Springs Dam to the Susan Creek Campground. The north shore of the North Umpqua River from FR 4714 (Panther Creek Road) to Susan Creek is open to anglers only. For more information on forest closures see Public Notices athttps://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/Umpqua/alerts-notices.