High Cascades Complex West Zone
9/17/2017 9:00 a.m.
Fire Information: (541) 316-8352
Fire update: Cool, dry weather persists over the Broken Lookout Fire and crews will continue mopping up hotspots, chipping brush, and prepping roads. Contingency lines around the fire are nearing completion and are expected to be finished over the next few work shifts. Several trees in the fire area have been deemed too dangerous to fall with chainsaws. Over the last several days, small teams of Forest Service explosive specialists have been blasting the trees using remotely detonated explosives. Removal of snags is important to allow firefighters to safely work around the fire perimeter.
On the Pup Fire, small burn-out operations took place on the southeastern edge of the fire yesterday. Existing fire lines will continue to be reinforced and small burn-out operations will occur this afternoon with the goal of keeping the Pup Fire confined to the wilderness.
Fire Prevention: As wet weather moves into western Oregon, it’s important to realize that fire danger may still be present. The last significant rain event over the fire area occurred in mid-June and fine fuels like underbrush and leaves are extremely dry. Campfire restrictions still remain in place and the public should contact their local Ranger Station before having a campfire or using a charcoal grill in the forest.
Weather and Air Quality: Today will be the last day of cool and dry weather in the fire area. Winds are expected to blow from the south and southwest this afternoon with gusts up to 15 mph and could increase fire activity, especially in drainages aligned with the wind direction. Wet weather is expected to move in Sunday night, possibly bringing snow to higher elevations. Next week, up to an inch and a half of rain could fall, slowing fire activity. The air around the communities of Union Creek and Prospect remain smoky today, but should clear up as the weather shifts.
Closures: Many road, trail, and area closures are in place for the Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness and surrounding lands on both the Umpqua and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests. Forest visitors should familiarize themselves with these closures before venturing into the area. For a complete list of closures, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Other restrictions: The Umpqua National Forest has lowered its Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to III (partial shutdown). The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest remains under IFPL IV (general shutdown). For a complete description of IFPLs, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/
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