9/18/2017 Umpqua North Complex Update

Umpqua North Complex Fact Sheet

September 18, 2017 – 9:00 a.m.

                                                                       

Fire Information: 541-378-6944 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm) 

Inciweb address: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5505/

Start Date: August 11, 2107   Cause: Lightning         Fuels: Timber, forest litter, tall grass, shrubs

Acres:  43,139                        Percent Contained: 38%   

Current Situation:

Yesterday firefighters continued to work on repairing dozer and hand line along the west side of the Ragged Ridge and Happy Dog Fires, including building water bars to limit erosion, chipping woody debris, and using a feller-buncher to stack downed trees. Firefighters continued to hold and patrol containment lines along the north and east side of the Happy Dog Fire while Oregon Department of Transportation crews cleared debris along Road 28 (Copeland Creek Road) and Highway 138. Firefighters also finished mopping up burning debris on Fire 625 and a portion of the Devil Fire. The last shift for night operations on the Complex finished early this morning.

Today the main objective remains protecting private property and critical infrastructure along the Highway 138 corridor. Crews will continue to clear debris along Road 28 and Highway 138 in preparation for rain storms forecast for this week. Crews will also begin removing pumps, hose and portable water tanks from the fire area and start repair work around the now contained Fall Creek Fire.

Today’s weather will be mostly cloudy and the current weather system will bring more showers to the fire area especially in the afternoon. Temperatures will be 52-58 degrees with minimum humidity levels remaining above 70 percent along with gusty ridgetop winds up to 20 mph.

Public and firefighter safety remains a high priority. With hundreds of firefighting personnel working across thousands of acres of rugged country over the past five weeks, the Umpqua North Complex has maintained an excellent safety record with thankfully only a few minor injuries reported to date.

Resources: 11 20-person crews, 29 engines, 5 bulldozers, 13 water tenders, 5helicopters. Total: 617

Evacuations:

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

Closures:

Oregon Department of Transportation is piloting vehicles 24 hours through the wildfire zone on Highway 138 between milepost 47 and 51. Be aware that conditions could change at any time and the highway may be closed due to safety concerns. Trees and rocks continue to fall across the highway every day.

For public safety, a closure order remains in place for areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. The closure area map can be viewed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd558669.pdf. The North Umpqua River remains closed from Soda Springs Dam to Susan Creek Campground. The north shore of the river from Panther Creek including Road (FR 4714) to Susan Creek is open to anglers only.