9/23/2017 Umpqua North Complex Update

Umpqua North Complex Update
September 23, 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, 2017              

Cause: Lightning                   

Fuels: Timber, forest litter, grass & shrubs

Acres:  43,139                                    

Percent Contained: 50%   

Current Situation:

The Great Basin Incident Type 2 Management Team #3 has now changed focus from fire suppression to suppression repair. Where the fire burned hot and control lines were dug, the bare ground in the fireline becomes channels for erosion if left unrepaired. Suppression damage repair is being coordinated with resource advisors and agency direction.

Graders are repairing heavily used and damaged roads around fire perimeters. Graders will be not be working over the weekend, but will begin againMonday.  Incident Commander, Taiga Rohrer, expects the fire line repair on the Fall fire will be completed soon. Additional specialized equipment is arriving daily. A tub grinder will arrive Monday, along with dump trucks and a log hauler. The firefighters and ODOT are focusing work around road 28 with removal of logs, debris and chipping. Due to the presence of equipment moving around and fire hazards including snags, this area will remain closed to the public until further notice. Additional barriers were requested to keep the public out of the area and harm’s way. Crews are also working to ensure safety along the 138 corridor from falling rocks and timber. Snags and rolling rocks are a watchout throughout the fire area. As the drying and warming occurs, more smokes will be noticed by the public and should not be cause for alarm.

Weather predictions are a slow warming and drying trend with low temperatures from 32-35 degrees. The lower elevations will have a high of 72 degrees. No rain is in the forecast and relative humidity will drop significantly.

These fires have had a really safe record with no major incidents. There are still quite a few days to continue, so crews are encouraged not to be complacent in their duties

Resources:

Resources assigned to the Complex are 13 Crews, 3 Helicopters, 12 Engines, 3 Dozers, and 6 Water Tenders. A total of 521 personnel including the Army Spearhead operation.

Closures:

Closures are reduced on the Umpqua National Forest. A list of closures can be accessed on the Inciweb website and the Umpqua National Forest website, which can be viewed at www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.