ODF's Incident Management Team 2 was dispatched overnight to take command of a series of fires in Josephine County at the request of the Southwest Oregon District. The district is dealing with 68 reported wildfires that have occurred since a lightning storm passed through the area Sunday.
The Team will be operating out of an incident command post in Merlin, north of Grants Pass. The team is responsible for fires within the Garner Complex, including :
- Pleasant Creek Fire - burning 15 miles north of Rogue River, size estimated at 60 acres
- Grave Creek Fires - four fires about 17 miles north of Rogue River, total area of 115 acres
- Spencer Creek Fires - three fires 12 miles south of Grants Pass, total area estimated at 105 acres
Oregon preparedness level raised to 3
Oregon raised its fire preparedness level to 3 today in light of the increased demand for firefighting resources. This matches the national level.
Recent ODF wildfires
Silver Creek Fire - North Cascade District
Firefighters continue making good progress mopping up fire in a remote section of Silver Falls State Park. No further growth is expected on the 27-acre fire, which is 100% lined and 55% contained. Around 125 personnel continue mopping up the fire's perimeter, as well as removing dangerous snags. Investigators have determined the fire's cause was lightning, most likely from a passing storm on June 18. The fire smoldered unnoticed in dense forest until called in on July 12th.
Report date: July 12, 2018
Acres burned: 27
Personnel: 125
Cause: Lightning
North Klamathon Fire - Southwest Oregon District
The portion of the Klamathon Fire north of the California border is now being managed separately by a local team as the North Klamathon Fire. The fire's spread into Oregon was halted at just over 2,000 acres and it is in final mop-up. The fire mainly affected BLM-managed land in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Jackson County.
Ignition date: July 5, 2018
Total acres burned: Just over 2,000
Containment: Approaching 100%
Personnel: 1,648
Cause: Under investigation
Fire restrictions are increasing due to hot, dry weather
Hot, dry conditions not normally seen until August have caused a number of ODF districts and protective associations to raise fire danger levels to high or even extreme. Restrictions on the public and industrial operators have been increased nearly everywhere. Due to variations in terrain and conditions, restrictions differ by district. For more information on a specific area, visit ODF's Fire Restrictions and Closures web page.
For photos and more information on Oregon wildfires and wildfire readiness, visit ODF's wildfire blog at: http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/.
ODF 2018 FIRE STATISTICS
Fires and acres burned (as of July 17, 2018)
Total fires = 437
Total acres burned = 5,000 *
Total acres burned = 5,000 *
* An estimate - does not include very recent fires
10-year average fires and acres burned (as of July 17, 2018)
Total fires = 328
Total acres burned = 5,158
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