7/27/2018 Sugar Pine Fire Update

Sugar Pine Fact Sheet July 27, 2018 10:00 a.m.

Prospect, Oregon – Nineteen fires on the High Cascades Ranger District west of Crater Lake National Park are being managed under the collective name Sugar Pine, which is also the name of one specific fire. Approximately 2,095 acres have burned on all fires combined. The three largest fires are Sugar Pine, Goodview and Round Top.

Weather conditions allowed the Sugar Pine Fire to burn more actively yesterday. It grew 504 acres and crossed Sugar Pine Creek towards Forest Road 6620. The Goodview Fire had heavy smoke cover and did not grow significantly. The Miles Fire, part of the South Umpqua Complex, increased by 674 acres and is very near the western boundary of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Crews and heavy equipment including dozers, masticators and chippers continue to construct indirect firelines to the east and south of the Sugar Pine (1,014 acres; 3% contained) and Goodview (806 acres; 0% contained) fires. These fires burned actively yesterday over extremely challenging terrain. A fireline has been constructed, but needs to be improved, along a powerline corridor near the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) border south of the fires. Crews, chippers and heavy equipment are also working along the boundary between the RRSNF and Umpqua National Forest to the northwest and along Forest Road 6620 to the east. The incident management teams managing the Sugar Pine Fire and South Umpqua Fire Complex are coordinating efforts and sharing resources to effectively connect containment lines.  Air Resources will continue to be used on these fires and fly when air is clear enough to operate safely. Potential burnout operations may take place today on the southern portion of the fire where the Sugar Pine and Miles fires’ containment lines meet and to improve the defensibility of private land.

Firelines are complete and mop-up operations are taking place on the Round Top (154 acres; 35% contained), Union (105 acres; 50% contained), Junction (6 acres), Gravel (3 acres) and Sunshine (4 acres) fires.

All other fires on the north end of the High Cascades Ranger District have been contained and are in patrol status.

Resources: 762 people including 25 crews, 9 fallers, 34 engines, 16 water tenders, 6 dozers, 7 masticators,

4 chippers and 1 excavator.  1 Type I, 2 Type II, 1 Type III helicopters

Weather: Incident meteorologists said, based on Medford Airport observations of temperature, the last 2 weeks have been the warmest period for the middle of July since 1911. Today is expected to be another critical fire weather day. Firefighters are prepared for the potential for very active fire behavior. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 80s with relative humidity 20-30%. Winds will be from the NW 8-13 mph with 19 mph gusts.

Closures: An Emergency Road and Area Fire Closure has been issued by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. All portions of the Forest west of Forest Roads 68 near the northern boundary and all of 6640 are closed. This area is bounded on the south by BLM and private land, to the north and west by the Umpqua National Forest and to the east by open portions of the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest.

Safety: Please be aware of slow moving fire traffic, especially near the Hwy 62 entrances to Fire Camp at Joseph Stewart State Park and on Forest Service roads. Smoke in the area can be heavy at times. Air quality information is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com. Huckleberry pickers should avoid areas of firefighting activity.

Fire Summary

Sugar Pine – (1,014 acres). Heavy equipment and crews establishing indirect line south and northwest of the fire.

Goodview – (806 acres). Heavy equipment and crews establishing indirect south and east of the fire.

Round Top – (154 acres). Mop-up and patrol taking place.

The Union (106 acres), Junction (6 acres) and Sunshine (4 acres) fully lined and in mop-up.

The Hawk Creek (9 acres); North Top (1.5 acres); Kettle (0.1 acre); Buck Basin (1.2 acres); Gravel (3 acres); Spring 2 (0.2 acre); Alder (4.2 acres); Soldier (1 acre); Coplen (1.2 acres) fires are contained and in patrol status.