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 6,505 acres have burned on all fires combined. The three largest fires are Sugar Pine, Goodview and Round Top.
Yesterday afternoon, when humidity decreased and the winds shifted to down-valley from the NW, the Miles Fire pushed 2 miles along the Flat Creek drainage toward Shell Rock and the Elk Creek Road. This dynamic situation required excellent communication as firefighters, helicopters and equipment from many organizations focused on slowing fire spread and protecting residents and structures.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. the Jackson County Sheriff declared a Level 3 “Go” Evacuation Notification for the upper portions of Elk Creek Road, Sugar Pine Road, and Dodes Creek Road, that had previously been Level 2.
The increased fire behavior was associated with increased airflow, smoke lifting, and relative humidity levels dropping from 35% to 20% in less than an hour.
Today, firefighters are focused on evaluating whether the current location of the Miles Fire will allow tying fire containment lines near the houses back into a containment line running from Flat Creek to the powerlines north of Miller Mountain. Point protection near homes will be evaluated and improved throughout the day.
At the same time, there are multiple fire fronts on the landscape, so it continues to be important to secure the containment lines southeast of the Sugar Pine Fire (4,513 acres) and east of the Goodview Fire (1,708 acres) along FR6640. Firefighters are ready to hold those lines, burning out if necessary.
Resources: 834 people including 25 crews, 8 fallers, 46 engines, 16 water tenders, 10 dozers, 7 masticators, 7 chippers, 3 skidgeons, 1 feller, 1 road grader and 1 excavator. 1 Type I, 2 Type II and 2 Type III helicopters. Recently, helicopter usage has been limited by heavy smoke during some parts of each day.
Weather: Today’s weather will be very similar to yesterday: hot and dry with high’s in the 80’s, humidity in the low 20’s and winds from the NW. Smoke levels are expected to lift in the early afternoon, creating more airflow, increasing temperatures and dryness, and providing opportunity for fire activity to increase. The weather is expected to cool off and become more humid later this week.
Closures: An Emergency Road and Area Fire Closure on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has closed all of the Forest west of Forest Road 68 near the northern boundary and all of Forest Road 6640.
Safety: Be aware of slow moving fire traffic, especially on Elk Creek Road, near the Hwy 62 entrances to Fire Camp at Joseph Stewart State Park and on Forest Service roads. Smoke can be heavy at times. Increase following distances and drive with headlights on. Air quality information is available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.
Fire Summary: Sugar Pine (4,513 acres, 0% contained) and Goodview (1,708 acres, 0% contained): Heavy equipment and crews establishing indirect fireline south and east of the fires. Structure protection in the Elk Creek area. Round Top (154 acres, 48% contained), Union (105 acres; 68% contained), Junction (6 acres) and Sunshine (4 acres): Mop up. Hawk Creek, North Top, Kettle, Buck Basin, Gravel, Spring 2, Alder, Soldier, Coplen: Patrol status.
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