9/1/2018 I-5 MP 163 Fire Information

Contact:  Kyle Reed
Phone:   541-672-6507 X 136 (office) or 541-817-7186 (cell)
E-Mail:  kyle.reed@oregon.gov<mailto:kyle.reed@oregon.gov>

I-5 MP 163 Fire
Evening Update

Firefighters working on the I-5 Milepost 163 fires today reported good progress towards their goals of mopping up the fires.  As day shift resources transitioned out with night shift resources, crews reported that they had mopped up all detected hot spots within several of the smaller fires and had mopped up hot spots within 25 - 50 feet of fire containment lines around the larger sized fires.  When mopping up wildfires, crews start on the outside edges of a fire and work their way in, to the middle.  Because of this, smoke from the interior of larger fires may be visible for several days as crews work their way around the fires, mopping up hot spots closer to the containment lines first.

Firefighters were also able to get a more accurate GPS reading of the I-5 MP 163 fires today, which totaled about 97.25 acres.  Out of the total acreage, the two fires located near the I-5 milepost 162 onramp that merged together into one fire during the initial attack phase was plotted at 93.25 acres while the remaining four fires located to the north, plotted out at a combined total of about four acres.  The increase in fire size compared to earlier reports is due to more accurate GPS mapping, rather than an increase in burned area.

In coordination with the Oregon Department of Transportation, the northbound shoulder near the I-5 MP 163 fires is closed but both lanes of travel are open.  Motorists are asked to watch for fire crews and equipment that may be working near the roadway as they pass through the area.

About 30 firefighters will be working on the I-5 MP 163 fires tonight (Saturday), continuing to patrol the fires perimeter and mopping up hot spots.  Crews will continue to work on the I-5 MP 163 fires for the coming day with the control objective of completely mopping up all hot spots within the burned areas.

After a preliminary fire investigation of each fire, officials with the Douglas Forest Protective Association have determined that the cause of the I-5 Milepost 163 fires are related to a vehicle malfunction from a passing motorist.  DFPA officials say that a failed catalytic converter is responsible for starting the six fires near the Curtin area Friday evening that burned a combined total of approximately 90 acres.

Fire officials remind that despite cooler temperatures, fire season remains in effect and says that the I-5 MP 163 Fires serve as a great example that shows how quickly a new fire can start and spread.