9/15/2018 Miles Fire Update

, September 15-16, 2018

Firefighters continue to patrol and secure the fire’s perimeter as well as repair lines to a more natural condition. Crews are being reallocated to other areas of the fire as work is completed. Personnel are identifying equipment no longer in use for suppression or repair work and will release it to other incidents if needed. Activities also included removing the aluminized fire building wrap which was used to protect structures from radiant heat and burning embers.

Appropriate hazard reduction for employees, contractors, and the public may be needed. This work includes the identification and mitigation of danger trees next to roads, trails, and firelines which pose a significant threat to firefighters and the public when the area is reopened.

An incoming front will bring some precipitation to the area Saturday night into Sunday, but will not produce season-ending rains. It will be dry from Sunday night through next Friday. Temperatures will warm to near seasonable values Tuesday, then remain about the same through Friday. There will be gusty northeast to east winds over the ridges of southwest Oregon beginning Monday night and continuing during the nighttime hours through at least Thursday night.

The Umpqua National Forest entered into Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) II on September 14 which prohibits blasting, welding, cable yarding, or the use of power saws except at loading sites, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restrictions apply to all contractors and permit holders working on the forest including those with permits to cut personal-use firewood. For more information call 541-957-3200 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.

There are still public use fire, road, and area restrictions. Please check www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices (Umpqua National Forest) and www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices (Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest) for current information.