9/17/2018 Klondike and Taylor Creek Fire Update

Klondike and Taylor Creek Fires Update Taylorcreekfire2018@gmail.com Fire Information (541) 247-6789

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PLEASE NOTE: After the Incident Commander approved the Fire Update below, a decision was made to open Bear Camp Road (Forest Road 23) to the general public. This will go into effect at noon today. Effective noon today, the Curry County Sheriff's Department has announced that all evacuation zones in the greater Agness area will be at Level - 1 "Be Ready."  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FIRE UPDATE SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 Klondike Fire  Southern Area Red Team Mike Dueitt, Incident Commander   Overview Klondike Fire West Zone Fire activity was minimal yesterday with some fire growth reported in the Indigo Creek and Silver Creek drainages. Helicopters were used to keep these areas of growth in check. Small amounts of rain fell over the western portions of the fire area, but not enough to change fire behavior significantly on a long-term basis. A drying trend is forecast for the area and is expected to bring about a rise in fire activity for the next few days. Firefighters are continuing to focus on mopping up and holding the fireline, as well as felling snags and fire-damaged trees along forest roadways. Road graders will continue repair work on the roads and contingency lines west of the fire perimeter. Work on construction of check lines between the North Fork of Indigo Creek and Cedar Mountain, which are in place as potential control lines, should be completed today. Klondike Fire East Zone and Taylor Creek Fire Inside the fire zone, firefighters are identifying imminent post-wildfire threats to human life and safety, property, and critical natural or cultural resources. They are taking immediate actions to implement the repair to the forest before the rains arrive to prevent the loss of vegetation, exposure of soil to erosion, and increased water runoff which may lead to flooding, increased sediment, debris flows, and damage to critical natural and cultural resources. Crews are mulching, seeding, installing erosion and water run-off control structures. Hazard tree removal of individual dead trees or fire-weakened trees continues to prevent the risk of falling on people, or roadways.  No new ignitions have been reported, firefighters are strategically staged and prepared for new initial attack fires. Road Closures Bear Camp Road, from the intersection with the Merlin-Galice Road (Josephine County Road #2400 and #2401) west to the intersection with Forest Service Road 33, will remain open for the Agness and Galice residents, permit holders, and lodges until further notice. The Weather forecast indicates this will remain in effect for several days; however, unexpected fire behavior could cause a complete closing to all non-fire traffic at any time. We really appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation. If conditions change allowing tactical firing to begin off Bear Camp Road, it will be closed to all non-fire traffic until it is safe for the public.   Road 3313 in the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest is also closed from the junction at Road 33 to the junction at Road 3680.  Evacuation Level The evacuation level in the Agnes Zone is 2 - Be Set Key Statistics Acres: 140,232     Engines: 25   Containment: 72 percent     Water Tenders: 23   Total Personnel: 633     Dozers: 4   Crews (20-person): 9     Helicopters: 5   Contacts Klondike Fire Information Office:   Taylorcreekfire2018@gmail.com 541-247-6789 Air Quality Information:   http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Burn Restrictions: Burn restrictions are in effect in most areas. Check with the land management agency or fire district for specific restrictions. InciWeb:   https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5998/ Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/TaylorCreekandKlondikeFires/ Evacuations:   Josephine County:  https://bit.ly/2uUku2C Curry County: https://bit.ly/2PaNCLr   Area and Road Closures: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5998/47362/