9/19/2018 Klondike & Taylor Creek Fire Update

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

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FIRE UPDATE SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 Klondike Fire  Northwest Team 13 Brian Gales, Incident Commander Larry Nickey, Deputy IC Aaron Schuh, IC Trainee Overview Klondike Fire West Zone Fire activity picked up yesterday due to the arrival of a dry air mass and gusty winds. Growth was seen at the confluence of Indigo Creek and Illinois River, Snail and Slim Creek drainages, and Little Silver Creek. Despite the moisture from this past weekend, fuels remain very dry and are burning readily. The weather forecast is calling for similar conditions today and likely again tomorrow. Firefighters continue to focus on mopping up and holding the fireline along the 2308 road, as well as providing structure protection in Little Silver Creek drainage. Road graders continue repair work on the roads and contingency lines south and west of the fire perimeter. They are steadily making their way north when the need for contingency lines is eliminated. Helicopters will continue to use bucket drops to minimize growth along the 2308 road and confluence of Indigo Creek and the Illinois River. Northwest Team 13 is responsible for managing the fire as of 6 a.m. this morning. The Southern Area Red Team timed out after three weeks on the incident. Klondike Fire East Zone and Taylor Creek Fire Crews are prioritizing high-use areas for rehabilitation and repair with the expectation of opening the roads to the public. Repair work on Eight Dollar Mountain Road is anticipated to be complete this week. Mulching and seeding operations have initiated to improve the absorbency of forest soils and encourage the development of dense roots that bind the soil. Preparation for the rainy season includes installation of erosion and water run-off control structures to diverted or slow run-off. Until substantial rainfall is received, interior pockets of unburned fuel within the Klondike Fire will continue to smolder producing smoke. Road Closures Bear Camp Road (23 road) is now open. Anyone who travels the road is asked to use reduced speed as there will still be heavy fire traffic on this narrow, windy road. All other road closures remain in effect. See the area and road closures link below to view all closures within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Evacuation Level The evacuation status in the Agness area has been downgraded to Level 1, which means ‘be ready’ for potential evacuation. Key Statistics Acres: 142,421 Engines: 15 Containment: 72 percent Water Tenders: 23 Total Personnel: 581 Dozers: 2 Crews (20-person): 8 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://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices