9/2/2018 Klondike Fire Update

Fire Update – Sunday, September 2, 2018 – 8:00 a.m.

Klondike Fire West ZoneKlondike Fire West Zone Southern Area Red Team Mike Dueitt, Incident Commander The West Zone of the Klondike Fire was more active on Saturday, with the highest growth near Horse Sign Butte. Aircraft retardant gel and water drops successfully slowed the westward fire spread and kept the fire south of Indigo Creek. Firefighters reinforced existing contingency lines and looked for safe, interior access to the fire line. Additional check lines were completed in preparation for potential future tactical firing operations. These lines will be used for controlling the rate of spread when firing. More water supply units and mobile retardant tanks were placed in strategic locations along contingency lines. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for Sunday night and will remain in place until Monday morning. This indicates critical fire weather thresholds including low humidity, high winds, and hotter temperatures. Because of these changing conditions, fire behavior is expected to increase on Sunday. Aircraft will be the primary tool used today to keep fire spread to a minimum. Evacuation Information The evacuation level in the Agness Zone is 2 - Be Set. Taylor Creek Fire/ Klondike Fire East Zone Northwest Incident Management Team 12 Craig Glazier, Incident Commander Hotter and drier weather conditions, accompanied by gusty northeast winds, ignited unburned islands of fuel within the East Zone fire perimeters. Columns of smoke were visible from Highway 199, but the increased fire activity posed no threat to containment lines. Repair actions continued along the southern flank of the fire. Additional equipment has arrived, which will enhance efforts to improve water drainage and remove large, dead fuels. Engines continue to patrol existing fire-lines to ensure they maintain their integrity. A Red Flag Warning for critical fire weather has been issued for southwestern Oregon through Monday morning. Relative humidity levels in the teens combined with higher temperatures and wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour might stimulate fire behavior. Fire managers, at the Sunday morning briefing, emphasized maintaining situational awareness under these conditions. Management of the East Zone of the fires will be transitioning back to the local management agencies on Tuesday. Fire personnel from Northwest Incident Management Team 12 will coordinate with area managers over the next two days to ensure a seamless transfer of command. Hunters and other people using the forest over Labor Day weekend are reminded that ash and fallen needles are slippery and can make for treacherous footing on trails. Klondike Taylor Creek Acres 106,308 52,839 Containment 40% 95% Total Personnel 1217 85 Crews (20 person) 32 0 Engines 55 3 Water Tenders 2 1 Dozers 6 0 Helicopters 12 0 SOUTHWEST OREGON JOINT INFORMATION CENTER http://swojic.blogspot.com/ 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 Taylor Creek Fire  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6058/ Klondike Fire  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5998/ FACEBOOK Taylor Creek and Klondike Fires  https://www.facebook.com/TaylorCreekandKlondikeFires/ EVACUATIONS Josephine County:  https://bit.ly/2uUku2C Curry County: https://bit.ly/2PaNCLr AREA AND ROAD CLOSURES  https://bit.ly/2ofgxCY (541) 474-5305 Taylorcreekfire2018@gmail.com 2018_orrsf_klondike@firenet.gov