8/3/20200 Rogue River-Siskiyou Nationa Forest AM Fire Update

 

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Contact: Margueritte Hickman, Public Information Officer Phone: (541) 690-8574 Email: margueritte_hickman@firenet.gov Fire Detection and Initial Attack Mission Continues on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest   Medford, Oregon 3 August 2022— Today Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) firefighters will continue searching for new fires and attacking confirmed starts. On the High Cascades Ranger District, firefighters have successfully contained the Meadow, Maude, Ethel, Outn and Bunchgrass Fires, and will continue work to contain two additional fires. While hiking out of the Sugar Fire, Crew 62 spotted a new smoke in the area and are hiking in to attack it. These fires are scattered across a very broad area ranging from near Crater Lake National Park south to near Fish Lake. The table below summarizes recent fire activity.    Today helicopter operations will include extracting firefighters from remote fires that have been successfully contained, and returning them to staging for rapid reassignment to any new fires.     Last night an aerial detection flight was completed over areas affected by yesterday’s lightning on the Siskiyou Mountain Ranger District, the Gold Beach Ranger District, and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. Significant rain accompanied the lightning, which gives firefighters a little extra time to locate and attack any new fires but does not eliminate the threat of new fires. Sometimes a week or more may lapse between ignition and detection of holdover lightning fires.     Aerial reconnaissance (recon) will be flown multiple times today. Close coordination with fire partners is essential to maintain a safe airspace and to be more efficient in the surveillance. Aerial recon flights will look for and report new starts where they are flying regardless of the jurisdiction.     Firefighters are prepared to attack new fires on the Forest, and are also ready to support initial attack efforts with our firefighting partners. RRSNF is also supporting fire suppression off-Forest as follows:     The Forest assigned a load of helicopter rappellers and a Type 1 (heavy) helicopter to the Clover Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest.     Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest resources continue to be engaged on the  Alex Fire, on the Klamath National Forest. An infrared detection flight last night mapped the fire at 151 acres. The 20 foot by 20 foot fire that spotted onto the RRSNF from the Alex Fire is 100% mopped up. This fire is being managed part of the Klamath National Forest’s Yeti Complex. RRSNF resources assigned include 1 Type 3 engine, 2 Type 2 IA crews, 1 Rogue River Hotshot Crew, and 1 Division Supervisor. At this time, the fires on the Klamath National Forest are not threatening Oregon communities.      The  McKinney Fire remains uncontained on the Klamath National Forest in Northern California. Yesterday the fire grew approximately 1,210 acres and now is mapped at 57,519 acres. More information on this fire may be found at https://bit.ly/3BxnC8y.      The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) has been closed in areas impacted by the McKinney Fire. Hiking on the PCT is not possible from Etna Summit to the south of Mt. Ashland, a 110-mile segment. Hikers should also be aware that the Tolo Fire is impacting the PCT in Deschutes County as well. The Pacific Crest Trail Association provides links to trail closures here https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/closures/.       Fire danger is classified as EXTREME on the RRSNF. Despite the rain received in some area, fuels will dry out quickly with the heat and wind. Continue to be vigilant in your fire safety efforts. Preventing fires is everyone’s job!  Photo: Fire Status Summary  USDA is an equal opportunity employer provider, employer, and lender