08/29/2023 Chilcoot and Ridge Fires Update

 

CHILCOOT AND RIDGE FIRE UPDATE Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Chilcoot Fire: Size: – 921 acres Containment: 0% Ridge Fire: Size – 221 acres Containment: 0% The Chilcoot and Ridge Fires continue to burn in the Umpqua National Forest. Aircraft will be utilized to support ground crews as weather allows. Yesterday’s inversion layer didn’t allow for flights until early afternoon. There are approximately 400 personnel supporting these fires with additional crews on order. Ground resources will spend the day using direct and indirect fire suppression tactics, while night crews will work to hold the fire within the established footprint. Chilcoot Fire - Handline construction along the 3806 Road will continue as well as getting line around the spot fires on the northeast side. Firefighters will continue protecting the Chilcoot Repeater site and mopping up around critical infrastructure. Fire crews and DFPA made progress building strong containment lines on the northwest edge of the fire. These lines will help minimize impacts to private timberlands. Ridge Fire – More accurate mapping shows the fire to be 221 acres and holding close to the current footprint. The fire did grow approximately two acres in the Boulder Creek Wilderness. The rugged terrain makes it challenging to sections of containment line allowing for the use of natural barriers as necessary. The fire continues to hold along the 3810 Road, on the south, near Boulder Creek North.  Weather Temperatures are expected to decrease and humidities rise as a low-pressure system moves in. Elevated humidities will provide excellent opportunities to hold and improve containment lines. Northwest winds will become stronger this afternoon and into the evening, 7-13mph. This low-pressure system will bring with it a chance of precipitation towards the end of the week. Evacuations No current evacuations. Closures An Emergency Forest Closure Order (06-15-00-23-475) has been established. The order is in effect from Aug 28, 2023 – Dec 1, 2023. The full order can be found here. Temporary Flight Restrictions can be found at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp Additional information There will be a Community Meeting on Wednesday Aug 30, 2023, at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Glide Revitalization Center, 125 Wild Thyme Lane (behind the Dental office). This will also be broadcast on Facebook Live. • InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/2023-chilcoot-fire-unf • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550481586772 • Twitter: https://twitter.com/UmpquaNF