8/22/2023 Flat Fire Update

 

Update - August 22, 2023 Incident Information Public Information: (541) 216-4579 (8am-8pm) Media Inquiries: (541) 237-6369 Email: 2023.flat.or@firenet.gov InciWeb: Flat Fire Inciweb Page  ‌ ‌ Flat Fire Quick Facts Size (acres): 34,242 Containment: 58% Start Date: July 15, 2023 Point of Origin: 2 miles SE of Agness, OR Cause: Human Caused - under investigation Total Personnel: 496 Resources: 18 engines 11 crews 4 bulldozers 17 water tenders 4 masticators 4 helicopters Flat Fire Public Information Map Click the map to view a larger version. Highlights Fire behavior consists of low rates of spread, backing, creeping, and smoldering limited to scattered pockets off heat and unburned fuels of the interior islands. Helicopters are engaging isolated areas of heat. Single tree torching is also taking place, however containment lines are not threatened. Firefighters continue to identify fire behavior conditions that could result in rapid fire spread and engaging those areas with suppression tactics. Wind and slope alignment conditions in drainages and ridge-tops are regarded as critical indicators off potential fire spread. As a result, visual assessment of the fire lines and any remaining areas of heat is on-going. Smoke from the Smith River Complex continues to impact various air and ground operations as well as local communities.   Today's Activities Fire behavior consists of low rates of spread, backing, creeping, and smoldering limited to scattered pockets of heat and unburned fuels of the interior islands. Helicopters are engaging isolated areas of heat. Single tree torching is also taking place, however containment lines are not threatened. Firefighters continue to identify fire behavior conditions that could result in rapid fire spread and engaging those areas with suppression tactics. Wind and slope alignment conditions in drainages and ridge-tops are regarded as critical indicators off potential fire spread. As a result, visual assessment of the fire lines and any remaining areas of heat is on-going. Smoke from the Smith River Complex continues to impact various air and ground operations as well as local communities.  Evacuations Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation status in place for areas in the vicinity of the Flat Fire. Link to more information:   Curry County Emergency Management Weather An upper trough will bring a cooling trend and higher humidity Tuesday. Warmer and drier conditions will return midweek. Another cooling trend will move in Friday and over the weekend. Isolated showers are possible in the vicinity of the fire area all week. Smoke: Wind direction will influence smoke movement from the surrounding area fires and is expected to have minimal impact on the communities of Agness and Oak Flat. The Smoke Outlook is available at:  Smoke Outlook Closures U.S. Highway 199 has been closed north of Gasquet due to fires on the Six Rivers National Forest, please use U.S. Route 101 to SR 42s for all travel to and from the Rogue Valley. Forest Service and BLM roads should not be used as alternate routes due to fire activity. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has issued a closure order for the fire area including trails, roads, and a portion of the Illinois River. RRSNF Closures Fire Restrictions Please follow all fire restrictions to prevent wildfires. Know before you go. Check on whether there are any campfire restrictions at your recreation destination. Fire danger is currently extreme; the RRSNF is implementing Level 3 Public Use Restrictions. Level 3 PURs on the Wild Section of the Rogue River have been implemented by the RRSNF, Medford BLM and ODF. Current Fire Restrictions