September 13, 2023 Flat and Anvil Fires Update
Tomorrow, September 14, Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3 will transfer command of the Flat and Anvil Fires to Great Basin Incident Management Team 4 at 7:00 a.m.
Anvil Fire Activity
Size: 813 acres
Start Date: August 25, 2023
Point of origin: 8 miles east of Port Orford, OR
Containment: 0%
Total personnel: 306
Today, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for the fire area. Warmer and dryer conditions with stronger north to northeast winds could keep fire active into the evening and early morning hours. The ridgetop winds are of most concern, although much of the fire is burning further downslope where it’s more sheltered. Three engine crews will work a swing shift into the night along Elk River Road to keep an eye on the fire and monitor conditions. Wildland Fire Modules remain spiked near the fire in the Grassy Knob area and continue to report conditions. Yesterday, helicopters dropped 159,000 gallons of water to slow the fire's spread. Crews and a masticator operator are still working along Grassy Knob Road to clear vegetation 30 feet on each side. Three Interagency Hotshot Crews have finished saw line from Grassy Knob Road south to the fish hatchery on Elk River Road. The dozer operator is working down the completed saw line, and crews will begin laying hoses with pumps on the south portion. Firefighters have set up sprinkler systems with pumps and hoses around residences in the fish hatchery area. Around China Peak to the northeast of the fire, heavy equipment operators continue to open and connect road systems to use as a control feature if needed. Fire managers are developing a plan for additional control lines south of Elk River.
Flat Fire Activity
Size: 34,242 acres
Start Date: July 15, 2023
Point of origin: 2 miles southeast of Agness, OR
Containment: 75%
Total personnel: 262
Most of the suppression repair work done to date has been on secondary control lines. On the southwest side, hand crews and mini excavator operators continue to pull in dozer line berms. On the northeast side, work around Raspberry Mountain is complete. Firefighters are watching and addressing, as needed, interior pockets of fuel that continue to burn out to ensure they are not a threat to firelines. On the eastern, uncontained side, crews remain vigilant, watching fire behavior and taking appropriate actions to cool hot spots and keep fire inside the current perimeter. Initial attack resources remain available for new fire starts.
Weather: A Red Flag Warning is in effect in the fire areas from noon today to noon Thursday. Ridgetop winds are expected to be 15-20 mph with gusts to 27 mph, resulting in poor overnight humidity recovery.
Smoke: Visit link below for current smoke and air quality updates.
Closures: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has issued an updated closure order for the Anvil Fire (06-10-28-23-63). Visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts for closure information. U.S. Highway 199 still has a pilot car system operating. Expect 20-40 minute delays. Local law enforcement cautions against any non-essential traffic along this route. Navigation apps and mapping programs have been routing travelers into active fire areas. Check www.tripcheck.com in Oregon and www.quickmap.dot.ca.go in California for current closures and detours. Do not use forest roads for alternate routes.
Evacuations: Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation status is in place for areas near the Flat Fire. Level 2 “Get Set“ evacuation status is in place along the Elk River from about milepost four to the USFS Butler Bar Campground near the Anvil Fire. Sign up for Curry Co. emergency alerts at link below.
Restrictions: The RRSNF decreased fire danger from Extreme to High and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level from Level 3 to Level 2, effective Sept. 5, 2023. Public Use Restrictions (PUR) remain at Stage 3 across the forest and on the Wild Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River. Visit link below for more information. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire areas. Please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinity. If you fly, we can't.
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