InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

The Klondike Fire is being managed from Gold Beach by Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson, Incident Commander, with camps in Agness and Cave Junction. Agness camp, located at the Forest Service Work Center, will be closing today. Fire resources working to complete suppression repair will be relocated to the Curry County Fairgrounds. Restaurants in the Agness area will continue to be utilized to feed these firefighters. Plans are underway to restore the pastures near the Work Center used as camp during the Klondike Fire including: disking, seeding, and fertilizing. West Zone – Crew and heavy equipment are making significant progress in suppression repair work. Suppression repair includes: removing berms on dozer lines, installing waterbars, and hazard tree abatement. Firefighters are also on the watch for smokes near containment lines and mopping up any heat. East Zone – Road repair work is ongoing along Forest Road (FR) 4105, FR 2509, FR 25, and FR 2512 near Flat...

Curry County Sheriff’s Office lowered the evacuation level in the Agness, Oak Flat, and Illahee areas to a Level 1 (Ready). All evacuation areas near the Klondike Fire previously at Level 2 are lowered to Level 1. Klondike Fire, in its entirety, is managed by Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Doug Johnson, Incident Commander, from Gold Beach, Oregon with camps in Agness and Cave Junction. West Zone – Firefighters and equipment were able to safely re-engage yesterday after the heavy precipitation events and proceed with repair work. Suppression repair work will include but not limited to: removing berms on dozer lines, returning drainage elements to functioning stable conditions, and installing waterbars. East Zone – Road repair work is proceeding along the Forest Road (FR) 4105, FR 2509, FR25, and FR 2512 near Flat Top Ridge. The goal of repairing roads is to return drainage elements to functioning stable condition to effectively route water off of the road, minimize...

Please see attached files for closure area on the Klondike Fire for 10/30/18.

Northwest Incident Management Team 8 Doug Johnson, Incident Commander, (NWIMT8) assumed management of the entire Klondike Fire last evening. The incident command post remains in Gold Beach at the Curry County Fairgrounds while spike camps remain located in Agness at the Forest Service Guard Station and in Cave Junction at the Wild River Ranger District. NWIMT8 would like to thank NWIMT7, Eric Knerr, Incident Commander, and Rogue River-Siskiyou Type 3 Team, Monty Edwards, Incident Commander, plus all the firefighter and cooperators for all the worked completed thus far on the Klondike Fire. West Zone – Fire operations are quickly shifting from suppression to suppression repair. Suppression repair work will include but not limited to, removing berms on dozer lines, returning drainage elements to functioning stable conditions, and installing waterbars. East Zone – Road repair is on-going. The goal of repairing roads is to return drainage elements to functioning stable condition to...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Yesterday, fire activity was limited to smoldering and continued consumption of heavy fuels. Repair work on heli-spots, heli-bases, and spike camps has been completed, as well as 50% of the hand line and dozer line in need of repair. Camp crews in Gold Beach are dealing with muddy hose and wet weather. Staffing levels continue to be reduced because of the changing conditions and operational needs. The heavy rain and high winds present a new set of hazards for the fire fighters which need to be mitigated before crews re-engage. With the heavy rainfall last night and forecasted weather, Division Supervisors are checking conditions on the roads to determine if it is safe and feasible to deploy fire resources today. NW Incident Management Team (IMT) 7 will transition command of the Klondike Fire West Zone to NW IMT 8 (Incident Commander – Doug Johnson) this evening at 7 p.m. IMT 8 will manage the entire Klondike Fire with an Incident Command Post in Gold...

Klondike Fire West Zone – It was wet and productive on the firelines yesterday and fire crews were able to gain an additional 5% containment. The Klondike Fire is now 80% contained. All divisions continued to mop-up containment lines and hose lays and other equipment no longer needed were pulled off the firelines. Resources continue to be released from the incident due to the increased containment and decrease in fire behavior. Fire managers are working to balance the workforce needs with the operational objectives and weather concerns. Hazard tree falling continues to be important since fire-weakened trees are extremely dangerous during the weeks after a wildfire. Other dangers include slick road surfaces and poor footing on the wet, steep and rugged slopes. Fire Weather/Fire Behavior: It will be damp again today with just a few hours of dry weather before a much stronger front approaches the coast this afternoon. Rain and south wind are expected to increase as the front...

Klondike Fire West Zone – There was minimal fire activity again yesterday. All the spot fires are contained and in patrol status. Suppression repair was completed on the spot fire across the Illinois River on Spud road. Firefighters continue to find and extinguish hot spots where fire is burning in heavy fuels or has burned into a ‘stump hole’. Crews have started backhauling equipment and hose from portions of fireline that are fully secure. Today, crews will continue mopping up hot spots within 200’ of containment lines today. Fire managers are evaluating suppression repair needs that can be completed without interfering with the ongoing suppression efforts. Resources have started to be released from the incident due to the increase in containment. An objective of incident management is to fit the size of the organization to the need of the fire. Personnel expand and contract in concert with the complexity of the fire. Fire Weather/Fire Behavior: Today’s forecast calls...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Yesterday, due to fire suppression efforts and moderated fire behavior, Level 3 Evacuation Levels that affected the residents of Agness have been reduced to Level 2. The Red Cross Center that was located at the First Baptist Church has shut down. Relative humidity continued to stay high and fog hung over the fire area for most of the shift yesterday. Fire crews made good progress with mop-up operations near the 2308 Road and have gained several hundred feet of depth along the containment line. Crews further secured the fire’s edge on the southwest corner of Raspberry Mountain and all spot fires in the Agness area are lined and in monitoring and patrol status. The road repair work was completed on the west flank of the fire. Timber falling teams will continue to eliminate fire-weakened hazard trees and firefighters will mop-up deeper into containment areas along fire lines to further secure the fire perimeter. Crews will continue to monitor and patrol...

Updated Evacuation Information Effective October 24, 2018 at 3:00 pm. Evacuation levels will be reduced for the following location:All residences in the area of Oak Flat Road, Old House Creek Road and all residents on the south side of the Agness Road (3300) Road from the Illinois River Bridge to Coon Rock Bridge will move from Level 3 (GO) to Level 2 (BE SET). All other areas currently in a Level 2 (BE SET) will remain in a Level 2 at this time. This means there will be no listed Level 3’s in the Agness area.These changes are due to the fire behavior and suppression efforts. There is still a great deal of fire suppression efforts and suppression repair going on with teams from the Fire Incident Management, CFPA, and local fire agencies. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide sporadic patrol in the Agness

Fire management officials on the North Fork John Day Ranger District are implementing a 173 acre prescribed burn within the Meadowbrook FTJ1 burn unit, located approximately 7 miles south from Dale, Oregon and 6 miles east of Meadowbrook Summit.The Meadowbrook prescribed burn is anticipated to take 1 day to complete and primarily consists of grass and juniper with some mixed pine. The objective of the burn is to improve foraging habitat for big game, reduce long-term wildfire risk through reductions in existing fuel loading, reduce material that is 0-3” in diameter to less than 9/10ths per acre, and to restore the ecological functions of a fire adapted ecosystem to the area. Hunters and forest visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid the area during prescribed burning activities.Additional information about this prescribed burn is available by visiting the Umatilla National Forest’s new prescribed fire interactive map. This map displays burning activities and is available...

Klondike Fire West Zone – The fire received 0.10” to 0.20” of rain from yesterday’s front passage. The rainfall helped reduce fire behavior to minor surface spread and smoldering in areas protected from direct rainfall. Today timber falling teams will continue dropping fire-weakened trees to reduce the hazard to crews mopping up containment lines. Work continues to deepen the containment lines along the 2308 road on Burnt Ridge and in the southwest corner of the expanded fire area and below the 3577 road where extensive mop-up work remains. Firefighters have fully lined all spot fires from the fire’s recent expansion. Engines will patrol Oak Flat, Old House, and other areas still under evacuation notice and a road group has been formed and is repairing roads damaged in the fire fighting operations. Fire Weather: Today will be a cool and damp day, with light winds and plenty of clouds hanging onto the ridgetops for much of the day. Occasional drizzle and light rain is...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Yesterday, firefighters took advantage of favorable burning conditions and further increased the depth of the containment line south of the 2308 Road in preparation for the southerly wind forecasted for today. Firefighters worked hard on fire perimeter mop-up while two small spot fires were detected north of 2308 Road, which were immediately lined and mopped up. Timber falling teams have begun dropping fire-weakened trees to reduce the hazard to firefighters working to hold the containment lines today. Firefighters and dozers continued to check the fire’s spread in the southwest corner of the expanded fire area and crews continue to mop up along the 3577 Road. The spot fire on Spud Road has been mopped up and is in a patrol status. Mop-up continues on the big spot fire near Oak Flat, located in steep and terrain near Old House Road. Today, and for the next several days, extensive saw work is needed to fell fire-weakened trees in the Burnt Ridge area....

Klondike Fire West Zone – With yesterday’s heavy smoke inversion and decreased fire behavior, firefighters supported by a dozer were able to use direct tactics on the southwest corner of the recent expansion area, east of 3577 Road. As the smoke cleared in the afternoon the effort was reinforced with helicopter bucket work. Firefighters utilized hand ignition to deepen containment lines in the Burnt Ridge area. Firefighters continued to mop-up the large spot fire, with the smaller spot fires in patrol status. Today, crews will mop-up along the deepened containment line on Burnt Ridge (2308 Road). Additional lighting may occur if conditions are favorable. Hand crews and heavy equipment, supported by air resources, will continue to go direct and check the fire’s spread in the southwest corner of the expansion area below 3577 Road. Engines will patrol Oak Flat, Old House, and other areas still under evacuation notice with both day and night shifts. With the significantly reduced...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Favorable weather conditions yesterday allowed firefighters to make good progress across the fire. Firefighters utilized strategic burn operations along Burnt Ridge to secure the tie-in of the fire-line along the 2308 road. Mop up has already begun on portions of the road. The spot fire on Spud Road is now in monitor and patrol status. All spot fires from Sunday’s wind event have been lined and fire is within control lines on all flanks. Where access permits, crews continue to lay hose, bringing water where it is needed, as crews work to strengthen hand-lines. Any smoke seen on the west side of the fire was from interior pockets or burnout operations. Full suppression remains the highest priority. Fire crews will emphasize direct fire-line construction and continue mop-up on the spot fires in the coming days. Crews will continue controlled burn operations south of the 2308 road to increase the depth of existing control lines in preparation for the...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Incident commanders are utilizing a multi-tiered approach to fully suppress this fire.Firefighters took advantage of favorable weather yesterday and overnight to continue the controlled burn operation on Burnt Ridge and along 2308 road. The operation was successful and resulted in a low intensityunderstory burn. Burn operations will continue today and tonight as weather allows.Air support was utilized extensively and successfully to control areas of active fire. Air tankers dropped retardant as requested by ground crews and helicopters dropped water as needed. These resources will continue to be available today as long as weather and visibility remain favorable.Engine and hand crews continue the difficult work of attacking the fire on the ground. Engine crews are using hose lays to get water on the fire when access allows. Meanwhile hand crews are working with chainsaws, shovels and other hand tools to remove fuel ahead of the fire.Fire Weather: Today’s...

Klondike Fire West Zone – Due to the reduced danger to homes, the Sheriff made an additional evacuation reduction yesterday. All residents on Spud Road west of the Illinois River will move from Level 3 (GO) to Level 2 (BE SET). Level 3 (GO) will remain in effect for all of Oak Flat Road, Old House and all residents south of the 33 (Agness) Road from the Illinois River Bridge to the Coon Rock Bridge. All other areas currently in a Level 2 (BE SET) will remain in a Level 2 at this time.With the decreased threat to structures, an additional Oregon State Fire Marshal structural protection task force has been released to protect their home community. Three structural task forces remain to patrol and protect local homes both day and night.Additional wildland fire suppression personnel have arrived over the past few days increasing the total number of fire personnel to 614. Many of these are hand crews who will directly engage the fire. Four type 1 (heavy) helicopters continue making water...

Updated Evacuation Information Effective October 18, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Evacuation levels will be reduced for the following location: All residences on Spud Road on the west side of the Illinois River will move from Level 3 (GO) to Level 2 (BE SET). Level 3 (GO) will remain in effect for all of Oak Flat Road and all residents south of the Agness (33) Road from the Illinois River Bridge to the Coon Rock Bridge. All other areas currently in a Level 2 (BE SET) will remain in a Level 2 at this time. These changes are due to the fire behavior and suppression efforts. There is still a great deal of fire suppression efforts and structure preparedness going on with teams from the Fire Incident Management, CFPA, State Fire Marshal and local fire agencies. The Curry County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide patrol in the closed areas.

Klondike Fire West Zone –Due to a decreased threat to structures, the Sheriff has made the following evacuation level reduction; the north side of the 33 Road from Spud Road to Coon Rock Bridge will move from Level 3 (GO) to Level 2 (BE SET). This change only affects the residences and businesses on the north side of the 33 Road (Agness Road) including Agness RV Park and Cougar Lane Lodge. All other areas remain the same. With the decreased threat to structures in the area noted above, one Oregon State Fire Marshal structural task force has been released to return to their home community. 4 structural task forces remain to patrol and protect structures both day and night. Additional wildland fire suppression resources are continuing to arrive. These personnel will be looking for every opportunity to attack the fire directly. Three type 1 (heavy) helicopters will continue making water drops on areas of active fire. An isolated lift in the inversion layer made the...

Fire management officials on the North Fork John Day Ranger District are implementing a 1,000 acre prescribed burn within the Meadowbrook FT0 D and G burn units, located southwest from Dale, Oregon and north of Meadowbrook Summit. The burn units are on the 3963 Rd in the Hinton Creek drainage. Smoke may be visible along Highway 395. The Meadowbrook prescribed burn is anticipated to take 5 day to complete and primarily consists of grass, open pine, and some juniper. The objective of the burn is to improve foraging habitat for big game, reduce long-term wildfire risk through reductions in existing fuel loading, and to restore the ecological functions of a fire adapted ecosystem to the area. Hunters and forest visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid the area during prescribed burning activities. Additional information about this prescribed burn is available by visiting the Umatilla National Forest’s new prescribed fire interactive map. This map displays burning...

Klondike Fire West Zone –Yesterday, fire containment lines were improved and extended along the fire’s perimeter. Fire crews also worked aggressively to contain the 12 spot fires that were created by last weekend’s wind event. At this time 8 of the 12 have line around them and work is ongoing on the others. Restoration efforts continued; these efforts included road repair, and hazard tree removal. The structural protection task forces remain on scene protecting threatened homes day and night. These resources will stay within the community until fire command determines that the threat has decreased to the extent that the fire can be handled by local resources working with wildland crews. Evacuation levels remain the same, however they are being constantly evaluated by the Sheriff with information and advice provided by fire personnel. Weather/Fire Behavior: Over the next two days, winds will increase slightly to 8 mph with gusts to 13 mph on ridgetops. This is...