InciWeb Articles & Incidents for Washington and Oregon

The July 27, 2018 Hendrix Fire Update and Smoke Outlook has been released. Links to the documents are

Fire activity was heavy around the perimeter of the Taylor Creek Fire yesterday and overnight into this morning. The column grew to an estimated height of 8-10,000 ft. exceeding the top of the ridge. Last night the fire was most active in the Shan Creek area. Some primary control lines were crossed, but secondary lines held the fire. The Taylor Creek Fire is expanding on several fronts. Fire fighters are gathering intel on the fire perimeter and scouting for future containment lines. Fire managers are constantly evaluating current information and making contingency plans. The unstable nature of the fire is requiring careful reconnaissance and evaluation before firefight- ers engage. Structure protection task forces have a heavy presence in the area and have been planning with wildland resources should the fire move through residential areas. Historic hot and dry conditions continue in the region. A red flag warning will be in effect today from 1 to 9 p.m. today. That means that...

Firefighters have established fire lines, built by hand or with bulldozers, all the way around Snowshoe Fire. Large interior pockets of fuel continue to burn. Many hot areas near the edges of the fire need to be cooled before Snowshoe Fire is considered contained, having no chance of escaping from this perimeter. Progress on this fire has allowed the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to reduce the evacuation areas near Snowshoe Fire to Level 1. Miles Fire continues to be the most active fire. The fire is pushing to the east up Savage Butte and Timbered Rock, toward Hawk Mountain. A burnout operation is planned west from Timbered Rock, trying to stop the spread of the fire to the southeast. Miles Fire is also spreading northeast up a fork of Flat Creek. The western and southwestern edges of the fire have not grown past fire lines. On Columbus Fire, burnout was completed along two miles of the northern end of the 2925 road. More burnout will be done along the 2925 road as the fire...

7/27/18 Klondike Fire UpdateWeather & Fire Behavior: Fire weather conditions are predicted to be in the critical range again today and through the weekend. Temperatures near 100 degrees and relative humidity in the low teens or single digits will cause an increase in fire behavior and allow for continued fire growth. West-northwest breezes are expected to increase Friday afternoon with gusts up to 15 mph which may cause extreme fire behavior, resulting in active surface spread, single and group tree torching with crown runs possible. These conditions may cause the fire to spot up to half a mile away. Yesterday’s Activities: Smoke over the fire area did not lift which provided shading and reduced fire activity. Crews scouted a ridgeline from Pearsoll Peak Lookout up the west side for a location to tie in dozer line into the Chetco burn scar. Roads and contingency lines continued to be prepped on the east side of the fire along the 675 road. Structure protection measures in the...

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 27, 2018 - 9:00 A.M. Special Announcements: A Community Meeting is planned for this evening, July 27th at 5:00 pm at the Heppner City Hall at 111 North Main Street. Fire managers will provide a fire update with maps and an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the presentations. If you are unable to attend, this meeting will be live streamed through Periscope. Please download the app, create an account and “follow” NWIMT8. Once the broadcast begins you will receive a notification. For assistance please call (541) 676-2100. Smoke from a large fire to the west has drifted into the local area. Those with sensitivity concerns should take appropriate precautions. For more information on air quality please visit: http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/AQ/Pages/index.aspx http://www.airnow.gov/ The Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle Park...

The July 27 Infrared Map has been posted. The acreage remains the same for the third day at 1,081 acres. Containment is 60%.

Fire Status: The Red Flag weather today with temperature over 100 degrees and low relative humidity, allowed some areas of the fire to burn intensely within the control lines resulting in the smoke columns that were seen this afternoon. At this time, all fires are within the control lines, with a lot of interior burning. Air and ground re- sources are working around all the fires. Taylor Creek Fire: The fire has backed to the upper end of the Limpy Cr. Well within the control lines, the fire spotted across Shan Cr. Rd. and crews and aircraft are working in coordination to control the spot. Conditions were too smoky to fly retard- ant today. Air reconnaissance flights are occurring to monitor the spot fire location. The interior unburned areas in drainages are experiencing islands of trees burning and active fire behavior thus producing a lot of smoke, which can be dramatic looking but are well within the interior of the fire. Based on the forecasted weather pattern, this fire...

A Community Meeting is planned for Friday, July 27th at 5:00 pm at the Heppner City Hall at 111 North Main Street. Fire managers will provide a fire update with maps and an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the presentations. All are welcome to attend.

Wilson Prairie Fire Update Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander: Doug Johnson July 26, 2018 - 9:00 P.M. A Community Meeting is planned for Friday, July 27th at 5:00 pm at the Heppner City Hall at 111 North Main Street. Fire managers will provide a fire update with maps and an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the presentations. All are welcome to attend. Special Announcements: Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson, assumed management of the Wilson Prairie Fire this morning at 6:00 am. The fire is burning in timber and grass on private lands, protected by Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Umatilla National Forest. The incident command post (ICP) and helibase are located at the Morrow County Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park northeast of Spray, Oregon. The Morrow County OHV Park and Campground is currently open, however some trails may be impacted by the fire...

Effective July 27, 2018 the area closure around the Hendrix Fire has been revised. See link for USFS Order 06-10-20-18-69, and the map. AREA CLOSURE DESCRIPTION: The Hendrix Fire Area Closure area is described as all lands, roads, trails, and recreation sites within the perimeter described in a clockwise direction as follows: all National Forest lands south from the junction of Forest Service Road (FSR) 20 and Bureau of Land Management Road 39-2-32 (in T.40S., R.2W., northwest quarter of section 18) to FSR 22 at Wagner Gap (T39S., R.l W., northeast comer section 34 and northwest comer of section 35), then all National Forest lands west of NFR 22 to the junction with FSR 20 (in T.40S., R.1W., northwest quarter of section 35), then all National Forest lands north of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to the junction with FSR 20 at Siskiyou Gap (in T.40S., R.1W., section 34), from Siskiyou Gap all National Forest lands north of FSR 20 to Wrangle Gap (in T.40S., R.lW., section 32), then all...

Temporary Klondike Fire Area

Hendrix Fire Community Meeting Friday, July 27, 2018 at 6pm Ruch Branch Library 7919 Highway 238, Ruch, OR 97530 The meeting will be live streamed and a recording posted to https://tinyurl.com/yczf47z9

In order to protect public safety due to fire activity and firefighting response the following roads and the area of the Rogue River - Siskiyou National Forest that is west of them are closed:- FSR 68 at the RRS National Forest Boundary (T30S., R2E., section 33, SE 1/2) to the junction with NFR 6640- FSR 6640 and all associated spurs in its entirety- FSR 6620 and all associated spurs in its entirety- FSR 6610 and all associated spurs in its entirety- FSR 6610-900 and all associated spurs in its entirety.Please see the attached file for the complete Order and all details.

The Southwest Oregon Joint Information Center has released the update for July 26.

STATE OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY FIRE RESTRICTIONS REGULATED CLOSURE PROCLAMATION Number 02 Effective 12:01 a.m., PDT, July 20th, 2018 By virtue of the authority vested in me under the provisions of ORS 477.535 to 477.550, I hereby proclaim a Regulated Closure to be in effect in the following subject area: All lands protected by the Central Oregon Forest Protection District, and all forestland within one-eighth mile thereof. Under this Regulated Closure it is unlawful to be in violation of the following restrictions:  Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads.  Open fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal fires, cooking fires and warming fires, except in designated areas. Portable cooking stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels are allowed. Open fires are allowed if conducted in compliance with a valid Burning Permit issued pursuant to ORS 477.515.  Chainsaw use is prohibited, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and...

Due to improved fire conditions on the Snowshoe Fire, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department has announced that the fire evacuation level is reduced to a Level 1. For further information, please go to: Snowshoe Fire evacuation Level

Quoted from: https://sou.edu/get-fresh-air/SOU Offers Opportunities for Community Members to Get Fresh AirSouthern Oregon University is making the best of a smoky situation, taking steps to protect students and employees from the area’s unhealthy air while offering a respite for community members in several air-conditioned facilities across campus.Community members are invited, as long as this summer’s wildfire smoke lingers, to visit the university’s Hannon Library and Stevenson Union, and even get some exercise on the indoor walking and jogging track at the new Student Recreation Center. There will be no cost for any of the activities, but visitors are asked to abide by parking regulations in SOU’s lots.Campus facilities and hours of public availability:The Stevenson Union will be open to community members looking for a break from poor outdoor air quality. These spaces are available Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm (SOU offers free Wi-Fi to visitors.)Dankook: SU...

This updated map shows the many fires which have been burning in Southwest Oregon. Community members may find this map useful to assist them in finding information.

A Community Meeting to provide a fire update will be held at the Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction at 6 p.m. this evening.Weather & Fire Behavior: High temperatures and very low relative humidity values combined with extremely dry fuels led to a day of very active fire behavior. The fire was most active yesterday on the southeast corner of the fire near Poker Mountain. Forecasters expect similar conditions today and tomorrow with a potential to cool off a little this weekend. For smoke information, visit: https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ Yesterday’s Activities: Very active fire behavior was seen on portions of the fire yesterday. A spot fire got established in heavy fuels on steep terrain across the primary containment line on the north side of the fire. Unable to safely contain the spot, firefighters refocused their efforts to an alternate containment line further north to begin constructing dozer line to connect the 4904 road with the 4810 road. The primary containment...

7/26/18 @ 11:15 a.m. Taylor Creek Fire (Garner Complex): Fire Evacuation Level Changes for: • All of Shan Creek Rd is now a Level 3 “GO”! • All residences on the west side of Riverbanks Road between Shan Creek Road and 6050 Riverbanks Road, including Rocking Horse Drive, are being UPGRADED to a Level 2 “BE READY”. INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: 7/26/18 @ 11:15 am REPORTING DEPUTY: C. Krauss DETAILS: LEVEL 3 “GO” Due to the fast moving Taylor Creek wildfire, all residents on Shan Creek Roads are being placed on a Level 3 "GO" Evacuation! • Do not delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home. • This may be the last notice you receive. • A shelter has been established at Grants Pass High School. LEVEL 2 ”BE SET” All residences on the west side of Riverbanks Road between Shan Creek Road and 6050 Riverbanks Road, including 6050 Riverbanks and Rocking Horse Drive, are being UPGRADED to a Level 2 “BE...