Fires on ODF-Protected Lands

Redwood Highway Fire Update
Fire crews worked through the night cooling hot spots and monitoring fire lines on the Redwood Highway Fire in Selma, located on Highway 199 near the California border in southwest Oregon. Cooler nighttime temperatures and calm winds allowed for continued progress to be made on the fire line, which is 87 percent contained. The fire size remains at approximately 50 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
No other fires larger than 100 acres were reported Friday or early Saturday on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands.

Just before sunrise today on the Redwood Highway Fire, firefighters discovered a small spot fire 1,000 feet outside of the current fire line. Within minutes, firefighters extinguished the flames and formed a wet line along the perimeter. Throughout the day, ground crews and aircraft will continue to monitor fire activity and watch for burning snags, spotting and flare ups. The goal is to ensure the fire perimeter is 100 percent lined by this evening.

Firefighters working on structural protection this morning uncovered three homes, and at least five outbuildings destroyed by the fire. It was originally thought by fire crews that only two homes were lost on Deer Creek Road in Selma; however, the daylight revealed that there were two homes on one property, a main house and guest house. All residents managed to safely evacuate. Firefighters will continue to search for additional structures damaged or threatened in the burned area.

Deer Creek Road remains under evacuation this morning. Residents on the 975 block and above on Deer Creek Rd. are at a “Be Set” Level 2 evacuation notice. Residents on the 974 block and below on Deer Creek Rd. remain at a “Go” Level 3 evacuation status. The road is closed to the public. After an additional assessment early this afternoon, Incident Command will revisit the option of reopening the road and changing evacuation levels. Residents seeking shelter assistance should visit the evacuation center, located in Cave Junction at 200 W. Watkins Street.

Redwood Highway is open but travelers are advised to drive slowly through the Selma area. Firefighting operations are still occurring next to the road and areas of smoke may be present.

The weather forecast today in southwest Oregon includes a Red Flag Warning for the Rogue River, Applegate River and Illinois River basins. Hot temperatures, 100-105, low relative humidity and potentially strong afternoon winds are expected across the region.
In the rest of Oregon, temperatures along the Coast remain moderate with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the mid-50s. East of the Cascades, high temperatures are expected in low-to-mid 90s and light winds. On Sunday, there is a chance of thunderstorms in the southern Oregon Cascade Range and the Klamath Basin.

 
Fires on Other Jurisdictions
 
More info on the following fires:http://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info.aspx  
 
Rail Fire
The 13,500-acre Rail Fire burning 10 miles WSW of Unity is 10 percent contained.
Gibbon Fire
This 316-acre fire is located 20 miles east of Pendleton is 40 percent contained.
Juntura Complex
The 24,301-acre Juntura Complex burning 30 miles SW of Vale is 85 percent contained.

Fire Statistics
 
Fire statistics are for the current year and the average over the past 10 years for the 16 million acres of private and public forestland protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
 
January 1, 2016, through Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016:
Lightning-caused fires: 59 fires burned 2,218 acres
Human-caused fires: 433 fires burned 463 acres
Total: 491 fires burned 2,681 acres

10-year average (for this period of the year):
Lightning-caused fires: 221 fires burned 25,380 acres
Human-caused fires: 414 fires burned 4,206 acres
Total: 635 fires burned 29,586 acres
 
For information on breaking fires, go to:
http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/

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