News Release from Oregon Department of Forestry
Posted on FlashAlert: August 3rd, 2014 10:57 AM
Beaver Complex Fire Update
Oregon Department of Forestry Team 2- Chris Cline, Incident Commander
Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office Blue Team – Scott Magers, Incident Commander
CAL FIRE – Phill Veneris, Incident Commander
Oregon Fire Information Number: 541-826-1599
California Fire Information Number: 530-842-2266
Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
August 3, 2014, 8 a.m.
Special Message: The public is encouraged to use extra precautions when traveling on narrow, fire access roads. Fire engines, bulldozers and tenders will be in the area. At times it may be safest to pull over or stop to allow fire traffic to pass. Use headlights at all times. Roads are narrow, dusty and smoky.
Highway 66 is open. Green Springs can be accessed by the public.
Current Situation:
Oregon Gulch Fire
Fire personnel have constructed fireline around the south and west sides of the fire. Today’s activities will include constructing fireline on the northeast side of the fire. Contingency lines will also be constructed to follow road systems with an aim to prevent fire spread to the north and east.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has structural task forces protecting homes within the Green Springs Fire District area.The structural protection is being provided by agencies from across the state.
High pressure remains over the region with a weather system moving into the area bringing with it a chance of moisture with a possibility of lightning. The fire will also generate erratic winds that may develop late this afternoon.
Salt Creek Fire
Fire personnel working on the Salt Creek Fire will continue mopping up from the outer perimeter of the fire.
Smoke Forecast: Officials with the Pacific Northwest Region of the USDA Forest Service are monitoring air quality in the area. Smoke is expected to move to the northeast of the fires, continuing a northerly direction. Air quality is expected to remain moderate during the day and will likely worsen at night and in the mornings. For more information, visit http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/.
Heavy smoke is also visible throughout Northern Siskiyou County in California.
Fire Statistics for Salt Creek
Location: 20 miles northwest of Medford, OR
Percent Contained:30%
Complex Size:155 acres
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 7/30/14
Fire Statistics for Oregon Gulch
Location: 15 miles east of Ashland, OR
Percent Contained: 10%
Complex Size: 32,477 acres (9,109 acres in California)
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 07/30/14
Oregon Resources Include: 29 Type 2 hand crews, 6 camp crews, 15 fire engines, 25 bulldozers, 22 water tenders, and overhead (fire management) personnel.
California Resources Include: 13 bulldozers, 10 fire engines, 6 Type 1 hand crews, and 3 water tenders.
Air Resources: 14 helicopters and 2 air tankers.
Total Personnel: 1,041
Evacuation Orders by County:
Jackson County
There is still a Level One Evacuation for residents living along Highway 66 in Oregon. The addresses include anyone living between the 11,000 and the 22,000 block of Highway 66. This is on the Ashland side and does not impact people living in Keno!
Level One Evacuation means “Be Ready” for a potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, monitor emergency services websites and local media outlets for information.
Portions of Copco Road remain under a Level 3 Evacuation.
Klamath County
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 3 evacuation order. The order is for the Klamath River canyon from John C. Boyle Dam to the California border. This includes Topsy Grade Road and Picard Road and all other normally accessible roads south of Highway 66 east to the Klamath County line in Oregon.
Siskiyou County
Mandatory evacuations (terminology used by Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office) are in place one mile east of the town of Copco to Beaver Creek only on the north side of Copco Lake. An evacuation center has been established at the Jackson Street Elementary School located at 405 Jackson Street in Yreka, California. The evacuation center can also accommodate small animals and livestock.
Places to get information:
Twitter – www.twitter.com/swofire/
Southwest Oregon District Blog – http://www.swofire.com/
DEQ – http://www.deq.state.or.us/AQ/burning/wildfires/index.htm
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office – https://www.facebook.com/#!/JacksonCountySheriff
Inciweb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4034/
NWCC – http://www.nwccweb.us/information/firemap.aspx
CAL FIRE Ready, Set, Go – http://www.readyforwildfire.org/
CAL FIRE – www.fire.ca.gov
