An update from the U.S. Forest Service-Siskiyou National Forest Service Friday morning August 25, 2017, advised that no additional evacuation situations have been changed since the last report, and the upgrade of the level one notice issued to the Brookings area Thursday evening continues.
The fire has currently charred over 102,333 acres and remains at zero percent containment at this time. As authorities reported Thursday, hand crews and bull dozers continue to work feverishly on containment and secondary containment lines while other crews were able patrol homes and property for fire activity in those areas. Thursday saw clearer skies which allowed authorities to perform air attacks of water drops and fire retardant on the western and south western areas of the massive blaze.
Fire officials again are planning on a long and arduous day of racing against incoming unfavorable weather conditions by Friday evening. Strong, gusty winds of 10-15 mph with gusts reaching 25 mph accompanied by low relative humidity levels have been forecast by the National Weather Service and are expected Friday evening around 7:00PM until Saturday morning until approximately 11:00AM. These conditions of persistent winds and low humidity are expected to make fuel and flying embers a danger to igniting fires ahead of the fire line.
Smoke and haze is predicted to limit visibility along Highway 101 and coastal regions in the Gold Beach and Brookings-Harbor areas. Those with respiratory conditions should be prepared and take necessary actions.
Fire managers, in preparation for the unfavorable weather conditions known as the “Chetco Effect”, plan to take advantage of every opportunity to use aviation resources. These efforts will be focused in the western and southwestern portions of the fire, while on the ground hand crews and dozers will continue building containment lines and providing structural protection throughout the fire area.
The Chetco Bar Fire continues to operate under a unified command structure which includes the Oregon State Fire Marshal, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry and Coos Forest Protection Association. The team works closely with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, local emergency personnel and considers every home and acre across the landscape as value to the community. The team is working to protect these values.