The Sunday fire update reports that again the Chetco Bar Fire slowed considerably with little over 1,500 acres burning since the last update. Cooler weather and lighter winds have allowed crews to make significant advances on containment lines which has increased now to 43% on the 189,562-acre fire. Smoke impacts continue to be light to moderate in communities surrounding the fire, but overall, air quality continues to improve.
Saturday morning saw Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and National Guard Bureau Chief, General Joseph Lengyel, along with several guests and staff members visiting firefighters at the Chetco Bar Fire Camp in Brookings. Senator Merkley and General Lengyel attended the 6:00 am operational briefing and spoke with firefighters.
The Senator and guests were then given a tour of the camp and then traveled to the Brookings Emergency Operations Center and met with local city and county officials. An overflight of the fire area via helicopter was next on the dignitaries agenda and the Senator and General were able to assess the enormity of the fire situation first hand.
The most activity in the East Zone of the Chetco Bar Fire was in the horseshoe bend of the Illinois River at the north end of the fire. The fire continues to creep northeast, making short uphill runs and occasionally torching trees. Fire containment line is now completed from the California border to the Bear Camp area
The Indigo Fire was active again Saturday, expanding by 161 acres to 521 acres, mostly to the west. Short uphill runs and group tree torching were observed. It has not crossed the West Fork of Indigo Creek into Josephine County. Its smoke column was seen from several miles away. Crews have finished removing brush to improve the 055 road as a containment line and continued similar work on the 510 road.
Saturday saw winds from the north/northeast again push smoke into Agness and smaller amounts into coastal areas including Gold Beach, Brookings and northern California. Coastal communities experienced more moderate conditions, while Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Medford and other Rogue Valley communities continued to experience unhealthy air qualities through much of the day due to limited air movement.
The southeastern perimeter within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness from Hawk Creek west to Chetco Lake has been contained. Firefighters will continue burning operations to strengthen control lines on the southern perimeter and southwest towards Wheeler Creek. Moderate fire activity was observed on the northwest perimeter near Snow Camp Mountain, where crews continue to construct and strengthen control lines. Patrol and mop operations are proceeding along the western side of the fire.
Fire crews are working to retrieve some of the 205-miles of hose that has been deployed during suppression efforts. This and other equipment is being pulled from areas that have been secured. The focus of operations in these areas is shifting from fire suppression to suppression rehabilitation. Crews will work to repair hand and dozer lines, and install water bars to prevent erosion.
Officials expect that mostly cloudy skies and higher relative humidity through Sunday will reduce fire behavior to creeping and smoldering with some potential for surface fire under timber canopies from leaf litter.
This trend of cooler temperatures and higher humidities will continue Sunday as more clouds will be moving into the region. The potential for some light rain will increase Sunday night into Monday with even cooler temperatures and higher humidities are expected once again over the fire area. Scattered showers are also expected during the day on Monday. Another surge of deeper moisture will move over the area Tuesday for below normal temperatures, higher humidities, and widespread rain developing late Tuesday through Wednesday will continue cloudy to keep fire activity minimized.
Level 1 and Level 2 evacuation orders remain in effect for portions of Brookings-Harbor and the Upper Winchuck areas.
Evacuation levels have been reduced in Josephine County effective 6 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2017. The Level evacuation notice issued for all residents on Illinois River Road within the US Forest Service boundary, including the Oak Flat Community, has been reduced to Level 2. Only residents with proper identification may travel in and out of this area and only at night, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The Level 1 “BE READY” evacuation notice for the residents of the Illinois Valley, west of Highway 199 from Hayes Hill to the California state line has been removed. Residents should always be prepared for changing fire conditions.
As of this update, all previous evacuation levels remain unchanged and intact.
Level 1 Evacuation Area Information:
The following areas are under a Level 1 Evacuation:
• Southern Curry County line at the sea front, north to the Pistol River area, including:
• Carpenterville Road and all intersecting roads east and west
• Gardner Ridge Road from the intersection of North Bank to Palmer View Road
• North Bank Chetco Road to Loeb Park, and
• South Bank Chetco Road to the Salmon Run Golf Course
Level 2 Evacuation Area Information:
The following areas are under a Level 2 Evacuation:
• East above Peavine Road in the Winchuck Drainage
• South Bank of the Chetco above Salmon Run Golf Course
• North Bank of the Chetco above Loeb Park to include Wilderness Retreat
• Garner Ridge Road above Palmer Butte to include Cate and Hazel Camp Areas
Level 3 Evacuation Area Information:
There are no Level 3 Evacuation order in effect in Curry County.
Residents in the affected areas will see changes in location and staffing of traffic control points staffed by the National Guard in the coming days. These changes are made to reflect modifications to evacuation orders for these areas.
The Curry County Sheriff’s Office requests that traffic in the affected areas be limited to residents, essential services, and those engaged in fire suppression and recovery operations. For more information contact Chetco Fire Information at 619-894-9111.
Forest Service Chetco Bar Fire Area Closures remain in effect. For more information on the Forest Service Closure visit: Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest Closure – Chetco Bar Fire Order No. 06-10-26-17-28:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd557210.pdf