The Chetco Bar Fire update for Friday, September 1st, 2017, follows a day of heavy thick smoke, and hot temperatures in the upper 80’s up and down the coast. The huge blaze had slowed down Thursday burning only 2,500 acres, however, winds on the ridges added another 7,045 acres on Friday. Fire crews fought very difficult conditions to maintain the 10% containment lines through out the day.
An upper-level ridge and thermal trough will keep hot, dry unstable conditions over the fire area through the weekend with poor overnight recoveries. Winds will lessen, however gusts to 20 mph will be possible on ridge tops and drainage’s aligned with the winds.
From Saturday and on into Monday evening, an excessive heat warning is in effect through 11 pm Monday night due to expected temperatures nearing the 100-degree mark. The situation will begin changing Monday as the upper ridge and thermal trough slide east of the area allowing southerly flow to begin returning moisture to the area.
Fire officials are anticipating very active to extreme fire behavior with torching, crown runs, spotting to half a mile, and major runs with the possibility of plume and thunderstorm development. With a Haines Index of 5, there is medium potential for an existing fire to become large or exhibit erratic fire behavior. The “Haines Index” also known as Lower Atmosphere Severity Index measures the potential for dry, unstable air that contributes to the development of large or erratic wild land fires. Crowning is when a fire advances across top to top of trees independently of a surface fire. Torching, not to be confused with crowning, is when a single or small group of trees go up in flames.
Friday saw extreme group torching, spotting, and short crown runs with several areas active around the perimeter. The most active area was a late day 3-mile run on the east end of the fire in the brush of the Biscuit Fire scar (2002). Group torching and spots in south, northwest, and north. There are more than 8 hot areas around the 80+ mile perimeter.
The active fire has now established itself at the beginning of the Winchuck drainage which has compromised most options to contain the fire from advancing up a slope of indirect lines. Crews and engines have actively engaged in suppression efforts to slow the fire spread from entering the Winchuck drainage any further. The implementation of point protection strategies has had a high percentage of success. Fire crews have continued to prepare indirect lines, identify contingency lines, as well as coordinate with wild land and structural resources while continuing with mop up opportunities around structures.
Today crews will also continue to prepare and improve roads for future containment spread to the North-Northeast as the perimeter is encroaching on the wilderness boundary, as well as create direct and indirect lines to the North and East.
Fire officials will be attempting to locate and identify structures in Oak Flat, Store Gulch, McCaleb’s Ranch, and Footbridge throughout the day. While scouting the Illinois River area to identify opportunities to open previous lines from previous fires in the area, heavy equipment and other local Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry resources will develop a plan for containment of the fire east of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Curry County Sheriff and Josephine County officials will continue to monitor evacuation levels while the Oregon State Fire Marshal Task Force continues structure evaluation and preparation.
As of this update, all previous evacuation levels remain unchanged and intact. This includes Thursday evenings additional 2,130 residences affected by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office 9:30PM expanded Level 2 Evacuation Order which included all areas along Winchuck River Road east of, and including, Peavine Ridge Road.
The Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation is now operating a shelter at The Xaa-wan’-k’wvt Village & Resort (old Ship Ashore) RV Park located at 12370 Highway 101 North in Smith River.
In the Gold Beach area, the Red Cross has moved its emergency evacuation shelter from the Riley Creek Elementary school in Gold Beach TO THE CURRY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS SHOWCASE BUILDING AT 29392 ELLENSBURG AVENUE.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the interactive evacuation map for changes: http://arcg.is/2vWQN2N