Cool weather and local rain have again slowed the advancement of the Chetco Bar Fire. However, the fire did manage to grow another 2,465 acres in size since the last update which now has reached 190,512 total acres. The weather and hard work of fire crews have managed to contain 77% of the fire perimeter.
With officials expecting precipitation amounts to over an inch through Wednesday night, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for debris flow/mudslides on burnt slopes within the fire area. Occasional showers are expected Tuesday followed by widespread rain Tuesday night through Wednesday night. Rain could be heavy at times. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will continue through Thursday.
Gusty winds are possible tonight and Wednesday. Isolated showers are predicted for Thursday. Friday through the weekend should see a warming and drying period.
As of 12:00 pm, Monday, September 18, 2017, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, working in cooperation with local fire departments, law enforcement agencies, and the Chetco Bar Unified Command withdrew all previous Evacuation Orders, effective 12:00 pm, September 18, 2017. As of now all areas affected by the Chetco Bar Fire are no longer under any Evacuation Order.
The focus of operations in these areas is shifting from fire suppression to suppression rehabilitation. Crews are working to repair hand and dozer lines, retrieve hoses, and install water bars to prevent erosion in areas blacklined across the perimeter. Due to the wet weather, fire crews may encounter hazardous conditions including fire-weakened trees, mudslides, and slippery conditions.
As cooler, moist weather increases, more containment will be achieved, strengthening control lines on the fire perimeter.
Smoke impacts will remain light to moderate in communities near the fire perimeter, and smoke will remain visible from within the fire perimeter until there is a major, season-ending event.
Area trails and road closures remain in effect for the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Coos Bay District. The areas are closed to all uses: including all pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle and motorized access. This closure affects public lands within and adjacent to the Chetco Bar Fire.
For further information visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/rogue-siskiyou/alerts-notices