The Natchez Fire, 15 miles SE of Cave Junction, currently sits at 1554 acres as of the latest reports Sunday evening. 330 fore personnel continue to make good progress in establishing indirect lines on the fire using heavy equipment and hand crews.
The terrain is rugged and crews continue to work on widening existing roads to use as containment lines. Aerial resources including large helicopters will be used to slow fire growth to as conditions permit. Aviation resources will continue to be used as long as weather conditions are favorable.
The Klondike and Granite Fires, 9 miles NW of Selma, are at 4524 total acres, have now grown together and will be referred to as the Klondike Fire going forward. This area is very rugged and has been unsafe to put fire crews into the fire area. To limit future growth of the Klondike Fire, fire crews and heavy equipment are being used to improve existing roads and old fire lines on the eastern and southern sides of the fire.
A strategy is being developed to limit the growth of the fires using air resources and old fire lines and existing roads in the area. A team of fire experts has been assembled to develop a long-term strategy for controlling these fires.
A strike team of engines is being deployed to the Oak Flats area, east of the fire, to provide structure protection. Yesterday a large helicopter was used to cool hot spots on the Klondike fire but increasing smoke limited its use in the afternoon. Aerial resources dropped 8,000 gallons of water yesterday.
The Poker Fire (14 miles SE of Cave Junction, just north of Natchez Fire) is contained at 3.8 acres and remains in patrol status.
The weather is expected to remain hot and dry, with temperatures in the 90s. Humidity will remain low at approximately 15% with lighter winds, 5-6 mph. Humidity is not expected to rise significantly in the evening. No precipitation is expected in the forecast over the next few days.
Josephine County Sheriff’s office has issued a level 2 evacuation for the residents of Oak Flat, NE of Selma, OR. For more information about the evacuation, call 541-597-4784.
The Northwest Incident Management Team 10 will transfer command of the Natchez and Klondike Fires to the Pacific Northwest Incident Management Team 3 on Monday at 6am.
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