Friday’s rain and scattered showers on Saturday considerably slowed growth of the Smith River Complex, and fire crews have utilized the work completed in preparation to attack hotspots. The Smith River Complex still grew, adding only 885 acres since Saturday morning, now totaling more than 84,907 acres with 19% containment.
The slowing of the blaze allowed Caltrans and California Highway Patrol to announce a full reopening of U.S. Hwy 199 early Saturday evening at 6:00pm, however, CHP will continue to pilot cars through Patricks Creek to Oregon Mountain Road South. All county roads within the closure area remain closed and are patrolled by law enforcement and closures will be adjusted based on fire activity.
Evacuation levels have been lowered in the Oregon Mountain Road Area and the Sun Star Evacuation Zone to Level 2 and O’Brien residents had evacuation levels reduced to Level 2 – GET SET on Saturday also and re-population of these communities began on Saturday, September 2nd.
With these openings fire authorities continue to advise that the Smith River Fire Complex remains active, fire operations are ongoing and fire behavior is expected to gradually increase in scale, duration, and intensity over the next several days but significant growth is not anticipated.
Hotshot crews continue constructing fire lines in an effort to stop fire growth to the north as helicopters were used where rain did not penetrate the forest canopy and the fire continued to burn actively.
Resources have been demobilized by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and have returned to their home agencies. These crews from as many as 5 counties responded to the Smith River Complex North and were responsible for the assessment, preparation, and protection of more than 700 homes and 1,800 outbuildings, including more than 2,500 structures within the Illinois Valley by pre-positioning water tanks, portable pumps, handlines, and other equipment provide an additional layer of protection to homes near fire perimeters, should they become necessary. Firefighters assigned to the Smith River Complex North continue working with local resources to protect structures near the fire line.
All evacuation orders are issued by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office and the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office. If you are in the Del Norte County, area please sign up for their Community Alert System
Level 3 “Go Now”: Evacuation is in place for Rockland
Level 2 “Be Set”: is in place for O’Brien and the Takilma area, Rowdy Creek/Low Divide, Gasquet, Big Flat/Rock Creek, Little Jones/Washington Flat Residential Areas, Patrick Creek Lodge, Oregon Mountain Road Area, Sun Star Creek
Level 1 “Be Ready”: Evacuation is in place for Hiouchi and also remains in place north to Cave Junction.
