Williams Creek Update, 2009-08-14, Friday
Incident: Williams Creek Wildfire
Released: 8/14/2009
Williams Creek Fire
Idleyld Park, OR - Mop-up continues as the Williams Creek Fire winds down. Though the number of resources is steadily declining as fire managers continue to fit the size of the organization to the needs of the suppression effort, there is much work to do for those who remain. It's dirty, it's usually hot, and there's not much glory in it, but every firefighter ultimately spends time digging deep in ash, soil, and mud to eliminate hot spots within a fire perimeter. For the 17 crews working the fire today, that time has come.
Crews will also work to eliminate signs of the suppression effort, so that 10 years from now there will be minimal evidence that firefighters once built miles of fireline in order to stop the Williams Creek Fire.
Helicopters were unable to site the five power poles yesterday that need replacement. PacifiCorp plans to accomplish that task today and hopes to be able to re-energize the transmission line on Sunday.
Highway 138 is open to normal traffic, but turnouts and pull-offs along a 10-mile stretch of the highway (between Susan Creek Campground and Steamboat) remain closed to stopping and parking, according to ODOT officials.
The Williams Creek Fire, still 8,386 acres, is now 82% contained.
Closures from the Williams Creek Fire:
The following closures remain in effect: the three mile section of the Umpqua River between Bogus Creek boat launch and the confluence of Thunder Creek; the North Umpqua Trail (#1414) from the junction of Cougar Trail (#1507) and its intersection with Thunder Creek; Bogus Creek Boat Launch; Fall Creek Picnic Area; Williams Creek and Bogus Creek Campgrounds; FS Trail #1513 & Williams Creek Trail (#1514); Williams Creek Camp roads (4710-480); Canton Rd and Rock Creek Rd (8 miles north of Hwy 138 beginning at the junction with East Fork Rd); Scaredman Creek campground; and an area closure on BLM land west & north of the fire area.
