Williams Creek Fire Update Sunday August 16, 2009
Incident: Williams Creek Wildfire
Released: 8/16/2009
The Williams Creek Fire is 92% contained. Full containment is expected at the end of today's work shift - about 6 PM.
Many crews will be heading home today. Firefighter Mike moved from Mississippi to fight fire with First Strike out of Roseburg. Now, eating dinner at camp, with an ash-streaked face at the end of his first fire assignment, he says "I thought I worked hard before I moved here -- but I didn't really know what hard work was." Today, several crews will wrap up sixteen straight days of hard work, rest up for a couple days, and head out to the next assignment.
An injury occurred yesterday when a firefighter suffered a corneal abrasion from being struck in the eye by a twig. He was treated at the Roseburg hospital and released, and will be able to return to work in 2-3 days.
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 the Junction with Steamboat Creek Road) remain closed to stopping and parking, according to ODOT officials.
All closures listed below remain in effect today.
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 Road, East Fork Rock Creek Road, Miller Creek Road; Scaredman Creek campground; and an area closure on BLM land west & north of the fire area.
