Klamath & Six Rivers NF Update 09-17-08
Incident: Panther Wildfire
Released: 9/17/2008
USDA Klamath National Forest (530) 842-6131 www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath USDA Six Rivers National Forest (530) 627-3532 www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Contact: 530-841-4451 - Klamath NF Fire Info 530-627-3532 - Six Rivers NF Fire Info 208-559-5367 - Mike Ferris, NIMO PIO
A mix of repair work and fire suppression efforts continues on the remaining lightning-caused fires on the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests. Weather changes yesterday helped moderate fire behavior, but the small amount of precipitation did little to reduce dry fuels and change current conditions. Temperatures will run three to five degrees cooler, returning them to near normal for this time of year. Firefighters today will continue to complete remaining repair work and monitor, patrol and take suppression action on any fire behavior that threatens existing containment lines. Helicopters will continue to cool down any active hotspots in the Devils Canyon area on the South Ukonom fire within the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A portable retardant plant will be set up south of Sawyers Bar to support helicopter suppression efforts. A fireline suppression repair group will be hiking into the Marble Mountain Wilderness from the Stanshaw area to work on trail repair work.
Infrared flights continue to find heat sources in the Cuddihy Lakes, Deadman Lake and Pleasant Valley drainage on the Panther fire. Heat sources in the South Ukonom fire area remain in the upper Little North Fork of the Salmon River and Crapo Creek drainages. The Siskiyou/Blue 2 fire continues to show heat sources in the upper Blue Creek and Dillon Creek drainages. South Ukonom fire is expected to continue to spread north and east into the wilderness, as well as south toward Crapo Mountain. The Panther fire will also continue to spread eastward into the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the vicinity of Hells Meadows and Deadman Lake. The Caribou and Anthony Milne fires have seen minimal activity. The Siskiyou/Blue 2 fire will continue to flank to the west toward Sawtooth Ridge, and large islands of unburned fuels will burn east of Doctor Rock in Blue Creek. Crews will also continue to patrol and mop-up the fire areas and complete suppression repair work.
The Incident Command Post is located at the Yreka Armory at the Siskiyou County Fairgrounds. Base camps are located at Whites Gulch, east of Sawyers Bar and at Orleans. The fires are under management of the Boise National Incident Management Organization (NIMO).
Current Fire Status
- Panther & North Ukonom fires - 75% contained, 50,526 acres
- Bear Wallow Complex (Anthony Milne, Caribou, & South Ukonom fires) - 75% contained, 50,177 acres
- Siskiyou/Blue 2 Complex - 95% contained, 83,924 acres
Activities Today
- Panther Branch - 4 engines assigned. Patrol and monitor Panther and North Ukonom fire areas.
- Yellowjacket Ridge Taskforce - Repair road damage on Yellowjacket Road.
- Division VV (South Ukonom fire) - Assigned resource will patrol and monitor the division.
- Division WW (South Ukonom fire) - 2 crews assigned. Patrol and monitor fire behavior in Devils Canyon from Yellow Jacket Ridge.
- Division U (South Ukonom fire) - 2 crews assigned. Secure North Fork Creek and be prepared to conduct burn-out operation if necessary to hold fireline.
- Siskiyou/Blue 2 Branch - 7 crews assigned in 3 divisions. Continue chipping operations and fireline suppression repair on the GO Road area and monitor and patrol fire area.
Total Resources
11 fire crews; 10 helicopters; 5 engines; 14 water tenders; Total Personnel - 573
Additional Information and Forest Closures
There have been recent changes in Forest roads, trails, and area closures. For current information, visit the Klamath National Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath or the Six Rivers National Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers. On the home page, click on "Current Conditions" in the upper right corner of the page. For current information call the Klamath NF Fire Information Center at 530-841-4451 or the Six Rivers NF at 707-441-3673.
