Update 8/25/08
Incident: Siskiyou/ Blue 2 Complex-klamath Theater Wildland Fire
Released: 8/25/2008
The Siskiyou and Blue 2 Complex did not increase in burned acreage yesterday and the fire behavior was described as low with some smoldering. Crews are taking advantage of these conditions and have been aggressively moping-up, or extinguishing any burning material near containment lines. Helicopters dropped water to assist crews in their mop-up efforts. Some smokes were visible well within containment lines in the southwest corner of the fire. Many crews have been performing repair and rehabilitation work to mitigate previous suppression activities.
Fire managers are now using data from a radiometric helicopter flight that detects small amounts of heat down to the size of a cigarette, to better map the fire area. This data is then displayed on a map and the coordinates are given to fire managers who then will plan effective work assignments. Fire crews are given the coordinates and asked to navigate to these areas to extinguish any hot spots on the ground. This new radiometric technology has been modified from medical imaging machines and can be used during the hottest part of the day or during very smoky conditions. Radiometric imagery uses an infrared camera to digitally capture an image. It processes the information more accurately than traditional infrared systems.
An incident meteorologist assigned to the Siskiyou Complex is predicting hotter and dryer conditions this Thursday through Friday with temperatures expected near 100 degrees. The relative humidity (the amount of moisture in the air) has ranged 40 to 50%. By Tuesday the relative humidity (RH) is predicted to be around 30% and by Thursday, may be as low as 18 or 19%. This will increase fire behavior and any fire rate of spread. Fortunately, no significant winds are predicted during the next week.
Closures: To protect public safety and facilitate fire suppression efforts, closures of trails and roads are in effect for the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests. The Salmon River Road from Somes Bar eastward is open to the public. For information on the closures, refer to these websites at: www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/conditions/.
