Klamath NF Fire Update 09/15/2008
Incident: Siskiyou/ Blue 2 Complex-klamath Theater Wildland Fire
Released: 9/15/2008
USDA Forest Service ● Klamath National Forest
1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097 ● (530) 842-6131 ● www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath
Monday, September 15, 2008 Contact: 530-841-4451 - Klamath NF Fire Info Center
208-559-5367 - Mike Ferris, NIMO PIO
In spite of the continuing dry conditions and poor relative humidity recovery, firefighters have made good progress holding the South Ukonom fire from spreading beyond the Little North Fork of the Salmon River and the Marble Mountain Wilderness. Firefighters have successfully built and burned out approximately 1 1/2 to 2 miles of fireline in the Little North Fork area over the past several days to confine the South Ukonom fire within the Marble Mountain Wilderness. A high pressure ridge will continue to dominate the region, continuing hot and dry conditions into Tuesday with poor humidity recovery. A Red Flag Warning for hot, dry and unstable conditions has been issued through Monday night.
The primary fire activity remains in the Marble Mountain Wilderness on the Panther and South Ukonom fires. Infrared flights (IR) continue to detect heat sources on the Panther fire in the areas of Secret and Onemile Lakes and west and south of McCash Lake. The South Ukonom fire IR flight detected heat sources in the Cherry and Sur Cree Creek area, lower Uncles Creek, Right Hand Fork, and the upper Little North Fork of the Salmon River.
South Ukonom fire is expected to continue to spread north and east into the wilderness. The Panther fire will also continue to spread eastward into the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the vicinity of Hells Meadows and Secret Lake. The Caribou and Anthony Milne fires have seen minimal activity. The Siskiyou/Blue 2 fire will continue to back to the west. Firefighters will continue to reinforce firelines on the South Ukonom fire in the Little North Fork Road area and conduct burnout operations, if necessary. Crews will also continue to patrol and mop-up the fire areas and complete suppression repair work.
The Boise National Incident Management Team has added management of the Siskiyou/Blue 2 Complex fire on the Six Rivers National Forest to the Klamath Theater. 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, 49,808 acres
- Bear Wallow Complex (Anthony Milne, Caribou, & South Ukonom fires) - 75% contained, 49,548 acres
- Siskiyou/Blue 2 Complex - 95% contained, 83,337 acres
Activities Today
- Panther Branch - 4 engines assigned. Patrol, monitor, and mop-up any remaining hot spots in the Panther and North Ukonom fire areas.
- Division VV (South Ukonom fire) - 3 crews assigned. Crews will complete mop-up and patrol fireline.
- Division WW (South Ukonom fire) - 2 crews assigned. Patrol and mop-up fireline and monitor fire behavior in Devils Canyon from Yellow Jacket Ridge.
- Division U (South Ukonom fire) - 4 crews assigned. Mop-up fireline, patrol and hold line.
- Siskiyou/Blue 2 Branch - 6 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
14 fire crews; 12 helicopters; 11 engines; 10 water tenders; Total Personnel - 680
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.
