Klamath- Six Rivers National Forest Update 9/25/08
Incident: Siskiyou/ Blue 2 Complex-klamath Theater Wildland Fire
Released: 9/25/2008
FIRE UPDATE USDA Forest Service Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests
(530) 842-6131 www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath or (707) 442-1721 www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers
for Thursday, September 25, 2008
Contact: 530-841-4451 - Klamath NF Fire Info 707-441-3673 - Six Rivers NF Fire Info
FINAL UPDATE Unless Conditions Change
The remaining lightning-caused fires on the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests that started on June 21 are now 90 percent contained overall, with a total acreage of 191,292 acres for all the fire areas involved. Continuing warm and dry weather will influence fire activity where heat sources remain within the Marble Mountain and Siskiyou Wildernesses. The fires are confined in these wilderness areas and will continue to smolder, creep, back-down slopes until a significant rainfall occurs over the northern California area.
Management of the remaining fires will be transferred back to the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests from the Boise National Incident Management Organization on Friday, September 26. Most of the fire suppression repair work has been completed on firelines and access roads. Firefighters, heavy road repair equipment, and support personnel are being released over the next few days. The Whites Gulch Base Camp was closed on Wednesday. The Orleans Base camp will close on Friday. The Incident Command Post at the Yreka Armory will close on Monday. A contingent of local firefighting resources and equipment will remain in the area to continue to monitor, patrol, mop-up, and complete repair work until fire activity is extinguished by the fall rains.
Slightly cooler temperatures and improved humidity is expected today. Fire activity increased yesterday due to low relative humidity and increased winds on the Siskiyou/Blue 2 fire with activity near Chimney Rock, in the headwaters of Dillon Creek, and on the west side of Sawtooth Mountain. Helicopter water drops helped to slow the advance of the fire in these areas. The Tom Taylor Cabin near English Peak Lookout was also threatened yesterday by active fire behavior, but the fire threat was also diminished with helicopter water drops.
The South Ukonom fire will continue to spread slowly in the area of Portuguese Peak. The Anthony Milne, Panther, and Caribou fires are not expected to grow. The Siskiyou/Blue 2 fire will continue to burn between Sawtooth and Harrington Mountains on the Dillon Divide area. Fire crews today will flank and contain the Chimney Rock slop-over, and patrol and secure the fire edge in the Little North Fork of the Salmon River.
Current Fire Status - 191, 292 Total Acres (as of 9/25/08)
Panther & North Ukonom fires - 82% contained, 52,930 acres
Bear Wallow Complex (Anthony Milne, Caribou, & South Ukonom fires) - 86% contained, 50,596 acres
Siskiyou/Blue 2 Complex - 95% contained, 87,800 acres
Activities Today
Road Repair Group - Repair road damage caused by fire suppression efforts in the Bear Wallow fire area.
Marble Mountain Repair Group - Complete fire suppression repair to trails in the Marble Mtn Wilderness.
Panther Road Repair - 4 engines and heavy road repair equipment assigned. Patrol and monitor fire area, and complete road repair on the Panther and North Ukonom fire areas.
Blue 2 Group - Heavy road repair equipment assigned. Continue suppression repair work and monitor GO Road and west flank along Crescent Creek Fork.
Siskiyou Branch - 3 crews assigned. Mop-up, cold trail, and secure slop-over in the Chimney Rock area.
Total Resources
5 fire crews; 7 helicopters; 4 engines; 1 dozer; 8 water tenders; 117 overhead; Total Personnel - 352
Additional Information and Forest Closures
For current information on Forest roads, trails, and area closures, visit the Klamath National Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath, the Six Rivers National Forest web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers, or Inciweb at http://inciweb.org/incident/1430/. On the Forests home page, click on "Current Conditions" in the upper right corner of the page. For current information call the Klamath NF at 530 -841-4451 or the Six Rivers NF at 707-441-3673. Perimeter, closure, and progression maps are available at http://www.inciweb.org/forest/21/.
