Fire Update 8/16/2008
Incident: Ukonom-south Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/16/2008
Current Activity:
Both the Blue 2 and Siskiyou Complex Fires are in monitor status except for the area near the confluence of Blue Creek and Crescent City Fork. In this area, handline connects indirect firelines on both fires and burnout is being used to strengthen that line as conditions allow.
The fire is still active in the Elk Valley area; however, no line construction has been done. No suppression action will be taken unless the fire threatens to move over Sawtooth Mountain ridge. Handline southwest of Chimney Rock is also being monitored.
Fire activity within the Siskiyou Wilderness is expected to continue throughout the summer as the fires run their natural course and burn out or are extinguished by fall rains. Action will be taken to protect significant cultural and ecological sites if threatened.
Crews are connecting the contingency line south of the Siskiyou Complex (near Bluff Creek) to a road system at Lookout Point. A slow, methodical burnout operation will be used to strengthen the handline. Extra caution is being used in areas to the south of both fires where Port Orford Cedar trees are infected with a root fungus. Boot, tool, and vehicle washing stations are being used to prevent fungus spread to healthy stands.
Fire Activity Table
Fire
Name
Total
Acres
Per cent Contained
Expected Contained
Injuries
Total Personnel
Crews
Helicopter
Engines
Dozers
Water tenders
Overhead
Acreage Change·
Siskiyou Complex & Blue 2
xx
xx%
8/30
xx
xx
xx
x
xx
x
xx
xx
xx
·Acreage changes are based on the previous morning's information.
Farewell:
The Alaska Incident Management Team would like to thank the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests, local area residents, and the Tribes for their support and participation in planning and implementing the suppression activities. We believe our firefighters did an outstanding job dealing with the weather and topographic conditions presented us while managing the Blue 2, Siskiyou Complex, and Ukonom Complex Fires. While we understand the fire season is long from over, we wish you a soon end to the smoky conditions you have endured over the past few months.
Help for victims of the helicopter accident:The firefighters on these three fires donated over $3,600 to help firefighters involved in the recent Iron Complex helicopter accident and their families. If you would like to help; please donate to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. You can contact them by phone at 877-336-2950, via email at info@wffoundation.org or on the web at http://www.wffoundation.org/ . This organization does an outstanding job of supporting firefighters and the families of firefighters who are injured or killed working on wildfires across the country.
- Health Advisories: Area residents and visitors will experience light to heavy smoky for some time. Visit http://www.ncuaqmd.org/ for the latest information for your community.
- Safety Message: Please drive carefully. Firefighting equipment and periods of heavy smoke may be present at times on Highways 96 and 93 and on other roads in the fire areas.
- Closures: To protect public safety and facilitate fire suppression efforts, the following closures are in effect for the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests:
·o Siskiyou Complex area: Dillon Creek Campground, the GO Road north of Road 11N11, Dillon Creek Trails, and Roads 14N69, 13N35, 14N19, 14N38, 13N38, 11N11, 12N12, 15N38. Rafting access to the Klamath River in the fire area is restricted.
·o Ukonom Complex area: Salmon River Road (Siskiyou Co.) near Forks of Salmon Dillon Creek, Oak Bottom & Nordheimer Flat Campgrounds, Medicine Mountain Trail (5820), Wooley Creek Trail (5820), Portuguese Peak Trail (5833), Bridge Creek Trail (5816), & all trails within the Ukonom RD Marble Mountain Wilderness, Norcross and Johnson Hunting Ground Trailheads.
·o Blue 2 Fire area: Roads: Forest Road 14N01 (Red Mountain Road) from Red Mountain Lookout NE to Intersection with Road 15N01 (G-O Road). Road 15N01 from intersection of Road 14N01 east to its termination point. Forest Road 14N01 from intersection with Road 15N13, continuing NE to intersection with Road 15N01. Road 15N01, from intersection with Road 15N39, continuing south to its termination point. Road 15N39, from intersection with Road 15N01, continuing E to its termination point.
Trails: Summit Valley Trail-3E07; South Kelsey Trail-4E06; Gunbarrel Trail-3E01; Boundary Trail-4E50.
For detailed information on the closures contact Forest Service websites at: www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/conditions/ or www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers/conditions/ . For information on hunting tag refunds/exchanges, visit California Department of Fish and Game web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/deer/fire.html .
