Umpqua National Forest Update August 29, 2008 AM
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Released: 8/29/2008
Umpqua National Forest www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua
Contact: Cheryl Caplan - 541- 957-3487
Umpqua National Forest Fire Update
ROSEBURG, OR - August 29, 2008, 8 a.m. - The Rattle Fire, in the Boulder Creek Wilderness, is estimated at fire perimeter of 835 acres according to infrared sensing and zero percent contained. The other 103 fires started by lightning the weekend of August 16th on the Umpqua National Forest are contained and in patrol status.
Rob Batten's Blue Mountain Management Team is handling the Rattle Fire until August 31, when a new team will assume management. For more information go to the Inciweb Incident Information System website at http://inciweb.org/incident/1477 or call the Complex information line at (541) 496-9609.
The closure for the road leading to the Steamboat Falls Campground is lifted in time for the holiday weekend. All roads and trails leading into the Boulder Creek Wilderness remain closed as fire crews build indirect fire line.
Fire officials have developed a long-term implementation plan for the Rattle Fire to look at different ways to deal with this fire in the Boulder Creek Wilderness. The strategic plan balances protecting resources such as the nearby community of Dry Creek, firefighter safety, roads and trails adjacent to the wilderness, and the wilderness itself with the cost of managing the fire. In developing the plan, analysts reviewed predicted weather conditions, topography, and past history of the area.
People recreating on the Umpqua National Forest during the Labor Day weekend are reminded that campfires and camp stoves are limited to developed recreation sites such as campgrounds, lookouts and trailheads. Liquefied and bottle gas stoves and heaters may be used for cooking and heating. Please completely extinguish any campfires before leaving the site.
Smoking is only allowed within enclosed vehicles, buildings, developed recreation sites, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Motorized travel off developed Forest roads and trails is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the adjacent open developed road.
Operating an internal combustion engine, such as chainsaws and generators, is also restricted. Motors on watercraft, dredging within streams and the use of generators is permitted in developed recreation sites. Welding or operating acetylene or other torches with open flame is restricted.
# # #
