Daily Update Sept. 4, 2008
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Released: 9/4/2008
The NW Oregon Incident Management Team will transfer command of the Rattle fire to a Type III Incident Management Team led by Nick Lunde on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 6 am. The helibase will remain at the French Creek Ranch, immediately east of Glide on Hwy. 138. The Fire Camp will relocate to the Oregon Department of Transportation Sandshed, 12 miles east of the Toketee Ranger Station on Hwy. 138.
Wednesday crews improved access to the Illahee Rock Lookout along the 4760 road. Clearing brush along Boulder Creek Trail has been completed
from Hwy. 138 to the junction of the Boulder and Spring Creeks.
Helicopters were able to work later in the day Wednesday; cooling hotspots primarily in the southern and eastern areas of the fire.
Today crews will begin clearing the Boulder Creek Trail southward from the 3810 road. At the same time, crews will continue clearing the trail northward from Spring Creek. The expectation is that these two prongs will meet by the end of the day.
While the work to safely contain the Rattle fire is coming to an end, the hot, dry weather forecast for southern Oregon over the next several days will cause fire activity to increase. Expect to see more smoke over the area. The fire will continue to be monitored by ground and air personnel, and two engines will be staged for Initial Attack.
A Vertol from Columbia Helicopters arrived from Redmond on Wednesday.
The Vertol is distinctive due to its two main rotors instead of one main rotor and a smaller tail rotor. The helibase now has three heavy, and one light lift helicopter. A medium helicopter and its crew of rapellers were released this morning.
The Rattle Fire is one of over 100 lightning-caused fires started by a lightning complex on August 18, 2008, and is burning in the Boulder Creek
Wilderness of the Umpqua National Forest.
Effective Friday, Sept. 5, a new fire information number will be in use. Call the Rattle Fire at (541) 498-2531 and ask for Fire Information. Additional information is available online at: http://www.inciweb.org/ under "Rattle Fire." New email for the Rattle Fire will be: RattleFire2008@gmail.com.
