Update 7 / 26 / 08
Incident: Blue 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 7/26/2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008, 9:00 a.m. On the web at: http://www.inciweb.org/
Siskiyou, Ukonom Complex Information: (347) 426-8322 www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath
Blue 2 Information: (707) 457-3974 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixriversIncid
Incident Command Post is located in Orleans, CA - E-mail: ukonom.incident@gmail.com
Health advisories for all areas: Area residents and visitors should be aware of very smoky conditions and low visibility throughout the area. Persons with asthma or other respiratory disease should avoid strenuous outdoor exercise or activity.
SISKIYOU COMPLEX STATUSStart date:
6/21/08
Cause:
Lightning
Estimated Size:
54,657 acres
% Contained:
36%
# of Firefighters:
1,120
Injuries to date
7
Estimated Containment:
8/8/08
Closures: To protect public safety and to facilitate fire suppression efforts closures of the Dillon Creek Campground the GO Road north of Road 11N11, Dillon Creek Trails, and Roads 14N69, 13N35, 14N19, 14N38, 13N38, 11N11, 12N12, 15N38 are still in effect.
Rafting Restrictions: Rafting access to the Klamath River in the fire area is restricted.
# of 20-person hand crews:
28
# of helicopters:
3 light,
2 medium, &
4 heavy-lift
The Siskiyou Complex experienced very little fire growth yesterday. It is slowly backing down the slopes towards the Klamath River. All established containment lines continue to hold. Crews continue to monitor, mop up and patrol these areas along the eastern portion of the fire. The major work to conduct is along the Beans Ridge area and the GO Road. Today firefighters will begin to burn towards the west from No Name Creek and south towards containment lines along Bean Ridge. Firefighters will also continue to build contingency line towards the west along the southern portion of the Siskiyou Complex towards the Blue 2 fire.
Ukonom Complex StatusStart date:
6/20/08
Cause:
Lightning
Estimated Size:
32,266 acres
% Contained:
30%
# of Firefighters:
565
Injuries to date
5
Estimated Containment:
9/15
Closures: 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
# of 20-person hand crews:
12
# of helicopters:
1 light,
1 medium, &
1 heavy-lift
No significant increase in burnt acreage was reported yesterday. Fire crews continued to burn out along containment lines and roads northeast of Forks of Salmon in an effort to strengthen and secure the fire lines near that community. This fire has been burning for over one month and no structures have been lost. Precautionary evacuation notifications were made last evening to residents in the Crapo Creek and Forks of the Salmon area. The fire was fairly active along the Yellowjacket ridge area yesterday afternoon and up till 10:00 last night. There are many homes located throughout the Klamath and Salmon River corridors and structural protection specialists have been busy assessing these properties and helping homeowners understand the risks of living within a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Crews are continuing to prepare fire lines along the northern boundary of the fire for possible burn out operations in the future. Fire crews are walking long distances into the Marble Mountain Wilderness to accomplish their daily assignments. Future spike camps in the Wilderness are being considered to minimize the vehicle travel to and from the incident command post and to reduce the distance crews must hike to begin their work.
A closure remains in effect for the Salmon River Road near Somes Bar to the Forks of Salmon to the general public. Local residents and firefighters will be allowed to travel this road with restrictions. Roads near the fire are extremely smoky. Caution and common sense are urged when traveling near Somes Bar and Forks of the Salmon. Heavy equipment, fire engines, and firefighters are on or near the roads. All recreation trails on the Ukonom Ranger District within the Marble Mountain Wilderness are closed, as well as the Norcross and Johnson Hunting Ground Trailheads until further notice. The Dillon Creek Campground is also closed until conditions change.
Community Meetings: There will be a community meeting at the Forks of the Salmon School today at 4:30 p.m. Another community meeting will be held at Junction School in Somes Bar on Sunday, July 27th at 6:30 p.m. Fire managers will be providing updates on the Ukonom, Siskiyou, Blue 2 and Panther fires.
Blue 2 StatusStart date:
6/20/08
Cause:
Lightning
Estimated Size:
4,911 acres
% Contained:
25%
# of Firefighters:
358
Injuries to date
0
Estimated Containment:
8/30/08
Road Closures: Forest Road 14N01 (Red Mountain Road) from Red Mountain Lookout NE to Intersection with Road 15N01 (GO 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.
Trail Closures: Summit Valley Trail-3E07; South Kelsey Trail-4E06; Gunbarrel Trail-3E01; Boundary Trail-4E50.
# of 20-person hand crews:
7
# of helicopters:
1 light,
1 medium, &
1 heavy-lift
Crews continue to burn and improve fireline along Crescent City Fork of Blue Creek. The fire continues to creep along the northwest perimeter around Dr. Rock, and is also moving very slowly along the southern perimeter of the fire.
Crews continue to scout the interior of the fire to see if they can find favorable fuels and topography to halt the southern spread of the Blue 2 fire through the use of hose lays, sprinklers and handlines where necessary. In the northwestern portion of the fire, firefighters continued to burn out from Road 14N01 towards the Crescent City Fork of Blue Creek. Additionally, firefighters are improving the spur roads along Road 14N01 and are improving containment lines west and southwest of the fire.
Fire managers continue to work closely with tribal advisors to ensure firefighting activity does not harm any cultural or sensitive sites.
Note: Fire managers continue to support the Happy Camp Ranger District through the use of aircraft and crews to manage the Panther Fire (250 acres) in the headwaters of Ukonom Creek.
