Update 7 / 27 / 08
Incident: Blue 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 7/27/2008
Sunday, July 27, 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.
Please Slow Down: While traveling along the Highway 96 and 93 corridors as well as other roads, travelers as asked to be cautious as there will be fire fighting equipment and periods of heavy smoke in the fire areas.
SISKIYOU COMPLEX STATUSStart date:
6/21/08
Cause:
Lightning
Estimated Size:
55,616 acres
% Contained:
42%
# of Firefighters:
1,058
Injuries to date
7
Estimated Containment:
8/30/08
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:
21
# of helicopters:
5 light,
3 medium, &
6 heavy-lift
The Siskiyou Complex experienced very little fire growth yesterday due to the inversion layer. The fire has slowly backed down to the Klamath River. Progress has been made in firing on Lonesome Ridge. Heavy smoke conditions persist in the Dillon Creek area of Highway 96, however the fire is not as active as the smoke would indicate. All established containment lines continue to hold. Crews continue to monitor, mop up and patrol these areas along the eastern portion of the fire. 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:
453
Injuries to date
5
Estimated Containment:
9/15/08
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:
5
# of helicopters:
2 light,
2 medium, &
2 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 the 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. Good progress has been made in the Yellowjacket Ridge area with control lines to the south. Expect occasional interior torching until the interior is completely burned.
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. A remote spike camp is being established at Haypress Meadows in the Wilderness in order to minimize 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.
Community Meetings: A community meeting will be held Sunday July 27th at 3p.m. in Cecilville. There will also be a community meeting 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:
5,173 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 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: Personnel from the Siskiyou and Ukonom Complex fires assisted with battling the Panther Fire yesterday. There was a fatality on that fire and information can be found at the Klamath National Forest website, or by calling (530) 841-4451. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the firefighting community and to the family of the firefighter.
