Update 8/6/08
Incident: Blue 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 8/6/2008
FIRE UPDATE
Ukonom, Siskiyou Complex and Blue 2 Fires
Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests
Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 9:00 a.m. On the web at: http://www.inciweb.org/
Siskiyou, Ukonom Complex Information: (530) 627-3532 www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath
Blue 2 Information: (801) 326-0913 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixriversIncid
Incident Command Post is located in Orleans, CA E-mail: ukonom.incident@gmail.com
Overall Strategy: Containment by direct line or indirect burnouts and contingency lines are designed to create a perimeter around the multiple fires in this area: Blue 2, Siskiyou, Ukonom, and Panther. Structures, infrastructure, and other areas of concern are being protected within this perimeter. Fire growth within this box may continue throughout the summer. Fire management teams are working closely with tribal representatives and the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests to accomplish this strategy. Red Flag Warning: Firefighters prepared for unstable weather conditions which were predicted for the fire areas last night. A red flag warning was issued for possible dry lightning followed by thunderstorm activity and increased winds. Although the lightning and thunderstorm activity affected areas east of the complexes, firefighters will remain watchful for unstable conditions today. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priority, and efforts have been made to ensure the safety of crews in the field. A helicopter was relocated to support the initial fire response to any new lightning fires.
Siskiyou Complex: w 58,335 acres w 63% contained (includes Siskiyou and Blue 2)w w
Blue 2: w 7,718 acres w 63% contained (includes Siskiyou and Blue 2)w
Fire managers are working to complete containment lines which will encompass both the Siskiyou Complex and Blue 2 Fires. They will be managed under one containment strategy.
On the Siskiyou Complex, firefighters continued to construct and improve the fireline on Lonesome Ridge on the southwest corner of the fire. This line will eventually connect with indirect line from the Blue 2 Fire and the two fires will merge. Patrol, mop-up, chipping brush along roadsides, and monitoring activities continue on the eastern side of the fire. The fire has been slowly backing with isolated single tree torching. Steep, inaccessible terrain and rolling material hamper containment efforts. Firefighters continue to hold line and strengthen and widen a contingency line on the southwest portion of the fire.
On the Blue 2 Fire, crews extended containment lines by burning on the west side of Chimney Rock. Fire was slowly backing downhill on the south side of the Blue 2 Fire. Crews continue reinforcing the narrower containment lines in the fire area. Due to important Native American cultural areas, strategies continue to be developed to lessen the impacts of fire suppression actions. Crews are monitoring the fire's natural progression in the Crescent City Fork drainage. Firefighters on the Blue 2 and Siskiyou Fires work closely together to coordinate indirect fireline construction.
Ukonom Complex: w 44,475 acres w 76% containedw
Firefighters have successfully completed the burnout of prepared areas in the Forks of Salmon area and will continue securing the area. The slowly backing fire resulted in a low intensity burn, clearing underbrush and ground fuels to strengthen the indirect containment line. Crews completed burning operations to fortify the previously completed line to the north of the Ukonom Fire to tie in with the Panther Fire. Firefighters continue mop-up and cleanup operations on the southwest side of the fire and are securing a small break in the containment line. The Ukonom Fire is expected to back downhill to the northeast into the Marble Mountain Wilderness.
Fire Activity Table
Incident
Complex Fire Acres
Per cent Contained
Expected Contained
Injuries
Total Personnel
Crews
Helicopter
Engines
Dozers
Water tenders
Overhead
Acreage Change·
Siskiyou Complex & Blue 2
66,053
63%
8/30
12
1,863
49
9
63
8
23
452
1,208
Ukonom Complex
44,475
76%
9/15
7
336
5
11
14
3
18
140
1,690
TOTALS
110,528
19
2,199
54
20
77
11
41
592
2,898
·Acreage changes are based on the previous morning's information.- Community Meetings: Fire officials will hold a public meeting in Somes Bar on Thursday, August 7 at 6:30 PM at Junction School to provide current fire information to the community.
- Health Advisories: Area residents and visitors should be aware of very smoky conditions. Visit http://www.ncuaqmd.org/ for the latest information for your community.
- Safety Message: Help keep our firefighters and the public safe. Please drive carefully! Fire fighting 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 Siskiyou 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. Although Salmon River Road near Somes Bar to the Forks of the Salmon is closed to the general public, local residents only are allowed to travel this road with restrictions.
·o Blue 2 Fire area: Roads: 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.
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/ . #
