Update 8-7-08
Incident: Blue 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 8/7/2008
FIRE UPDATE
Ukonom, Siskiyou Complex and Blue 2 Fires
Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests
Thursday, August 7, 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: Direct line, indirect line with burnouts, and contingency lines are designed to create a perimeter (big box) around the Blue 2 and Siskiyou fires. These three approaches are also being used on the Ukonom fire. Structures, infrastructure, cultural sites, and other areas of concern are being protected. Fire growth within these boxes 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.
Siskiyou Complex: 58,766 acres 64% contained
Blue 2: 7,981 acres 64% contained
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 along Lonesome Ridge on the southwest corner of the fire. This line will eventually connect with indirect line from the Blue 2 Fire and include both fires within the "big box." Patrol, mop-up, chipping brush along roadsides, and monitoring activities continue on the eastern side of the fire. Fire personnel scouted potential line between Chimney Rock and Sawtooth Mountain to avoid sensitive cultural areas and complete the "big box" around the Siskiyou Complex and Blue 2 fires.
On the Blue 2 Fire, crews extended containment lines on the west side of Chimney Rock. On the northeast side, crews will hold and monitor line previously constructed. On the west side, crews will monitor the fire's natural progression as it slowly backs downhill on the south side toward the Crescent City Fork of Blue Creek.
Firefighters on the Blue 2 and Siskiyou Fires work closely together to coordinate indirect fireline construction. Steep, inaccessible terrain and rolling material hamper containment efforts. Firefighters continue to construct contingency lines south of the fires.
Ukonom Complex: 47,728 acres 81% contained
Firefighters continue mop-up and cleanup operations on the southwest side of the fire. A low intensity burnout of areas adjacent to the Forks of Salmon community was completed yesterday and crews will continue mop-up around structures in the area today. Several spot fires occurred in the Pollocks Gulch area; these were contained. A slopover occurred near Crapo Mountain which caused a re-evaluation of line location for the southeast edge of the fire. Crews completed burning operations to fortify the previously completed line to the north of the Ukonom Fire to tie in with the Panther Fire. The Ukonom Fire is expected to continue burning to the northeast in 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
66,747
64%
8/30
12
1,835
47
9
65
7
23
454
694
Ukonom Complex
47,728
81%
9/15
7
354
8
12
14
3
18
140
3,253
TOTALS
114,475
19
2,189
55
21
79
10
41
594
3,947
·Acreage changes are based on the previous morning's information.- Community Meetings: Fire officials will hold a public meeting in Somes Bar tonight, 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: Please drive carefully and help keep our firefighters and the public safe. Firefighting 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/ . #
