Rattle Fire Update for Friday, September 19, 2008
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Released: 9/19/2008
Idleyld Park, OR-Cooler temperatures and higher humidities are helping firefighters on the Rattle Fire to further construct and secure containment lines around and near the perimeter of the fire. Hot and dry winds created locally by large smoke plumes and intense fire behavior on Tuesday and Wednesday have carried burning embers over firelines in several places on the east and west sides of the fire. Fire crews constructed additional firelines outside of the Boulder Creek Wilderness to contain the fire along strategic ridges and existing road systems.
Helicopters have played a crucial role in cooling down hot spots and preventing the fire from reaching the crowns of large trees. Low-lying smoke in the canyon bottoms continued to affect surrounding areas until the inversion lifts around 2:00 p.m. This restricts helicopter options and makes it difficult for observers to assess the fire's spread overnight.
The mandatory evacuation of the two homes in Slide Creek was reduced to a Voluntary Evacuation last night. This means that the residents may return to their homes, but should be prepared to leave, if necessary with a possible short notice. No structures have been lost due to the Rattle Fire.
The Oregon and California Interagency Incident Management Team, under the leadership of Ken Paul, will transfer command to Chris Hoff and the Pacific Northwest Team 2 at 0600 on Saturday morning.
State Highway 138 is still closed from milepost 49 to milepost 59, although the Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation are cooperating to clear the logs, rocks, and debris, to re-establish a lane of traffic. No date has been set for re-opening the highway.
Additional forest roads have been closed on the Umpqua National Forest due to this fire. Forest visitors should check the forest website for a complete map of road closures before traveling near the fire area. Information on closures around the fire area can be found on the Umpqua National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us./r6/umpqua.
For further information on highway closures check the Oregon Department of Transportation website (www.trip check.com). To contact ODOT within Oregon, dial 511 or (800) 977-ODOT, or (503) 588-2941.
Tom Lavagnino
ORCA Public Information Officer
