Contact: Paul Galloway, Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Acting Public Affairs Officer, 541-618-2113
Monday, August 23, 2010, 10 a.m. – A wildfire was spotted yesterday burning in a remote area of the Gold Beach Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The Cedar Creek Fire has grown to an estimated 70 acres this morning as smokejumpers will be reinforced with four additional handcrews, and helicopter water drops.
The Cedar Creek Fire was initially reported by aerial reconnaissance Sunday at noon and estimated to be 2 acres at that time. The fire is located two miles west of Sourdough Camp and two miles north of the Oregon-California state line. Burning in grass and brush with pockets of heavy timber, twenty smokejumpers, two air tankers, and helicopters assigned to the Oak Flat Fire were deployed yesterday to attack the fire.
Today crews will work to establish a fire line around the fire and helicopters will be used to cool hot spots. Air tanker support will again be available. A Red Flag Warning has been posted for the area until Tuesday morning for high winds and low humidity.
An Incident Command Post has been established at the Coos Forest Protective Association compound in Brookings, and the Winchuck Campground will be utilized as a spike camp for the crews. Helicopter and some logistical support for the Cedar Creek Fire will be provided by some resources currently assigned to the Oak Flat Fire burning on the Wild Rivers Ranger District.
The public is warned to avoid using the Sourdough Trail (#1114) from Sourdough Camp to Packsaddle Mountain at this time.