Oregon Department of Forestry Team 1- Tom Savage, Incident Commander
Phone Numbers: 541-832-0136; 541-832-0137
Douglas County Information Number: 888-459-3830
Hours of operation: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
August 19, 2013
8:00 am
Current Situation: After 24 days on the fire, Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 2 is transferring command at noon today to Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 1. The incoming team members will spend the day shadowing the outgoing team members while crews continue mop-up operations and securing the remaining uncontained lines.
National Guard crews will be released but road closures are still in effect until September 1, 2013. BLM has posted signs and maps at road blocks. For more detailed information about the closure contact the BLM Districts in Roseburg at 541-440-4930 or http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/roseburg/newsroom/index.php, or in Grants Pass at 541-471-6500 or http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/medford/newsroom/index.php.
Rabbit Mountain – 23,952 acres
Crews will be working to hold and patrol containment lines while focusing on extinguishing remaining hot spots.
Dad’s Creek – 24,168 acres
A few unburned pockets of fuel still exist in the southwest portion of the fire. Crews will complete hand lighting in order to finish the burnout operations started several days ago. Containment lines in the Rattlesnake Creek, Dry Creek and Poorman Creek areas are being patrolled to ensure containment lines are secure.
Weather: The warmer and drier weather will test the fire lines. Afternoon winds may create smoky conditions in the Reuben Creek area today.
Evacuations and Closures: remain the same
• Cow Creek Road from Riddle into the fire area and from Glendale into the fire has been closed except for residents. The National Guard will be conducting traffic control at the road blocks to limit public interference with firefighters working in the area.
• The Level 2 evacuation remains for McCullough Creek Road, Reuben Road, and Mt. Reuben Road in Douglas County and Lower Grave Creek, Grave Creek, and Lower Wolf Creek in Josephine County.
• Glendale is at a Level 1 evacuation.
• The area from the community of Wolf Creek to Watertank Gulch is at a Level 1 evacuation.
• Residences in the area are still considered threatened. This means evacuations could be necessary at some point in the future. Any official evacuation orders would be issued by the Douglas County or Josephine County sheriff’s offices.
Public Safety/Prevention: Firefighters are contending with the following hazards: rolling boulders, falling trees, old mine shafts, and narrow roads which are affecting access into some of the fire area. Values at risk include: homes, commercial timberland, and critical wildlife habitat. To date, no homes have burned, but two outbuildings have been lost. Ten minor injuries and two minor vehicle accidents have been reported.
Douglas Forest Protective Association has increased prevention restrictions for both industry and the public. Check www.dfpa.net before commencing your activities.
Fire Statistics:
Location: 7 miles north of Glendale, OR
Percent Contained: 76%
Complex Size: 48,383 acres
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: 7/26/13
Total Personnel: 1,380
Estimated cost to date: $48,262,245
Resources Include: 33 Type 2 hand crews, 1 Type 1 hand crews, 53 engines, 14 dozers, 16 water tenders, numerous overhead personnel, and National Guard resources.
Air Resources: 1 Type 1 helicopters, 2 Type 2 helicopters, 3 Type 3 helicopters, 1 Type 3 helicopter for Infra-red and 1 National Guard Medivac
Places to get more fire information:
Douglas Forest Protective Association -www.dfpa.net
Twitter – www.twitter.com/DouglasFPA
Facebook – www.facebook.com/DouglasForestProtectiveAssociation
InciWeb – http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3559/
Douglas Complex Photos – To view: http://tinyurl.com/DouglasFire2013
ODF PIO Blog – http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/.
ODF Southwest Oregon District – www.swofire.com
Air Quality – www.oregonsmoke.blogspot.com