The Blackwell Fire remains at 315 acres and is 25 percent contained. Night shift crews report that good progress was made on mop-up. No slopovers or flare-ups occurred.
Today, 125 firefighters will continue mopping up. Of particular concern is a steep, partially burned area on the north flank of the fire. Numerous smokes are scattered among unburned islands of fuel. Also, crews will continue patrolling and mopping up the slopes below the radio antenna site on top of Blackwell Hill, located in the southeast corner of the fire.
Occasional small columns of smoke will likely rise from the interior of the Blackwell Fire today. In most cases these burn themselves out after a short period of time. If necessary, a helicopter will be used to drop (large) buckets of water onto the flare-ups.
Travelers on the Blackwell Hill Rd. are asked to drive with caution as fire-related traffic will be heavy today.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Brian Ballou
Oregon Department of Forestry, SW Oregon District