Oregon Chetco Bar Wildfire Update

A pocket of dispersed heat from a low intensity ground fire was discovered, creeping and smoldering in the thick leaf litter on the forest floor.

Map: inciweb.nwcg.gov

(SALEM, Ore.) - Pacific Northwest Type 1 Team 2 transferred command of the Chetco Bar Fire to a Type 3 organization on October 6th at 8 p.m. The Type 3 organization has established an Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Gold Beach Ranger District office.

The previous ICP on Shopping Center Avenue and the camp located on the south end of Brookings is closed.

As of today, two twenty person hand crews, support engines, and a chipper have been deployed along the 240 and 1205 roads to mop up the remaining fire within the Wheeler Creek area.

Data from an infrared flight late Saturday night revealed a pocket of dispersed heat in this area, caused by a low intensity ground fire that has been creeping and smoldering in the thick leaf litter on the forest floor.

The flight also revealed that the remaining instances of isolated heat are all located well within the interior of the fire area.

Grading, repair, and seeding operations are ongoing throughout the perimeter. Chipping operations have finished along the 1205 Road. Seeding, mulching, and mop up continues along the 240 Road near Mt. Emily. Firefighters continue to patrol the fire perimeter, checking any areas of concern and completing suppression repair as needed.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Winds weaken Monday afternoon, and a cold front will move through Tuesday through Wednesday with a potential for light showers. A cold trough will move in late next week with potential for wetting rain north of the CA/OR border.

Safety:

Motorists may notice an increase in traffic on forest roads, as it is deer hunting season.

Closures:

The most recent Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest closure order narrative and map is available to view. Visit the Forests' websites at: http://tinyurl.com/ClosureOrder and www.fs.usda.gov/srnf.

“Know Before You Go” by calling (541) 618-2200.

Evacuation Area Re-entry Plan:

Only residents and land owners are allowed to enter the previous Level 3 Evacuation Areas.

These Areas include:

• Pistol River Road
• Carpenterville Road
• North Bank Chetco River Road to the established fire perimeter
• Gardner Ridge Road to the established fire perimeter
• South Bank Chetco River Road

All residents that live in these geographic areas must present their picture identification to Curry County Sheriff’s Office Staff to receive re-entry materials. Residents can pick up the re-entry materials from 11am to 4pm at Ray’s Market 906 Chetco Ave in Brookings, Oregon.

Residents and land owners will present the materials received from the Sheriff’s Office at the established re-entry point.

Residents should remain prepared to evacuate in a moment’s notice in the event the evacuation levels change and residents should not return any large animal’s home at this time.

Fire and emergency resources will continue to be active in the areas and road systems. Please drive slowly and be aware of additional traffic in the Level 2 Evacuation area.