From Derek Eimer:

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ratled
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Re: From Derek Eimer:

Post by ratled » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:02 pm

Sounds like Happy Camp folks are starting to come back. This will be the last update I'll post unless something changes

9/15 morning brief
HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA — East and northeast winds are predicted to clear smoke out of much of the fire area later today. Vegetation remains exceptionally dry and receptive to fire, and fire activity is expected to pick up with these winds.

On the southern end of the fire, the town of Happy Camp is beginning to repopulate as it has deemed safe for return. Residents can expect to see UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) flying in the Indian Creek area today, working on assessments of damaged or destroyed structures.

The Slater Fire remained on the north side of control lines along Highway 96 between Happy Camp and Seiad overnight. Night shift firefighters watched carefully overnight for rolling material that could cause fire spread across the road. The fire is burning into patchy fuels]the 2012 Goff Fire footprint, with some heavier fuels and more intense burning along the northeast edge of this footprint. The fire is still two to three miles from Fort Goff and Thompson Creek areas along the Highway 96 Corridor.

Increased fire activity is anticipated around Seiad today. Firefighters in that area will focus on building indirect line along the north side of Seiad as the Devil Fire continues to slowly spread and the Slater Fire moves east. Incident Management Team 10 was able to dedicate some additional resources to help pick up the pace of this task. Meanwhile, direct line construction along the eastern flank of the Devil Fire will also begin today, tying into the Pacific Crest Trail.

On the Oregon side of the Slater Fire, a precipitous temperature rise and humidity drop occurred late in the day yesterday bumping fire northward in the Illinois Valley, east of Highway 199. Firefighting resources are beefing up primary, secondary, and contingency firelines today. Firefighting resources remained in Dwight Creek area to monitor fire activity and do some defensive firing as needed. Engines patrolled south of Takilma[,] where communities saw some increased fire activity yesterday, but fire behavior decreased there overnight. No structures were lost during the flareup yesterday. Similar weather patterns and fire activity are predicted there today.

Near Gasquet, firelines are holding along Knopki Road, despite limited available resources there. Firefighters worked to strengthen control lines along Monkey Ridge and Oregon Mountain Road to prevent the fire’s spread into communities southwest of the fire. Repeaters on Monkey Ridge are threatened by the fire, according to operational reports.

Incident Management Team 10 is readying to transfer command of the northern and western sides of the Slater Fire to an incoming Type 1 Team from the Northern Rocky Mountains, while retaining command of the south and east sides of the Slater Fire. The transfer of command for the north zone of the Slater Fire to the Northern Rockies Team occurs tomorrow at 6 a.m. Team 10 ordered additional radio communication repeater kits to ensure that the various sides of the fire can stay in good contact and coordination.

Due to extreme fire danger, all National Forests in California closed September 9, and remain closed. More details on these closure orders, along with fire restrictions orders, can be found on National Forest websites and on InciWeb.

As a result of extreme fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management Medford District has temporarily closed all Bureau of Land Management-administered public lands south of Grants Pass, Interstate 5, and U.S. Route 199 to the border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Maps of the closure areas are available on the Bureau of Land Management’s website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-saf ... strictions.

Highway 199 remains closed from O’Brien south almost to Gasquet. Highway 96 is now open to one-way controlled traffic. Drivers traveling this section of highway should expect delays and use caution due to poor visibility. Other highways in Oregon are also being impacted by the smoke.
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Re: From Derek Eimer:

Post by delnorter » Wed Sep 16, 2020 1:50 am

On the California side of the local mountains we set up traffic control early in the morning and brought in the various equipment and people to open Highway 199.

Extremely dense smoke, which has set in for days, has prevented the safe removal of burned and burning trees from along the highway. While driving through there early this morning and later around noon, you could not see oncoming headlights or flashing hazard lights more than 100 feet away. Many areas even less. The decision was made to stand down and try again tomorrow morning.

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Re: From Derek Eimer:

Post by Jim_Alaska » Wed Sep 16, 2020 5:50 am

Wise decision Mike. While what I posted this morning about the smoke lifting was true, it reversed this afternoon. We are again bathed in smoke on this side of the fire. I am still hopeful that the weather front they expected will yet scour the smoke out of the low lying areas.

They are making some small progress on the actual fire, the percentage of containment went up from 5% yesterday to 10% today and some rain is in the forecast.
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Re: From Derek Eimer:

Post by ratled » Wed Sep 16, 2020 4:33 pm

One quick update:
Fox Fire: Klamath National Forest yesterday reported a new fire start on the Salmon Scott River Ranger District near Callahan. It’s estimated around 100 acres currently. Incident Management Team 10 will lend resources from the Slater Fire south zone.
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