Incident: Orleans Complex Wildfire
Released: 2000 Hours PST
For Immediate Release
Butler Fire Information (530) 618-2101 Salmon River Complex Fire call (530) 841-4451
A public meeting is planned for tomorrow, August 7, 2013 at the Karuk DNR in Orleans California from 6-7pm.
Health Advisory:
The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQM) continues to extend their smoke advisory for Del Norte, Humboldt and Trinity Counties, noting that there are separate advisories for Forks of Salmon, Klamath Glen, Orleans and Weitchpec. For further information call the 24 hour Air Quality Advisory Information at 1-866-BURN-DAY or check the district’s website atwww.ncuaqmd.org.
Detected: Wednesday, July 31, 10:00 p.m.
Cause: Under Investigation
Fuels: Timber and Brush
Estimated Size: 5,112
Containment: 8%
Committed Resources: Approximately 898
Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 0
Closures:
The following closures are in effect:
Going into or being upon National Forest System lands in the area beginning at the intersection of Wooley creek and Highway 93 (county Road 2B01), then continuing northeast along Wooley creek to the intersection with Timothy Gulch, then continuing southeast along Timothy Gulch to the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail, then continuing southeast along but not including the Pacific Crest Trail to the intersection with the Russian Wilderness boundary, then continuing south/southwest along the Russian Wilderness boundary to the intersection with Forest Route 39, then continuing west/northwest along but not including Forest Route 39 to the intersection with Highway 93 (county Road 2B01), then continuing northwest along Highway 93(county Road 2B01) to the starting point, as shown on the attached map.
Oak Bottom Campground
Highway 93 (Forks of Salmon Road) is closed at the Highway 96 intersection and above the Forks of Salmon store. No access to North Fork/Sawyers Bar Road is available at this time.
Nordheimer Campground is closed.
The land around the Salmon River is closed 300 feet from the high watermark between the confluence of Wooley Creek and the confluence of Nordheimer Creek.
Summary:
The Butler Fire is located on the Klamath National Forest approximately 10 miles east of Somes Bar, California. Atmospheric instability associated with the incoming cooler weather, but also higher winds, resulted in increased fire activity. Significant growth was occurred along the western and southern flanks of the fire, and fire was observed in the Nordheimer Creek drainage. An additional spot fire was detected and contained over the eastern fire line (across the Salmon River from the current containment line).
Residents of Orleans may notice increased traffic on the Pearch Creek Road as fire vehicles are using the road to access the western flank of the fire. Siskiyou County Roads Department is currently assessing damage to Highway 93 (Forks of Salmon Road).
Please see http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3577/# for updates and a map of the Orleans Complex.
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Incident: Salmon River Complex Wildfire
Released: 2000 Hours PST
News Release
KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST
1711 South Main Street Yreka, CA 96097
(530) 841-6131 www.fs.usda.gov/klamath
Fire Information Line:
530-841-4451
Salmon River Complex Update
Email: salmonrivercomplex@gmail.com
InciWeb: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3575/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/info_ciimt1
Flickr: http://tinyurl.com/n3tgqta
Fire Facts:
Date started: July 31, 2013
Number of Personnel: 1,079
Location: 4 miles west of Sawyers Bar, Salmon River, CA
Crews: 30
Size: 7,884 acres
Engines: 40
Percent Contained: 16%
Dozers: 6
Estimated Containment Date: unknown
Water Tenders: 14
Cause: Human
Helicopters: 2 Type 1, 4 Type 2, and 1 Type 3
Cost to Date: $5,500,000
Air Tankers: available upon request
Structures Threatened: 50
Injuries to Date: 1
Tonight’s Update:
Today, the west flank of the Salmon River Complex saw very little growth. The fire expanded into the headwaters of Jackass Gulch. Numerous spot fires developed approximately one-half mile north-northeast of Tanners Peak in the headwaters of Sawmill Gulch.
Tonight, crews will monitor fire progress in the communities of Sawyers Bar, Idlewild and Mule Bridge. They will implement structure perimeter protection if needed. The expected fire spread tonight will be east one-quarter mile beyond Tanners Peak, north approximately one-quarter mile into Sur Creek and southwest approximately one-quarter mile into Big Creek. This movement is largely due to topographic features and southerly winds.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 11:00 p.m. Friday for dry thunderstorms and associated erratic winds.
Evacuations:
An Evacuation Advisory was issued for all residents along the North Fork of the Salmon River from Kelly Gulch to Idlewild and Mule Bridge to the Marble Mountain Wilderness Boundary. Seehttp://inciweb.org/incident/article/3575/19865/ for the evacuation notices. An evacuation center has been established by the Red Cross at Etna Union High School, 400 Howell Avenue, Etna. Domestic pets may also be taken to the high school where kennels will be available. Large animals may be taken to the Dean McBroom Ranch at 1442 Sawyers Bar Road, Etna. Call 530-467-3711.
For tips on how to prepare for an evacuation and what to do if you are evacuated, residents are encouraged to visit the “Ready, Set, Go” Website at http://www.readyforwildfire.org/.
Fire Behavior and Smoke:
Active crowning with long-range spotting was observed this afternoon. Lower temperatures and higher humidity will moderate fire behavior tonight.
All communities near the fires should expect to be impacted by smoke. For information on smoke conditions, visit http://www.co.siskiyou.ca.us/AG/apc.aspx, http://app.airsis.com/usfs/fleet.aspx orhttp://www.airnow.gov/.
Smoke can pose health concerns. Residents are encouraged to visit the “Protect Yourself from Smoke” Website for smoke protection information at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Wildfires/.
Closures:
A portion of the Klamath National Forest near the fire area is closed to public entry. See the Klamath National Forest Website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5430601.pdffor a description and map.
Sawyer’s Bar Road is closed to public traffic from Etna Summit to the Forks of Salmon. Residents, with proof of residency, will be allowed through the closure. Residents may encounter one-way traffic control within the closure area. The Salmon River Road is closed west of Forks of Salmon.
For fire prevention information visit “One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire” athttp://www.preventwildfireca.org.
For information on the Orleans Complex (Butler Fire), please call 530-618-2101.
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Incident: Aspen Fire Wildfire
Released: 2100 Hours PST
Incident Statics
Acres Burned: 21, 931
Structures Threatened: 0
Containment: 80%
Structures Damaged: 0
Fire Start Date: 07/22/2013
Injuries: 3
Fire Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 1,275
Cost to date: $26.5 million
Summary
- The Fire Aspen is located within theSierraNational ForestinFresnoCountyand began burning off of theStump Springs Road, NorthofAspenSprings. The South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team is in command of the Aspen Fire.
- The inversion layer will again increase smoke accumulation in canyons and drainages. Smoke from the Aspen Fire continues to impact air quality in local communities. Individuals sensitive to smoke are advised to remain indoors and keep windows closed to minimize exposure to smoke. For more information visit, www.valleyair.org or http://www.airquality.org/smokeinpact/
- Recreation and businesses remain open inShaverLake, Big Creek,HuntingtonLake, Lake Thomas Edison,FlorenceLakeand Mono Hot Springs on the Sierra N.F.
Fire Update
- Fire Crews, and Air Support have been very successful securing the fire perimeter, unburned vegetation interior of the fireline will continue to burn. Most areas of the fire line are now in patrol status and fire crews continue to mop up 150 feet interior along the fire perimeter. Backhauling of equipment began today. As resources become available they are being offered for reassignment to other fires.
Resource advisors are working with suppression crews on fire suppression repair efforts of fire lines within the fire perimeter. The objectives of fire suppression repair, is to minimize erosion and sediment movement on and around the fire line, as well as prevent the use of fire lines being confused as trails. As crews continue to gain containment of the Aspen Fire, rehabilitation will become a high priority.
More Road, Trail and Campground Closures
Roads: Stump Springs Road is closed to all traffic due to fire suppression activity.
Forest Road #81 was opened today at 6:00 P.M.
Trails: Per the U.S. Forest Service Closure Order Number 15-13-09, all trails within the Kaiser Wilderness are closed.
Campgrounds:
The following Campgrounds within theSierraNational Forestwere opened today at 6:00 P.M.
Sample Meadow West Kaiser
Jackass Rock Organization Lower Chiquito
Little Jackass Soda Springs
Placer Sweet Water
ChinaBar Rock Creek
Badger Flat Midge Creek
Mammoth Pool Fish Creek
Wagners Mammoth Pool Resort
Rancheria Campground remains closed to house firefighters
Cooperating Agencies include:
The U.S. Forest Service, National Parks Service, U.S. Department of Defense, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Fresno County Sheriff, Madera County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Southern California Edison, PG&E, California Conservation Corp.
For more information on this press release or if you have questions regarding the information, please contact the Aspen Fire Information line at (559) 893-7018. Updated information can also be obtained at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3552/ or by following the Sierra National Forest Twitter Account:@sierra_nf
Content/Photography – Courtesy of Inciweb.org
2013 The NW Fire Blog
NW Fire Blog 