INCIDENT SUMMARY
A wildfire ignited from a lightning strike on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, around noon in the Medford District (BLM) in Galice, Oregon.
FIRE RESOURCES
The fire is Unified Command with NWIMT13 (Gales), ODF Team 1 (Hessel), and OSFM Blue Team (Magers).
There is about 1,914 total personnel assigned to this incident.
CURRENT STATUS
The fire has burned 19,945 acres of timber understory and timber litter.
There is a 34% containment status.
Tomorrow, the fire will be under a Haines 6 tomorrow, the highest level on the index.*
*The Haines Index is a tool used to estimate the effect of atmospheric dryness and stability on fire growth potential. When the atmosphere is unstable, windy conditions allow the mixing of air near the ground with air higher in the atmosphere.
This mixing provides ample fresh air flow to a fire, allowing it to burn freely and potentially grow rapidly and develop a smoke plume. These conditions are more likely to allow a fire to run or spot past fire lines.
Evacuations are in effect. For evacuation information, visit the Rogue Valley Emergency Management website https://www.rvem.org/Incident-INFO/Josephine-County
As containment status increases, some fire resources will refocus their efforts from constructing fire lines to other activities, such as mopping up.
FIREFIGHTERS GO BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
The OR State Fire Marshal’s Office posted a feels-good story of when firefighters know residents are evacuated, they go beyond the call of duty to water their plants or gardens. This is what that LOOKS like.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
Two homes were destroyed, along with four others.
WEATHER CONCERNS
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for today but could be extended if the temps remain the same for Wednesday.
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(c) 2022 NW Fire Blog – Posted on 9/5/2022 2215 PT
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