FIRE UPDATE BIG WINDY COMPLEX The Big Windy Complex is burning on BLM lands between Galice in Josephine County and Agness in Curry County. The Big Windy Complex consists of three separate fires, the largest of which is the Big Windy Fire on the south end; Calvert Peak on the west and the Jenny Fire on the north end. It is estimated to be 3,718 acres, and is 0 percent contained. A national incident management team is in command and the base camp is set up in Merlin. Bear Camp Road is now officially closed. Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Land Management, Curry County Sheriff’s Office and the Gold Beach Ranger District are working cooperatively to provide staffing at the Bear Camp Road closure checkpoints. Josephine County Emergency Services and Coos Forest Protection Association, in cooperation with Oregon Department of Transportation, has provided signing. Unless you are a local resident at either end of Bear Camp Road, you are asked to stay out of the area. You WILL be ordered out of the area and not allowed to pass. The BLM portion of the Wild Section of the Rogue River is closed from Graves Creek to Mule Creek effective July 31 at 12:01 a.m. due to extreme fire conditions and public health and safety issues The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has given official notice that the Rogue River Trail from Grave Creek to the Rogue River Ranch is temporarily closed. All entry is restricted in order to protect the public during fire suppression operations. The fire has moved to the south bank of the Rogue River, and is making an effort to jump across the river. All out efforts will be made to prevent that. Surface fire with occasional single tree torching reported yesterday and last night. Crews will continue with structure protection efforts at Zane Grey cabin and the Black Bar Lodge and will continue to scout for fire line locations. The Rogue River Ranch was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Fire crews and supplies are now being floated into the area on rafts. The rafts and the guides to control them are being provided by the rafting companies who work the area and are unable to take recreationalists down the river because of the closure. There is no doubt that this is the most unique fire fighting experience some of these crews will ever have. The crews on this fire are not going to be able to do much for right now due to extremely difficult terrain challenges. More personnel are needed to make a big push on this fire. The call is out for additional crews and they are coming. Bulldozers and engines will also be used where it is possible, but much of the complex burns in very rugged terrain so this is going to be mostly a fight from the ground with air support from helicopters and air tankers when possible. The Big Windy Complex will be a long duration event. National Guard elements arrived yesterday to take over road closure and security duties. National Guard air resources will be used when conditions allow. Resources committed to the fire are: 13 20 person crews 9 engines 2 bulldozers 4 helicopters
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:29:50 +0000
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