Umpqua North Complex Update Sunday, September 3, 2017 Fire Information Line: 541-378-6944 Date started: August 11, 2017 Cause: Lightning Size: 27,344 acres Total Complex Containment: 20% Structures Destroyed: 0 Firefighter injuries to date: 1 Total Personnel: 1,005 Fire Resources: 21 crews, 78 engines, 5 helicopters, 16 bulldozers, 25 water tenders Current Information: Yesterday’s inversion did not lift as predicted except for a short period of time over the east zone of the fire. When the smoke cleared, fire activity increased; however growth was limited due to smoke from other fires in the area that moved over the Umpqua North Complex. The majority of the fire area was shaded from the sun by heavy smoke, limiting temperatures to the low to mid-90s. The thermal trough is set up overhead, but unless the inversion breaks today fire activity will be similar to yesterday. Unmanned Aerial Systems (commonly known as drones) were utilized to scout the Rattlesnake Fire and assist in developing management strategies for suppression actions on this fire. Using a drone is another tool in our tool box that provides valuable information while allowing fire managers to reduce the hazard to firefighters. Temporary Flight Restriction, 7/2859, is in place over the fire area. The general public is prohibited from flying drones in the TFR and over the fire area due to safety concerns to firefighting crews and air resources. The Ragged Ridge Fire continues to move into the Boulder Creek drainage and the Rattle and North Fork burn scars. Crews are securing containment lines along the Highway 138 East corridor in order to prevent fire spread from impacting values at risk. Crews continue to make great progress securing containment lines and mopping up on the Fall Creek Fire perimeter. A secondary camp near Diamond Lake is now in place for crews working the east side of the complex. A remote camp greatly reduces the drive time for firefighters and positions resources closer to operational priorities. Information on smoke can be found on the Oregon smoke blog at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has information on emergency preparedness services including how to register your cell phone via the Citizen Emergency Notification System at http://dcso.com/. Evacuations: Level 1 Evacuation Notice “Be Ready” for the Susan Creek residential area and the BLM Susan Creek Campground, HWY 138 E from Mile Marker 28 east to the Forest Service/BLM, Moore Hill Lane, and the Clearwater area along Highway 138 East from Mile Marker 56 to Mile Marker 61, Level 2 Evacuation Notice “Be Set” for Dry Creek, Slide Creek and Illahee areas. Road Closures: Highway 138 E is closed from mile markers 47 to 54 due to hazardous trees and debris falling onto the roadway as well as the possibility of increased fire activity near the road corridor. There is no detour around the road closure and it is recommended the public plan an alternate travel route prior to departing home. The Umpqua National Forest remains closed in areas of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Ranger Districts. The North Umpqua River remains closed to boaters and anglers from Boulder Flat Raft Launch to Susan Creek Campground due to falling trees and rolling debris except for a short stretch of river near the Steamboat Inn that is open to fishing. For more information on forest closures see Public Notices at http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/Umpqua/alerts-notices. The latest Umpqua North Complex Information can be found at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5505/