Fires burning on more than 438,000 acres across Oregon

Major wildfires have burned and are burning on more than 438,000 acres in Oregon on Friday. About 12,000 firefighters are working in the state. The Northwest Interagency Communication Center is tracking at least nine major fires in Oregon. Top priorities for fire officials were the 150,000-acre Florence fire, the 17,000-acre Timbered Rock fire, the 38,000-acre Sour Biscuit Fire, and the 26,850-acre Tiller Complex.

Evacuations: South Umpqua Road closed at milepost 6. Fifteen residence threatened. Tribal ceremonial grounds and critical cultural resources are threatened.

Evacuations: Elk Creek Road is closed except to fire vehicles. Evacuation area for all addresses along Elk Creek Road, 143 homes, is still in effect. No homes were immediately threatened by yesterday's fire activity and no homes have been lost. August 1.

This evening's report from Six Rivers Forest on the Shelley and Biscuit fires in California.

Sour Biscuit and Shelly Creek Fires
Zone 2 (Northern California)
Wally Bennett’s Incident Management Team

Evacuation Orders Lifted; Highway 199 Reopened
As of noon today (Saturday, August 3), residents of the Low Divide area will be allowed to return to their homes. However, residents will continue to be on a one-hour evacuation notice because of the potential for future fire activity. The Low Divide Road will remain closed to the public, but open to residents. Structural engine protection will remain in the area. Rowdy Creek Road will remain closed. The Bar-O Boys Ranch will also reopen as of noon today.

Highway 199 is now open to one lane escorted traffic. Conditions remain hazardous though, due to falling rocks.

LOCATION
Zone 2 is located in Northern California from the Oregon/California border south to Highway 199. There are two fires in Zone 2, the Sour Biscuit Fire and Shelly Creek Fire, which are located on the Six Rivers National Forest, Smith River National Recreation Area. The Sour Biscuit Fire is located in the North Fork of the Smith River, Diamond Creek and High Plateau Creek drainages. Currently, the Sour Biscuit Fire is located approximately 5-miles north of Gasquet and 9-miles northeast of Hiouchi. The Shelly Creek Fire is located above Highway 199 near Patrick Creek northeast of Gasquet, California.

CURRENT SIZE
Sour Biscuit Fire – 21,745 acres
Shelly Creek Fire - 850 acres

CONTAINMENT
Current Expected
Shelly Creek 100% Complete
Sour Biscuit 15% unknown (four miles of line completed)

Crews will continue containment work today on all flanks of the Sour Biscuit Fire. Six Rivers National Forest Supervisor Lou Woltering gives his thanks to Linda Szczepanick’s Northern California Team 1 for their excellent teamwork to contain the Shelly Creek Incident. The Team returns to their home units today. Crews will continue to mop-up and monitor the Shelly Creek Fire.

FIRE CONDITIONS
Little fire growth occurred on August 2nd. There was some isolated torching, but generally ground fire movement in heavier fuels. Moderate activity is expected today. Smokey conditions remain throughout the area.

WEATHER
A low-pressure trough will be moving south along the Pacific Northwest coast today bringing cooler, moister air. Expected maximum temperatures will be in the upper 70’s to low 80’s and minimum humidities in the mid 20 % range. Winds will be light and variable from 3 – 12 m.p.h.

RESOURCES ASSIGNED
213 hand crews
157 overhead
28 engines
9 dozers
7 helicopters
Total personnel on fire: 911

ROAD CLOSURES
Rowdy Creek Road
Low Divide Road (open to residents only)

EVACUATION INFORMATION
The Red Cross has set up a food and evacuation shelter at Crescent Elk School. They have also made arrangements to assist evacuees with temporary placement of pets and livestock. For more information on these services, call 464-8380. Donations can be made by calling 464-2277.

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