To: Grampa Dave
Update from 8:30 p.m., August 7, nothing yet today.
Whats New: The possibility of evacuation for Illinois Valley residents was reduced again today. Fire officials extended the alert status from 4-hour to 8-hour notice. This means that if county sheriff deputies notify residents that an evacuation has been issued, residents will have 8 hours in which to safely leave the area.
The Agness area also is under an evacuation advisory. The Curry County Sheriff on Tuesday notified residents in Agness, Illahe and Oak Flat that the 24-72 hour advisory was necessary because of predicted hot, dry weather over the next few days. No other evacuation notices or advisories are in effect for any other towns or communities, and none are planned in the immediate future.
Excellent progress continued along the Florence Fires east flank. Securing fire lines in areas on the north and southeast flanks is also proceeding as planned.
Warmer, drier weather predicted for the next few days is expected to increase the level of fire activity within the containment lines. A red flag warning is posted for tonight because of predicted strong east to northeast winds and poor humidity recovery. Crews going out on tonights shift were warned to watch for intense burning of large fuels, such as downed trees, and for fire running up trees and torching some of the crowns.
Also today, the Florence Fire and the Sour Biscuit Fire were administratively merged and the Sour Biscuit Fire name has been dropped. The entire area is now called the Florence Fire. Even though the two fires have not completely burned together, a common fire line connects both fires on their east flanks. The burnout operation along the east flank fire line, which may be completed in a day or two, will link the two fires.
The entire Florence Fire will be divided into four zones: Zone 1, managed by Lohreys Type 1 Team, covers from approximately the mid-point on the fires north flank to the point where the east flank meets the Oregon-California border; Zone 2, managed by Bennetts Type 1 Team, covers the entire portion of the fire south of the Oregon-California border; Zone 3, managed by Martins Type 1 Team, covers most of the western flank north of the Oregon-California border; Zone 4, managed by Brights Type 2 Team, covers the extreme northwest corner of the fire. Zone 1 will be based in Cave Junction, Zone 2 in Crescent City, Calif., Zone 3 in Gold Beach, and Zone 4 in Agness.
Fire statistics beginning tomorrow will be reported as one set of data for the entire fire.
Total Florence Fire
Size: 243,836 acres Start: July 13, 2002 Cause: Lightning
Percent Contained: 15% Expected Containment: Unknown
Cost to date: $20.3 million Fire Line to Build: 141 miles
Personnel: 2,914 Injuries: 1
Resources: 60 crews (10 Type 1, 50 Type 2), 17 helicopters (8 Type 1, 4 Type 2, 5 Type 3), 108 engines, 45 dozers, 34 water tenders.
Location: 26 miles southwest of Grants Pass, Ore., on the Siskiyou National Forest within the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Structures Threatened: 3,400 residences, 250 commercial properties, 2,200 outbuildings/other
At Risk: Portions of the towns or communities of Cave Junction, Kerby, Selma, OBrien and Agness; Gardner Ranch; private lands east of McCaleb Ranch; Late Successional Reserve and timber; threatened and endangered fish; Illinois and Rogue River Wild and Scenic River campgrounds.
Closures: Galice and Illinois Valley Ranger Districts on the Siskiyou National Forest west of State Highway 199 are closed to all public access due to extreme fire conditions; Bear Camp Road #2300 from Galice to Agness; hiking trail through Rogue River Wild and Scenic area.
Cooperating Agencies: USDA Forest Service, USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, USDI National Park Service, USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, Josephine County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Oregon National Guard, City of Cave Junction, Coos Fire Protective Association, and private entities.
Total Sour Biscuit Fire now part of the Florence Fire (8/6/02 pm data)
Size: 41,897 acres Start: 7/13/02 Cause: Lightning
Percent Contained: 25% Expected Containment: Unknown
Cost to date: $8.4 million Fire Line to Build: 35.5 miles
Personnel: 1,780
Location: 17 miles southwest of Cave Junction
Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2
Mike Lohrey, Incident Commander
40 posted on
08/08/2002 11:49:37 AM PDT by
Granof8
To: Granof8
This is starting to get confusing. This report says that the two fires have not merged. Yet other reports say that the fires have merged.
So who is Bravo Sierraing us?
Thanks for your on the spot updates!
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