More JoCo evacuations as Garner grows past 29,000 acres

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-07-30

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More evacuations have been ordered in Josephine County as crews battling the Garner Complex face a third day of red flag fire warnings. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office placed on Level 3 “Go” evacuation notice just after 2 p.m. Saturday all residences on West Pickett Creek Road, Greentree Loop, Brickford Drive, Sanders Creek, Paradise Garden Road, Sallsten Road, Hussey Lane, Steelhead Lane, Cliffside Drive, Bartlett Lane along with property between 5415 and 6187 Riverbanks Road — including all residences on Rockinghorse Drive, Griffin Road and Peaceful Valley Lane. Those evacuations will add to the 357 people displaced and 1,588 structures threatened by the fast-moving Taylor Creek fire, one of four within the Garner Complex burning near the Jackson County line, declared a conflagration last week by Governor Kate Brown. In all, more than 700 people and 241 homes have now been evacuated, according to fire officials at a Saturday afternoon community meeting at North Valley High School in Merlin. ODF Incident Commander Chris Cline described the landscape along the Taylor Creek fire as “just some of the toughest ground on the planet,” compounded by “tough conditions.” No structures had been damaged or destroyed as of Saturday afternoon, although 22 people have been injured in the fire. The Garner Complex is at 29,039 acres and is 27 percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to Oregon Department of Forestry reports. An evacuation shelter at Grants Pass High School remains open for people displaced by the fire. The bulk of the Garner Complex’s 3,942 acres of overnight growth Friday came from the Taylor Creek Fire, which grew 3,660 acres as crews face their third day of red flag warnings including gusty winds, low humidity and temperatures in the mid-90s on ridges to 103 degrees in valleys, according to Inciweb. Saturday’s red flag warning was anticipated to last until 10 p.m., according to an ODF press release. The Taylor Creek fire, within the complex, is now at 20,137 acres. Fire managers say there is active fire behavior at just about every area of the fire complex, particularly around the perimeter. Some 2,637 personnel are battling the fire, including 82 hand crews, 114 engines, 32 dozers, 44 water tenders, 35 aircraft and 11 structure task forces, according to ODF. Cline emphasized “how hard everyone’s working,” and his confidence in their abilities. “I apologize for the concern,” Cline said to evacuees. “I apologize it looks scary, but that’s just the hand we’ve been dealt.” Cline said that although the Incident Management Team could be reassigned in the next few days, two teams will replace them — including one focused entirely on the Taylor fire. Some resources could shift to fires in Redding and Lake Tahoe, Cline said. “They’re not going to pull all our resources and leave us empty-handed,” he said. The complex has closed Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest lands near the Taylor Creek Fire, the Elderberry Flat Campground and campsites along West Fork Evans Creek. Updates on other Southern Oregon wildfires: Hendrix fire The fire burning southwest of Ashland had reached 1,081 acres and was 70 percent contained as of Saturday afternoon, according to Inciweb, reopening portions of the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT reopened Saturday afternoon on the Siskiyou Crest between mile markers 1595 to 1708, according to Inciweb; however, the Wrangle Campground on the north side of the crest remained closed. Crews totaling 339 continued to face hot temperatures and drying fuels as they worked to strengthen firelines, particularly at the southern tip. Sugar Pine complex The complex of 19 wildfires burning near Prospect grew to 3,101 acres as of Saturday morning with no containment, according to Inciweb. Crews totaling 777 personnel were continuing to build contingency line around the fire, while mopping up and patrolling contained fires, but shifting winds were expected to lift stagnant air in the area, bringing a risk of more active fire behavior. Klondike fire The fire burning northwest of Selma in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest was at 10,989 acres and was 5 percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to Inciweb. A total of 356 firefighters were working to implement an indirect control line around the fire, engage with spot fires and continue to protect structures in Oak Flat at the end of Illinois River Road. An estimated 13 residences in the area remained at Level 3 “Go” evacuations. Natchez fire The fire, burning southeast of Cave Junction near the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath national forests, was at 3,777 acres and was 10 percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to Inciweb. Crews totaling 753 personnel continued constructing hand and dozer lines along the east flank of the fire, while continuing burnout operations along the northeast flank. South Umpqua complex The complex of three large fires burning primarily southeast of Tiller in Douglas County, with portions reaching Jackson County, had grown to 10,707 acres and was 14 percent contained as of Saturday morning, according to Inciweb. The fire’s activity prompted the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to issue Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation warnings Saturday morning in the Elk Creek area. Crews totaling 1,289 personnel were working to use air resources when smoke cleared to slow the fire’s spread on private land and structures. Timber Crater 6 The fire burning in a remote northeast corner of Crater Lake National Park near Chemult was at 3,125 acres and 65 percent contained as of Friday evening, according to Inciweb reports. The primary line around the fire was complete, and crews were working to secure the lines as they worked with improving fire behavior conditions owing to improving humidity and cooler temperatures.