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Rum Creek Fire up to 260 acres By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Aug 22, 2022 09:04 AM A A Aviation resources worked steadily throughout the day Sunday, dropping water and retardant to slow the spread of the Rum Creek Fire, burning in steep ground near Galice, while ground crews developed safe routes to the fire perimeter, according to a Monday morning update from the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest District. Although the Rum Creek Fire, reported Monday at 260 acres, started on a ridgetop, the steep topography allows burning debris to potentially roll downhill, spreading fire as it goes, with the possibility of spotting and torching, ODF said. On Monday morning, 266 personnel were assigned to the fire, including one Hotshot crew, 10 hand crews and one bulldozer. Northwest Incident Management Team 13 is now overseeing the Rum Creek and Hog Creek fires. For more information on those fires, see Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8348/ . Among the natural resources threatened by the fire is an endemic stand of Port Orford cedar, which is unique to southwest Oregon and northwest California, ODF said. Historically, native Karok people of northwest California used Port Orford cedar for a variety of purposes. Three hand crews, three engines and three water tenders will continue mop up today on the Hog Creek Fire, which was holding at 32 acres and is 30% contained. Mop up is the process of extinguishing residual fire and hot spots to make sure it doesn't continue to spread outside of an established containment area. The weather forecast today called for slightly cooler temperatures, with highs in the 80s, humidity in the 30s and light winds with gusts up to 12 miles per hour. ODF urged people to be alert while driving and to watch for increased fire traffic in Merlin and Rand, especially in the morning and evening as resources head into and out of the fire closure areas at shift changes. A river ranger is stationed above Rainie Falls to direct boating traffic. Boaters may be asked to pull over while helicopters dip water from the pool, ODF said The Rainie Falls Trail is closed until further notice. For more information about closures and fire restrictions, go to blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions For information about other fires in the Lightning Gulch Complex, go to Southwest Oregon Department of Forestry’s website swofire.com or facebook.com/ODFSouthwest .