Fire officials feeling good, but not out of the woods yet

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2018-07-10

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The Klamathon fire burning on the Oregon-California border is listed at 45 percent containment, and fire officials estimate full containment could be achieved as early as Sunday. It’s a good feeling, said Oregon Department of Forestry public information officer Melissa Cano, “to go from the assumption people were making, that this was going to be a fire that lasted through the season” to the likelihood of seeing a flameless light at the end of the tunnel. “Overall, we’re feeling pretty good. Not completely out of the woods yet,” Cano said. The fire has burned about 36,500 acres, destroyed 82 structures and damaged 12 more, according to fire officials. More than 1,000 structures remain under threat. Three firefighters have been injured, and one civilian was killed. Crews in Oregon worked Monday to bolster lines on the northwest and northeast sides of the fire, which extend about from Interstate 5 near the Siskiyou Summit northeast to Pilot Rock and southeast to the Oregon-California border. One spot fire jumped the northeast end of the line and grew to about seven acres, though crews made quick work of it. “Lots of wind hit it,” Cano said. “However, they’ve already caught it and brought it back into the main body of the fire.” The northeastern flank was of particular concern to firefighters Monday, not only because of wind. “There’s no fire history there,” said Klamathon fire public information officer Gabe Lauderdale. “There’s a lot of unburned fuel that has the potential to carry fire.” On Monday, wind gusts reached 20 to 25 mph, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Charles Smith. Temperatures are expected to climb into the triple digits for several days this week and next, with a forecast of 105 degrees Thursday. Evacuation advisories Several level 3, 2 and 1 evacuation advisories remain in place for parts of Jackson County. Areas under level 3 — “go” — include: • The area east of I-5, covering Bureau of Land Management lands and private properties west of the Jackson-Klamath County line, north of the Oregon-California border, and south of a line that extends from the intersection of I-5 and the Mount Ashland Ski Road east to the Jackson-Klamath county line. • The area east of Interstate 5, covering BLM lands and private properties west of the Jackson-Klamath county line, north of the line that extends from the intersection of I-5 and the Mount Ashland Ski Road due east to the Jackson-Klamath county line, north to Highway 66. Areas under level 2 — “get set” — include: • The Colestin Valley, including the Colestin Road and all its tributaries from the Oregon-California border to the Mount Ashland Ski Road. • Old Highway 99 from the Oregon-California border to the Mount Ashland Ski Road. Areas under level 1 — “be ready” — include: • Mountain Ashland Ski Road from Mount Ashland down to Old Highway 99. • Old Highway 99 to Callahan’s Lodge. “We have officially been downgraded,” a Tweet from Callahan’s Twitter account said, referring to the threat level. “Probably the best demotion I have ever received.” Closures Multiple road and trail closures are still in effect. Ager Road at Klamath and Shelly roads, Ager Road at Shelly and Copco roads, and I-5 at Copco, Klamath and Ditch Creek roads, and at I-5 are closed. The Pacific Crest Trail is closed in the Soda Mountain Wilderness from I-5 northeast to Highway 66. Reach web editor Ryan Pfeil at [email protected] or at 541-776-4468.