Rattle Fire Update: Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Released: 9/21/2008
Rattle Fire Update
FireAcres
% Contained
Cost
Total Personnel
Rattle
16,255
28%
$13,666,409
1,064
Highlights:
- The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has announced that Highway 138 is scheduled to reopen to all traffic starting Monday, September 22. A speed reduction from 55 mph to 45 mph will be posted along the four-mile section of highway damaged by the fire. In preparation of opening the highway, ODOT crews have moved 1740 cubic yards of woody material and 1200 yards of rock from Highway 138, for a total of 87 20-yard truck loads of woody debris and 100 truck loads of rock.
FIRE STATUS: The Rattle Fire is burning primarily in the Boulder Creek Wilderness, although it has left the wilderness boundary near Illahee Lookout and Wild Rose Point. Cool, wet weather has aided suppression efforts on the eastern perimeter. The fire continues to slowly move north toward the wilderness boundary. Crews continue utilizing a combination of direct and indirect attack on the eastern and northwestern perimeters. Yesterday, burnout operations were somewhat limited due to weather conditions.
Last night, crews finished burnout operations from the day shift on the southeast flank. Today, crews will continue with burnout operations on the west & northwest flanks, continue to prepare line for potential burnout operations on the north flank, mop up on the south/southwest flanks, continue with line construction and burnout on the southeast flank and prepare contingency line and mop up on the east flank.
Voluntary Evacuation: A voluntary evacuation remains in effect for Dry Creek, Slide Creek, Toketee School and PacifiCorp Control Center.
Forest Road, Area & Highway Closures: Forest closures and restrictions remain in place; refer to the Umpqua National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua for wilderness area & road closures or call (541) 672-6601. For information on highway closures, refer to the Oregon Department of Transportation website at http://www.tripcheck.com/ or call (800)977-ODOT or (503) 588-2941.
FIRE FACTS: Started: August 18, 2008 Cause: Lightning Location: Boulder Creek Wilderness Resources: 26 crews, 7 helicopters, 54 engines, 7 dozers, 20 water tenders, and 1086 personnel.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Mid-slope fireline, snags, multiple air resources, transfer of command, driving speeds and cumulative fatigue.
RESOURCE CONCERNS & VALUES AT RISK: Protection of wilderness values, water quality in wild and scenic river, noxious weeds, critical habitat in late successional and riparian reserves, cultural resources; residences in Slide Creek and Dry Creek, PacifiCorp distribution line and structures, anadromous fish habitat and commercial timber.
WEATHER: Partly cloudy and cool with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures continue to be 5-10 degrees below normal. Temps 58 to 62 degree on the ridgetops and 63 to 66 in the canyons. Minimum humidities 45 to 55%. Winds NW around 5 mph with gusts to 8 mph. Inversion expected to lift between 3:00 and 4:00 pm today.
FIRE BEHAVIOR: Fire activity is expected to be low again today due cool temperatures and high humidities.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Dry Creek Community, Toketee Community, Oregon Department of Transportation, Douglas County, Douglas Forest Protective Association, PacifiCorp.
www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua
e-mail: rattlefire2008@gmail.com
Contact: Public Information Office (866) 534-9681
