Rattle Fire Update - Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Released: 9/24/2008
Rattle Fire
Fire Information Update
www.inciweb.org/incident/1510 www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua
e-mail: rattlefire2008@gmail.com
Contact: Public Information Office (866) 534-9681
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 8 am PDT Update
FireAcres
% Contained
Cost
Total Personnel
Rattle
17,145
48%
15,693,993
1,075
Highlights:
- Forest wilderness area and road closures, public use restrictions and industrial fire precautionary restriction information is available on the Umpqua National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua or call (541) 672-6601.
FIRE STATUS: Firefighters have completed contingency lines on the north flank of the fire. Burnout operations on the NW flank were completed yesterday. Crews continue to mop up on the west flank of the fire. As equipment is backhauled, rehabilitation efforts are being initiated on the southeast flank; rehab needs for the entire fire area continue to be assessed. Crews are constructing direct line on the southeast flank and mopping up and removing snags on the east/northeast flank. As suppression objectives are being met, night operations has been discontinued. A radiometric airborne mapping (RAM) flight was scheduled to detect any remaining hot spots along the fire's perimeter.
Today, crews will burnout and hold as needed in the southwest corner of the fire, backhaul excess equipment and locate hot spots on the southeast flank, pick up hot spots and mop up on the east flank, burnout and mop up on the west flank and start rehabilitation of the dozer line on the north flank. A second RAM flight will occur to finish with heat detection for remaining hot spots.
Evacuation Level Change: The evacuation level has been reduced from a level 2 (voluntary) to a level 1(pre-cautionary) for Dry Creek, Slide Creek, Toketee School, the PacifiCorp Control Center, and the Roan Ranch.
FIRE FACTS: Started: August 18, 2008 Cause: Lightning Location: Boulder Creek Wilderness Resources: 21 crews, 7 helicopters, 50 engines, 2 dozers, 20 water tenders, and 1075 personnel.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Numerous snags, steep terrain, 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: A weak heat-caused low pressure system will develop over Northern California and Southern Oregon on Tuesday into Wednesday. Expect stable air to persist into Wednesday but with day time drying and gradual warming. A front will approach the Oregon Coast on Wednesday afternoon. This front will generate some gusty winds with a chance of rain later on Wednesday. Today, sunny and dry with temperatures 65-70 degrees on the ridgetops, 7-75 degrees in the canyons. Minimum humidity 30% with ridgetop winds light in the morning and northwest in the afternoon 5-8 mph with a few gusts to 15 mph. Upcanyon/upvalley winds 3-6 mph with gusts to 10 mph in the afternoon. Inversion is expected to lift around 2 p.m. Tonite, low temps around 35 degrees with humidity recovery to around 75% with light downvalley winds.
FIRE BEHAVIOR: Fire activity is expected to be low; there is potential for rolling material and falling snags to occur.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Dry Creek Community, Toketee Community, Oregon Department of Transportation, Douglas County, Douglas Forest Protective Association, PacifiCorp, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.
