Evacuations called due to 1,500-acre fire east of Roseburg; new 3,000-acre fire on Fremont-Winema Forest
(Update: Jack Fire now 1,500 acres; new Bootleg Fire on Fremont-Winema National Forest near Sprague River)
ROSEBURG, Ore. (AP) — Authorities issued mandatory evacuations Tuesday due to a 1,500-acre wildfire east of Roseburg, while a new fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest quickly grew to 3,000 acres.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook shortly after noon that people in homes, recreation areas and businesses on Oregon Highway 138 between mile marker 43 east to Eagle Rock Campground should leave the area immediately.
The Jack Fire was reported at about 5 p.m. Monday. Fire officials say the fire grew quickly because of the steep terrain, abundance of fuels and inaccessibility. It’s burning north of Highway 138 and east of Jack Creek Road.
The Umpqua National Forest, which is calling it the Jack Fire, said in its Facebook post the blaze near Steamboat, about 30 miles east of Glide, was estimated Tuesday afternoon at 900 acres -- and by Tuesday evening at 1,500 acres, with 200 firefighters on the line.
A section of Highway 138, known as Diamond Lake Highway, was closed between mileposts 40 and 47, with a forest closure expected soon. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
More information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7605/
News release from Gov. Kate Brown's office:
Governor Kate Brown Invokes the Emergency Conflagration Act in Response to the Jack Fire
Jack Fire is burning 900 acres in Douglas County
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act in response to the Jack Fire that broke out in Douglas County Monday evening. The fire is estimated to be 900 acres in size and is located near the community of Dry Creek. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has issued Level 3 evacuations, and the fire has temporarily closed Highway 138. The Office of the State Fire Marshal will assume command tonight and will work to bring resources from counties around Oregon to assist in the response.
"Today I invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act to make more state resources available to the fire crews on the front lines at the Jack Fire in Douglas County," Governor Brown said. "It is evident that this fire season is rapidly under way, and we must all remain aware and cautious, especially with activities that could spark a fire. We all need to do our part to help the many firefighters battling multiple fires across Oregon."
In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610, Governor Brown determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exist due to the fire, and the threat exceeds the firefighting capabilities of local firefighting personnel and equipment. The Governor's declaration cleared the way for the State Fire Marshal to mobilize firefighters and equipment to assist local resources battling the fire.
The Office of the State Marshal's Blue Incident Management Team has been mobilized. OSFM is responding with personnel, a Communications Unit, and a cache trailer loaded with incident support supplies, including COVID-19 PPE, tools to enhance defensible space around structures, and other provisions firefighters need to inhabit a fire camp.
Additional updates for the incident may be accessed at:
- Oregon State Fire Marshal Facebook page
- Douglas County Sheriff's Office Facebook page
- InciWeb – Jack Fire
News release Tuesday night from the Fremont-Winema National Forest:
Update on Bootleg Fire burning on Chiloquin Ranger District
CHILOQUIN, Ore. – The Bootleg Fire is currently burning on the Chiloquin Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest on Fuego Mountain, approximately 11 miles northeast of the town of Sprague River.
The fire is estimated to be 3,000 acres tonight, with no containment. It was reported around 1:45 p.m. today and the cause is under investigation.
The fire is currently only burning on National Forest System lands. However, multiple structures are threatened east of the fire.
At the request of the Bootleg Fire Incident Commander, Klamath County Emergency Management has issued a Level 1 (GET READY) Evacuation notice for the Sycan Estates area north of the town of Beatty in eastern Klamath County. Level 1 is notice for residents in the affected area that wildfire is potentially near them and they should begin preparations to leave should the Incident Commander believe further increase in evacuation levels is warranted.
In addition, two property owners closer to the fire area were advised that their properties are under Level 2 (GET SET) evacuation notice. Level 2 is notice that the danger has dramatically increased and they need to be prepared to leave at any moment.
For the latest evacuation information, visit https://www.facebook.com/KlamathCountyGov. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit http://alerts.klamathcounty.org
Firefighters are continuing to work through the night fighting the Bootleg Fire. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered.
The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain in mixed conifer and lodgepole pine. Fire behavior includes running, torching and spotting.
Smoke from the fire is highly visible from Oregon State Highway 140, Sprague River Highway, Chiloquin and the surrounding area.
Drivers should expect increased traffic in the area from fire equipment and are asked to use caution driving in the area. Area residents and Forest visitors are asked to avoid the fire area, including Forest Roads 44, 46 and 3462, as well as Head of the River Campground and Sycan Crossing dispersed campground.
South Central Oregon is continuing to have an active and early fire season. Area residents and visitors are asked to use extreme caution with anything that could spark a wildfire. Suspected wildfires should be reported immediately to 911.
ODOT traffic alert:
Oregon 138E (North Umpqua Highway) MP 41-55: - OR138E remains closed due to the Jack Fire between Steamboat and Slide Creek. ODOT has set a westbound 'soft closure' at Lemolo Lake junction.
Due to steep slopes in the fire area, the highway has been affected by burning snags and falling rocks.
This highway closure is likely to extend into the weekend.
Here's Tuesday morning's update on the Lewis Rock Fire, burning about five miles south of Mitchell:
Mitchell, OR– Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3, led by Incident Commander Tyler McCarty, assumed command of the Lewis Rock Fire Monday evening. The arrival of the team brings in additional overhead capacity and firefighting resources. The team’s presence also relieves local assets that have been battling the fire since June 30.
Persistent winds that have been challenging firefighters over the past several days finally calmed and allowed crews to hold the fire in check overnight. The fire is now estimated at about 440 acres. While an overnight infrared flight detected heat close to containment lines, firefighters have established hose lays along much of the fire’s perimeter and are beginning to mop-up towards the interior to prevent spot fires.
Crews are also working against the clock as thunderstorms are expected to develop over the area this afternoon bringing the threat of lightning and erratic winds. Some crews will be at-the-ready should additional fires spark from the predicted lightning.
The active early fire season under extreme fire danger conditions gives fire officials cause to spread the fire prevention message. Preventable human-caused fires have the potential of pulling much needed resources away from fires sparked by lightning. The public is required to follow fire season restrictions such as campfires, small equipment use and off-road driving.
Current fire restrictions and information for ODF’s Central Oregon District is available at www.odfcentraloregon.com.
For information on these and other Northwest fires, visit: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/fire_info.aspx
