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Smith River Complex North update August 25, 2023
Smith River Complex
Publication Type: News 08/26/2023
Smith River Complex North update for Friday, August 25, 2023
Grants Pass, Ore. – Overnight, thunderstorms brought abundant lightning, gusty winds, scattered showers, and the possibility of new fires to southwest Oregon and northern California. Fire managers prepared for these storms and have plans to address new fires in cooperation with fire services and other emergency agencies.
On Thursday, smoke prohibited aerial operations on the north end of the Kelly Fire. Fire personnel worked on fire lines west of Hwy 199, developing fire lines near Gilligan Butte and Blue Creek to the Lone Mountain Road. Masticators and crews worked at clearing fire lines east of Hwy 199. Other fire personnel began setting up sprinkler systems to provide further protection of structures near the 4402 road, working from south to north.
Winds pushed the Kelly Fire north into Josephine County and triggered a Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation for the Hwy 199 area south of O’Brien from mile post 38 to the California border. A Level 2 – GET SET evacuation was established for O’Brien and Takilma area. The Level 1 – GET READY evacuation was extended north to Cave Junction. For full details on evacuations, see https://bit.ly/3YS9xMP. The Fire First Response Map showing the evacuation areas can be found at https://rvem.org.
The American Red Cross has set up an evacuation shelter at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass. Livestock can be sheltered at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.
Due to increased fire activity, the public is encouraged to monitor the Josephine County Emergency Management Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM and the Rogue Valley Emergency Management site at https://rvem.org for updates.
The Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District announced an emergency closure of their lands south of Waldo Road and Happy Camp Road to the Oregon/California border. Maps and additional information can be found at https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has implemented an area and road closure order for the Smith River Complex. Visit the forest website for additional information https://tinyurl.com/2s4hymku.