Single Publication

Smith River Complex North

Update for Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Size: 86,748 total/ 10,276 in Oregon                                             

Start Date:  Aug 15, 2023

Location: Grants Pass, OR

Containment: 21%

Total personnel: 1,712 for Complex

Cause: Lightning

Resources:
41 crews  
10 helicopters  
75 engines  
14 bulldozers  
26 water tenders  
15 masticators  
2 Skid Steers  
 

Yesterday: There was moderate fire activity in the Taylor Creek drainage with good consumption of fuels and air operations assisted with water drops. Successful firing operations on the northwest side of the fire are nearing conclusion.

Today’s Activities:  Today is a critical fire day with warm temperatures, dry conditions, and gusty northeast winds. Operations will use air support for suppression activities. Starting this afternoon, a Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the area west of the fire. Elevated temperatures and lowered fuel moistures will persist in the fire area with northeast winds. Increased fire activity is anticipated, but fire managers don’t expect a challenge to containment lines.

Road Closures and Delays: Starting tomorrow, Thursday, September 14, US-199 in Del Norte County will have a schedule of road closures and lane restrictions. The Del Norte Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to refrain from any unnecessary travel along that route. If you must travel, please do not follow mapping systems that direct you to leave the US-199 corridor; alternate routes are in a fire closure area creating safety risks to you and fire personnel. Do not use forest roads for alternate routes. For additional information on road conditions, please see the Caltrans QuickMap site https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ and Oregon Department of Transportation’s https://www.tripcheck.com/.

Public Meeting: Did you miss the community meeting last night? You can find the recording online on the Smith River Complex North Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/smithrivercomplexnorth/

Evacuations: As of Monday, September 11, the Josephine County Sheriff issued a notice reducing evacuation status to Level 1-BE READY for the community of O'Brien including Takilma, east of US-199 from mile post 39 to the Oregon/California border. Monitor Rogue Valley Emergency Management site and sign up for evacuation alerts and updates at https://rvem.org/. An interactive Fire First Response Map with evacuation areas can also be found there.

Smoke: Clearing skies, high-level haze, and visible smoke columns can be expected from the Smith River Complex today.  Geographic area smoke is being pushed offshore, with nighttime pooling between Cave Junction and O’Brien tonight. Smoke Forecasts are available at https://www.oregonsmoke.org/

Closures: The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District have issued area and road closures for the Smith River Complex. A campfire ban remains in place for BLM and forest lands, and the Wild section of the Rogue River. Visit bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts or https://www.blm.gov/orwafire for additional information.

Restrictions: Please respect the temporary flight restriction (TFR) established for the Smith River Complex. Keep drones away from firefighting operations and the TFR. If you fly, we can’t. Don’t be the reason a firefighting air mission has to divert! For more information on the TFR, visit https://tfr.faa.gov/