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Smith River Complex North update for Friday, September 1, 2023

GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Incident Meteorologist Jonathan Chriest has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the Smith River Complex North today due to the chance of thunderstorms bringing heavy rain. Up to a half inch of rain may fall on the fire from slow-moving storm cells. Areas at greatest risk for flash floods and debris flows include along the Smith River, the Slater Fire burn area, and in newly burned areas along Hwy 199 in California.

Cooler, more humid weather moved into the area Thursday, moderating fire behavior. Rising humidity limited tactical firing operations on parts of the fire. Crews are mopping up and securing areas that were burned during these operations over the last few days. This includes fire lines west of Gilligan Butte and along the 4402 and 461 roads.

Aircraft were able to drop water and retardant near Gilligan Butte and on other critical areas of the fire Thursday morning, supporting firefighters on the ground. As the weather system moved in mid-afternoon, low clouds and smoke settled over the fire, grounding aviation for the rest of the day.

Last night, an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) continued firing operations in the unburned pocket between the 461 and 445 roads. A low-intensity burn in this area will reduce the danger of fire threatening structures to the east in O’Brien and along Lone Mountain Road.

Task forces with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) are working alongside wildland resources to secure homes within the communities in the Illinois Valley Fire District to strategically minimize fuel sources around structures. As structural preparation objectives are completed, OSFM task forces will begin to taper, returning to their home agencies. Wildland structural resources remain in place.  

Wednesday, the Siskiyou Rappelers were flown into a remote area on the northwest “thumb” of the Smith River Complex. They scouted and improved two helispots, and identified potential anchor points for fire lines to reduce fire spread northwest into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

A Level 3 – GO NOW evacuation remains in place for the Hwy 199 area south of O’Brien from milepost 38 to the state line. A Level 2 – GET SET evacuation is in place for O’Brien and the Takilma area. A Level 1 – GET READY evacuation is in place north to Cave Junction. An American Red Cross evacuation shelter is located at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass. Livestock can be sheltered at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

Due to fire activity, the public is encouraged to monitor the Rogue Valley Emergency Management site at https://rvem.org for evacuation updates. An interactive Fire First Response Map showing evacuation areas can also be found there.

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 at https://tinyurl.com/2s4hymku. The Bureau of Land Management Coos Bay District announced an emergency closure of public lands near the Oregon/California border. For additional information see https://www.blm.gov/orwafire.