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Highlight: Forest Closures remain in place in fire areas. Recent precipitation across the forest allowed for the lifting of Public Use Restrictions, which allows campfires on areas of the forest that are not currently under a closure order. Lifting Public Use Restrictions for campfires does not rescind closure orders. Forest staff are working closely with fire managers daily to re-evaluate closures and look for opportunities to reopen them as soon as safely possible for both firefighters and the public.

Anvil Fire

Size: 22,067acres         Start Date:  August 25, 2023   Location:  8 miles east of Port Orford, OR
Containment:  27%      Total personnel: 1,203              Resources: 31 crews, 14 helicopters, 49 engines 

Yesterday, firefighters moved fuels that are ready for chipping out of the Elk River community; and continued patrolling containment lines, assessing for safe access points to engage crews as fuels begin to dry from recent rains.  

Today, crews will work to secure contingency line around the communication site near Grassy Knob to allow for safe access.  Scouting has started along Forest Road 424 to the south looking for opportunities that will permit firefighters to construct hand line along the fire’s edge.  Masticators will begin working along Forest Road 5502 reducing fuel while fire officials identify hazards.  Continued line construction on the west side of Hells Gate should be completed in the coming week.  More rain is predicted over the fire area, but it will not be enough to put it out. The fire will continue to smolder in heavy vegetation and downed timber until fuels dry enough to allow flames to burn actively again. 

Evacuations:  Curry County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation zones near the Anvil Fire; Zones 1, 2, and 4 are in Level 2 “Be Set” status, Zone 3 in Level 1 “Ready” status.  All residents should remain attentive to changing conditions until the fire is fully contained and the evacuations orders can be lifted. View the interactive evacuation map at https://bit.ly/AnvilEvacs.  Sign up for Curry Co. emergency alerts at https://bit.ly/CurryCoEM.

Flat Fire

Size:  34,242 acres   Start Date:  July 15, 2023    Location:  2 miles southeast of Agness, OR    Containment:  75%  Total personnel:  20    Resources: 3 engines

Crews continue to implement the suppression repair plan on the Flat Fire. Additional crews, including excavators, will work on cleaning up the fire line and returning them to a natural state. 

Emergency Fire Area and Road Closures Still in Effect:  The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Coos Bay District Bureau of Land Management Closure Orders remain in place for both Anvil and Flat Fires. For current closure information and maps, please visit: https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts or  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-closures/orrsf-anvil-fire.

Fire Restrictions: The Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest lifted all public Use Restrictions on Forest lands and moved to “moderate” fire danger. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level was reduced to Level 1. Public Use Restrictions on the Wild Section of the Rogue River are at Stage 1- campfires must be in a fire pan below the high-water mark. 

Weather: Periods of rain will continue through tonight. Rainfall total amounts will range from 0.10-0.60” across the area. Ridge winds will switch from southerly in the morning, to southwesterly in the afternoon and northeasterly by late afternoon. Gusts to 15 mph are expected through most of the day, increasing to near 25 mph by

early evening and 30 mph overnight. 

Smoke: Smoke may be visible at times. For current smoke and air quality updates visit, https://bit.ly/SWORsmoke . Please drive slowly and with headlights on through any fire area. 

Roads: Visit www.tripcheck.com or call 511 for current road closures. Do not use forest roads for alternate routes.

Contact Fire Information: (541) 216-4579 or (541) 237-6369 

Email: 2023.anvil@firenet.gov 

Facebook: facebook.com/flatfireoregon2023 

X/Twitter: twitter.com/RRSNF 

Inciweb Anvil Fire: bit.ly/AnvilFireOR 

Inciweb Flat Fire: bit.ly/FlatFireOR