Skies are clearing over the Incident Command Post at Central Point and we’re starting to hear air support flying overhead in support of our mop up efforts. 

South Obenchain Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

September 14, 2020 – 9:00 PM

The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information.

Current situation:  Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has reduced the evacuation for Shady Cove and Trail communities from Level 3 to Level 2, refer to their website for specific details. https://tinyurl.com/y5xw7wzz

Crews throughout the day continued reinforcing containment lines on the northern and northeastern edges of the fire. Patrols were mopping up and monitoring along the south, west and northwestern lines.  Aircraft were again grounded due to the dense smoke covering most of western Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The eastern side still has open fire edges with spotting and active fire behavior. The fire has bumped up against the Double Day Fire (2008) where fuels are not as dense. Full suppression tactics will be utilized to corral this area while the weather continues to cooperate. Dozers and crews will work together where possible. Overnight, the weather will drop into the 50’s, light winds and higher humidity will increase fuel moisture and reduce fire spread.  Crews are being challenged by dense smoke, rugged terrain and poison oak.

Three task forces of structural engines with the Oregon State Fire Marshal are working along the Butte Falls Highway and the Shady Cove area triaging and providing point protection.

Acreage: 32,031

Containment: 20%

Cause: Under investigation

Fire Information: (541) 776-7338

E-mail:  SouthObenchainFire@gmail.com

Information Websites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthObenchainFire

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7185

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Evacuations: Evacuations orders are in place to protect the public and the fire fighters that are working to control the fire.  Please adhere to the evacuation level issued for your area. See the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office website for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below. https://tinyurl.com/y5xw7wzz

Jackson County Emergency Management Website link is below with map https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/News/evacuation-levels-issued

Donations:  Donations to help individuals and families that have been displaced by the Almeda and South Obenchain fires can visit Accesshelp.org.

ACCESS provides food, warmth, shelter, and other essential services to Jackson County’s low-income children, families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. As the Community Action Agency of Jackson County, Oregon, ACCESS has been helping residents break the cycle of poverty since 1976. Last year, 52,497 people received assistance from ACCESS’s broad continuum of services, including obtaining safe, affordable housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, weatherization, free loaned durable medical equipment and healthy food.

https://www.accesshelps.org/

Shelter Location: The evacuation shelter is located at the Jackson County Expo Center, 1 Penninger Rd. in Central Point, Oregon where care and services are available such as food, medical care, bathrooms and showers. 

Weather:  Cloudy smoke to continue overnight with low temperatures in the 50s. Moderate westerly winds, 5-10 mph, will be shifting to the east after midnight. Humidity recover overnight is expected to be good. Tuesday daytime high in mid 70s, east winds around 5 again shifting to the west in the afternoon.

Resources-907:  1-type 1 hand crew, 1-type 2 initial attack crew, 22-type 2 crews, 3- light helicopters, 5-medium helicopters, 4- heavy helicopters, 66-engines, 31-dozers, 38-water tenders and 2-skidder.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting the South Obenchain Fire, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire area.  Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.  If you fly, we can’t.  The entire air operation must be shut down until the air space is reported clear.

Closure: The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands in and near the South Obenchain Fire to all forms of public access. In addition, the Medford District has temporarily closed all Bureau of Land Management-administered public lands south of Grants Pass, Interstate 5, and U.S. Route 199 to the border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  

To View Closure Order and map: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions or call 818-975-0419 for more information about the closure.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has reduced the evacuation levels on some locations near the South Obenchain Fire.  Highway 62 has also reopened to through traffic.  Please see the link to the Jackson County OEM.

 https://jcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3caa39804db54631a61007180d5ef415

South Obenchain Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

September 14, 2020 – 9:00 AM

The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information.

Current situation:  The south and western containment lines of the fire perimeter have held for several shifts. Crews continue to improve and mop up the interior of the established lines, in many places up to 300 feet.  Improvement of dozer and hand lines along with some hazard tree removal will continue on the northern edge, in the Indian Creek area, as crews transition into the mop up phase. Northwest Incident Management Team 8 Deputy Incident Commander Kevin Stock told crews at morning briefing “We have taken advantage of the weather and smoke cover to reduce loss of property and resources. I really want to thank everyone for their hard work to get us to this point.”

The fire did make a small push to the east, into the old Double Day Fire (2008) scar late yesterday. The night shift worked to get a primary line in place. Available resources will be located in the area to get a containment line in place. Four task forces of structural engines with the Oregon State Fire Marshal, are working along the Butte Falls Highway and in the Shady Cove area triaging and providing point protection.

Acreage: 32,031

Containment: 20%

Cause: Under investigation

Fire Information: (541) 776-7338

E-mail:  SouthObenchainFire@gmail.com

Information Websites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthObenchainFire

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7185

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Evacuations: Evacuations orders are in place to protect the public and the fire fighters that are working to control the fire.  Please adhere to the evacuation level issued for your area. See the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office website for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below.

https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/News/evacuation-levels-issued

Jackson County Emergency Management Website link is below.

https://jcgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=3caa39804db54631a61007180d5ef415

Donations:  Anyone looking to make donations to help individuals and families that have been displaced by the Almeda and South Obenchain fires can visit Accesshelp.org. website.

ACCESS provides food, warmth, shelter, and other essential services to Jackson County’s low-income children, families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. As the Community Action Agency of Jackson County, Oregon, ACCESS has been helping residents break the cycle of poverty since 1976. Last year, 52,497 people received assistance from ACCESS’s broad continuum of services, including obtaining safe, affordable housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, weatherization, free loaned durable medical equipment and healthy food.

https://www.accesshelps.org/

Shelter Location: The evacuation shelter is located at the Jackson County Expo Center, 1 Penninger Rd. in Central Point, Oregon where care and services are available such as food, medical care, bathroom and showers. 

Weather:  Cloudy smoke will continue. Temperatures will be cooler mid to high 70’s, minimum relative humidity 30%, light winds southeast shifting to the west in afternoon.

Resources-669:  1-type 1 hand crew, 1-type 2 initial attack crew, 19-type 2 crews, 3- light helicopters, 5-medium helicopters, 4- heavy helicopters, 36-engines, 26-dozers, 29-water tenders and 1-skidder.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting the South Obenchain Fire, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire area.  Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.  An unmanned aircraft (UAS) was reported over the fire area.  If you fly, we can’t.  The entire air operation must be shut down until the air space is reported clear.

Closure: The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands in and near the South Obenchain Fire to all forms of public access. In addition, the Medford District has temporarily closed all Bureau of Land Management-administered public lands south of Grants Pass, Interstate 5, and U.S. Route 199 to the border of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.  To view the closure order and map in its entirety:: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions or call 818-975-0419 for more information about the closure.

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Please remember that drone incursions into the temporary flight restricted area will inhibited air resources to working on the fire. 

September 13, 2020 – 9:00 PM
 Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

 The anticipated increase in winds over the fire area this afternoon has the fire becomng active on the eastern flank. Smoke is inhibiting the use of aircraft at this time. 

We have received numerous requests from people looking to make donations to help the families that have been displaced by the Almeda and Obenchain fires.  We are encouraging folks to visit the Accesshelp website which operates in the local community.  Accesshelp provides food, warmth, shelter, and other essential services to Jackson County’s low-income children, families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. As the Community Action Agency of Jackson County, Oregon, ACCESS has been helping residents break the cycle of poverty since 1976. Last year, 52,497 people received assistance from ACCESS’s broad continuum of services, including obtaining safe, affordable housing, rental assistance, utility assistance, weatherization, free loaned durable medical equipment and healthy food.
 
The local American Red Cross is requesting that in lieu of durable goods and food, please consider making monetary donations. 

South Obenchain Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

September 13, 2020 – 9:00 AM

The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information.

General Updates: A Red Flag Warning has been issued for all of Jackson County as a dry cold front moves over the burn area bringing gusty winds from the west to northwest. Smoke will begin to thin out today bringing warmer temperatures and increase in extreme fire activity. If smoke clears sufficiently this will allow for air operation support over the fire. Firefighters continue to be on a watch out situation while reinforcing containment lines on all sides of the fire.

Crews on the southwestern to northern flanks of the fire continue to reinforce dozer containment lines and mop-up.  Resources along the east and southeast flanks where able to complete a combination of dozer and handline and continue to reinforce the perimeter. Firefighters will continue to secure the line while remaining valiant and watching for spotting over the next several days. Aerial resources will be available for the incident when smoke thins.

Four task forces of structural engines, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal, are working along the Butte Falls Highway and the Shady Cove area triaging and providing point protection. Last night, tactical burnout operations were conducted to secure homes along the perimeter.

Acreage: 30,503

Containment: 20%

Cause: Under investigation

Fire Information: (541) 776-7338

E-mail:  SouthObenchainFire@gmail.com

Information Websites:

Facebook: South Obenchain Fire

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7185

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Evacuations: Evacuations orders are in place to protect the public and the fire fighters that are working to control the fire.  Please adhere to the evacuation level issued for your area. See the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office website for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below.

https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff

Jackson County Emergency Management Website link is below.

https://jacksoncountyor.org/emergency?fbclid=IwAR1vpAONtEj9BM1DAlB2jqXeDRAjVKRp1nfF54k0XyXU7QzUe2AfEIGzDig

Donations:  Firefighters on the South Obenchain Fire would like to thank the community for the generosity exhibited.  We ask that those interested in providing food, materials and supplies contact the local food banks or the Red Cross.  

Shelter Location: The evacuation shelter is located at Jackson County Expo Center, 1 Penninger Rd. in Central Point, where there is food, medical care, bathroom and showers. 

Weather:  Red Flag Warning has been issued for afternoon gusty winds with low relative humidity and higher temperatures. Temperatures will range from 76 to 81 degrees with relative humidity around 20-25 percent.  Winds will range from at 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 18 mph in the valleys and up to 25 mph on the ridges. 

Resources-623:  1-type 1 hand crew, 1-type 2 initial attack crew, 13-type 2 crews, 3- light helicopters, 5-medium helicopters, 4- heavy helicopters, 22-engines, 19-dozers, and 28-water tenders.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting the South Obenchain Fire, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire area.  Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.  An unmanned aircraft (UAS) was reported over the fire area.  If you fly, we can’t.  The entire air operation must be shut down until the air space is reported clear.

Closure: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that effective immediately, public lands in and near the South Obenchain Fire are closed to all forms of public access. This action is in response to large fires currently active in the area. The BLM is closing public lands in order to reduce conflicts with emergency crews and allow for fire suppression and burned area site recovery, as well as to ensure public safety, land health, and resource integrity.

To View Closure in its Entirety: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions or call 818-975-0419 for more information about the closure.

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South Obenchain Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Doug Johnson

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

September 12, 2020 – 9:00 PM

The life and safety of the public and all wildland fire responders is always the number one priority for all fire agencies.  To keep firefighters and communities healthy and safe, all firefighters are asked to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce the spread of illness.  This also includes limited entry into the incident command post and base camp.  Please see the websites below or contact the Jackson County Emergency Management Office at (541) 776-7338 for further fire information.

General Updates: Firefighters were able to complete much work today on the South Obenchain Fire. Crews on the southwestern to northern flanks of the fire continue to reinforce containment lines with dozers and heavy equipment.  Resources along the east and southeast flanks where able to complete a combination of dozer and handline around much of the perimeter. Improvements will be accomplished to secure the line over the next several days. Aerial resources where available for the incident but were unable to fly due to low visibility associated with the thick smoke in the area.

Tonight, firefighters will expand and strengthen existing lines on the east and southeast of the fire in preparation for predicted high winds over the next 24 hours.  Crews will secure, hold and mop-up existing control lines on the southwest to north perimeters of the fire.

Four task forces of structural engines, with the Oregon State Fire Marshal, are working along the Butte Falls Highway and also the Shady Cove area triaging and providing point protection.

Acreage: 29,432

Containment: 20%

Cause: Under investigation

Fire Information:  (541) 776-7338

E-mail:  SouthObenchainFire@gmail.com

Information Websites:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/southobenchainfire

Inciweb:  https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7185

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Evacuations: See the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office website for a full description of the evacuation levels. Link is below.

https://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff

Jackson County Emergency Management Website link is below.

https://jacksoncountyor.org/emergency?fbclid=IwAR1vpAONtEj9BM1DAlB2jqXeDRAjVKRp1nfF54k0XyXU7QzUe2AfEIGzDig  

Donations:  Please do not bring any donations to Scenic Middle School.  While we appreciate your generous support, those that have lost everything in our community are those truly in need. Please reach out to them and assist them where you can through the Red Cross or a local food bank.

Shelter Location: The evacuation shelter is located at Jackson County Expo Center, 1 Penninger Rd. in Central Point, where there is food, medical care, bathroom and showers. 

Weather:  Temperatures will range from 48 to 55 degrees with relative humidity around 60-70 percent.  Winds will be light at 5 to 8 mph.  Thick smoke will be persistent tonight.

Resources-623:  1-type 1 hand crew, 1-type 2 initial attack crew, 16-type 2 crews, 4-light helicopters, 5-medium helicopters, 3-heavy helicopters, 31-engines, 22-dozers, and 31-water tenders.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: For the safety of the firefighters and aircraft fighting the South Obenchain Fire, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire area.  Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.  An unmanned aircraft (UAS) was reported over the fire area.  If you fly, we can’t.  The entire air operation must be shut down until the air space is reported clear.

Closure: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that effective immediately, the public lands described below are closed to all forms of public access. This action is in response to large fires currently active in the area. The BLM is closing public lands in order to reduce conflicts with emergency crews and allow for fire suppression and burned area site recovery, as well as to ensure public safety, land health, and resource integrity.

Affected Area: All BLM-managed public lands, roads, sites, and trails in Jackson County south of Highway 62 and north of Highway 140 in Townships:

• T33S R01W,

• T33S R01E,

• T34S R01E,

• T34S R02E,

• T35S R01E,

• T35S R02E,

• T36S R01E,

• T36S R01E,

• and on either side of Highway 62 in Townships

• T34S R01W, and

• T35S R01W.

  DATES: This closure is effective immediately and will remain in effect until such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands.

   

  FURTHER INFORMATION: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions or 818-975-0419.

   

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