20140920AM_SouthSyeensComplexUpdate.docx.docx

Fire Update

Monday, June 15, 2015, AMBuckskin Fire Cave Junction, OregonIncident Commander Doug JohnsonInformation Center 541-597-2223 - NEW FIRE INFORMATION CENTER NUMBER Inciweb: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4286/(NOTE: There are some difficulties with Inciweb currently)Email: Buckskinfire2015@gmail.com

A Public Meeting to provide information on the Buckskin Fire is planned for Tuesday evening in Cave Junction.More information with location and time to follow.A Fire Area Closure Order closing public access to forest lands surrounding the Buckskin Fire has been issued by the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest to provide for public health and safety.Please call the Buckskin Fire Information Center, log onto Inciweb, or see our Facebook Page for more information regarding this closure.Current Situation:The Buckskin Fire burned actively yesterday putting up a visible column of smoke to many local residents and visitors to the area.The 2,000-acre wildfire moved eastward across Baldface Creek towards the Curry and Josephine County Line, and northward into the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.Despite the increase in fire size, the Buckskin Fire remains within the proposed containment lines.Cooler temperatures and higher humidities are expected to slow fire growth and decrease fire behavior.

Firefighters made good progress in their efforts to contain several spot fires located southwest of the main fire.Additional firefighters and helicopters dropping water will continue today to extinguish these spot fires.

Dozers will continue improving Forest Road 112 (along the eastern flank) up to near Buckskin Peak. This will serve as a fire access road and containment line. Fire Crews will continue preparing fireline (cutting and removing brush) along Trail 1210.2 from Buckskin Peak towards the Kalmiopsis Wilderness in preparation for a potential burnout operation (removing unburned fuel between the main fire and the constructed fireline).Firefighters also will continue building indirect containment lines on ridge tops along the north and west flanks utilizing Trail 1233.

Dozers are also working along the southern area of the fire (Forest Road 494) to provide better access and to establish a containment line for a potential burnout operation.Fire Crews will continue prepping fireline (cutting and removing brush) along Trail 1215 from Biscuit Hill west towards McKee Cabin. Additional heavy equipment, including feller bunchers, excavators, and skidgines (a log skidder with a water tank) will be used to improve containment lines.

~~~More~~~The decision to use indirect containment lines provides for firefighter safety and minimizes exposure in an extremely hazardous environment.Steep terrain, limited access and an abundance of standing dead trees (snags) pose challenges to firefighters safety and tactics.

Natural resources at risk from the Buckskin Fire include: critical Coho Salmon habitat, Northern Spotted Owl habitat, Marbled Murrelet habitat and wilderness values.

The Incident Command Post is located at Lake Selmac County Campground and is closed to non-fire activity.The Heli-base is located at the Illinois Valley airport in Cave Junction.

The public is urged to drive cautiously on Highway 199 and nearby areas due to the increase of fire traffic.Forest visitors are encouraged to use caution when using public lands due to the current fire danger.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR):TFRs are in place over the Buckskin Fire.Please check the NOTAMs for current information.

Start Date- June 11, 2015Location- The wildfire is burning on the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest 10 miles southwest of Cave Junction in an area previously burned by the 2002 Biscuit Fire.Cause- LightningResources -Crews 10Dozers - 2Water Tenders - 6Helicopters 10Total Personnel - 408

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