ARCHIE CREEK AND THIELSEN FIRES UPDATE

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ie Creek Archie Creek and Thielsen Fires Update

September 28, 2020

Unified Incident Commanders Mike Dueitt and Tim Keith

Hours: 8 am-8 pm

Special Notes: Umpqua National Forest announced the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) has been reduced to I with a MODERATE fire danger rating. There are no time restrictions under an IFPL I; however, industrial operators must still have fire tools and a water supply at each operation site. A fire-watch is also required at the end of the operation period. More info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7176/57088/

 The Umpqua National Forest has also reopened many of their public lands to recreational users. Cottage Grove and Tiller Ranger Districts are open to the public in addition to large portions of North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Districts. Both reserved and first-come, first-served campsites are available in open areas. Due to active fire and fire suppression activities, sections of the North Umpqua and Diamond Lake Districts will remain under a fire closure order. Umpqua Hot Springs, fire lookouts, cabins and group picnic sites will remain closed. See https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7176/57090/ for more information.

Archie Creek Fire: The Archie Creek Fire is east of Roseburg in the North Umpqua corridor on state, private and federal land. It has burned 131,542 acres and is 69 percent contained. There are currently 906 personnel assigned. Cause: under investigation. 

Personnel and Equipment: 21 Type 2 hand crews, 5 helicopters, 1 fixed wing air attack, 65 engines, 17 bulldozers, 21 water tenders, 3 masticators, and 5 skidgeons.

“The fire has not done much the last few days. Today could be a very different day,” said fire behavior analyst Greg Titus. Windier and drier weather and near record high temperatures through Thursday will cause unburned pockets of live and dead vegetation, needle cast and piled logs and stumps on the fire perimeter to burn and produce smoke. With gusty east winds, firefighters are keeping an eye out for increased fire behavior within the interior of the fire and will cool any threats to firelines. No fire growth is expected.

Today firefighters will continue to patrol, mop up, make sure firelines are cold, backhaul fire hose and other equipment and assess and continue suppression repair. Hand crews will construct remaining firelines directly at the fire’s edge, where necessary and accessible. Firefighters continue to protect homes and other buildings throughout the fire, including along Little River Road and they are assessing structure protection for the Bar L subdivision. Other areas protected are Wolf Creek Job Corps, Susan Creek Bridge and communications equipment on Scott Mt. Firefighters will also remove hazard trees along the Rock Creek Road corridor and other roads to make them safe for travel.

Chippers, excavators and dump trucks are on hand to do suppression repair as conditions allow. Suppression repair ensures actions taken to fight the fire do not have long-term impacts on natural resources. Examples of suppression repair work that has begun are installing water bars on firelines (especially on steep slopes) for proper drainage. On Umpqua National Forest and Bureau of Land Management-managed lands, crews are chipping brush along drainage ditches and hauling out trees felled to construct firelines. Suppression repair work is done in concert with agency resource advisors to meet resource protection standards. Fire suppression repair is for damage caused fighting the fire, not for damage from the fire itself.

Thielsen Fire: The Thielsen Fire is located five miles north of Crater Lake near Diamond Lake Resort. It has burned 9,971acres and is 69 percent contained. There are currently 385 personnel assigned. Cause: unknown.

Personnel and Equipment: 9 Type 2 hand crews, 2 helicopters, 13 engines, 6 bulldozers, 9 water tenders and 1 masticator.

Yesterday on the east side of the fire crews continued to construct handlines and mop up where possible. On the west side, crews continued to secure and mop up containment lines. Today, firefighters will pull remaining hose and begin suppression repair where it is safe and secure. Firefighters will improve potential containment contingency lines along Forest Service Road 60. 

Help for Fire Victims: Information on disaster aid and organizations helping victims of the Archie Creek Fire can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7176/57029/

 Evacuations, Shelter Areas: An interactive map of the current evacuation area can be found at www.dcso.com/evacuations.  For more evacuation information, visit the Douglas County Sheriff website www.dcso.com/evacuations and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCoSO

The Douglas County Fairgrounds has full RV spaces, electric hookup spaces and dry camping available. They also have stalls and arenas for livestock and farm animals. Contact Ciera Keith at (541) 440-4394.

Air quality: See the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality at http://www.oregon.gov/deq

Closures:

• Roads – Highway 138E is open, but delays should be expected. The route to Miller Lake via FS Road 9772 remains closed from the intersection with Hwy. 97 to the intersection with FS Road 110 due to firefighter traffic. Drivers are being directed to take FS Road 9774 to connect with FS Road 110 as an alternative route. See www.tripcheck.com for updates on highway closures.

• Bureau of Land Management – Lands east of Interstate 5, in the Swiftwater Resource Area are closed. The Bureau of Land Management will make an announcement later today about revised closures.

• Umpqua National Forest – sections of the North Umpqua (North Umpqua Ranger District ORDER NO. 06-15-01-20-425) and Diamond Lake Districts (Diamond Lake Ranger District ORDER NO. 06-15-01-20-424) remain under a fire closure order. Umpqua Hot Springs, fire lookouts, cabins and group picnic sites remain closed. See https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7176/57090/ More information on Forest Service closures are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices
  

The Umpqua National Forest is currently at Industrial Fire Precaution Level I. The fire danger is Moderate.

Temporary Flight Restriction: There are temporary flight restriction for aircraft, including drones, for the Archie Fire and the Thielsen Fire. Wildfires are a No Drone Zones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/

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