Klamath National Forest

Newsroom - Siskiyou Complex, Ukonom Complex, and Blue 2 Fire Update

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Contact Information:

Siskiyou, Ukonom Complex Information: (530) 627-3532 www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath
Blue 2 Information: (707) 457-3974 www.fs.fed.us/r5/sixrivers
Incident Command Post is located in Orleans, CA – E-mail: ukonom.incident@gmail.com

For immediate release.

Orleans, CA (August 5, 2008)

Overall Strategy: Containment by direct line or indirect burnouts and contingency lines are designed to create a perimeter around the multiple fires in this area: Blue 2, Siskiyou, Ukonom, and Panther. Structures, infrastructure, and other areas of concern are being protected within this perimeter. Fire growth within this box may continue throughout the summer. The teams managing these fires are working in close coordination with tribal representatives and the Klamath and Six Rivers National Forests in the effort to achieve this strategy. Air operations have been hampered by smoke in the last few days. A red flag warning has been issued for possible dry lightning beginning after midnight on Tuesday, followed by thunder storm activity.

Siskiyou Complex 57,890 acres 62% contained

Yesterday firefighters continued to control and hold firelines to the west along Lonesome Ridge on the southwest corner of the fire. This line will eventually connect with indirect line from the Blue 2 Fire. These fires will merge and be managed together. Patrol, mop-up, chipping brush along roadsides, and monitoring continue on the eastern perimeter of the fire. Observed fire behavior was creeping, backing and isolated single tree torching. Steep, inaccessible terrain and rolling material are hampering containment efforts. Firefighters continue to hold line and strengthen and widen a contingency line on the southwest portion of the fire.

Blue 2 6,955 acres 62% contained

Fire crews continue to hold and widen firelines on the northeast portion of the fire. Due to important Native American cultural areas, strategies continue to be developed to lessen the impacts of fire suppression actions. Crews are monitoring fire progression in the Crescent Creek Fork drainage. On the eastern perimeter, crews are holding line on the northwest corner to Chimney Rock. Firefighters are working closely with their counterparts on the Siskiyou Fire to coordinate indirect fireline construction.

Ukonom Complex 42,785 acres 70% contained

Last night firefighters took advantage of favorable weather conditions to burn out areas they had carefully prepared in the Forks of Salmon area. The fire backed slowly down from mid-ridgeline in a low intensity burn, clearing underbrush and ground fuels to strengthen the indirect containment line. This operation will continue today. The Ukonom Fire is expected to back downhill toward the Salmon River and into the Marble Mountain Wilderness. Crews have completed line construction to the north to tie in with the Panther Fire, and will begin burnout activity to strengthen the containment line. Fire managers are closely coordinating operations with the Panther Fire managers. Firefighters are engaged in mop-up operations on the southwest side of the fire, removing and chipping brush along roadways.

Fire Activity Table

*Acreage changes are based on the previous morning's information.

** Decrease due to better mapping.

• Community Meetings:  Fire officials have scheduled community meetings to provide current fire information to the public.  Upcoming meetings will be held in Forks of Salmon today, August 5, at 4:30 PM at the Community Center, and in Somes Bar on Thursday, August 7 at 6:30 PM at Junction School.  A community meeting will be held tonight at the Clean Air Facility in Hoopa at 7:00 PM, which fire officials will attend.

• Health Advisories: Area residents and visitors should be aware of very smoky conditions. Visit www.ncuaqmd.org for the latest information for your community.

• Safety Message:  Help keep our firefighters and the public safe. Please drive carefully! Fire fighting equipment and periods of heavy smoke may be present at times on Highways 96 and 93 and on other roads in the fire areas.

• Closures:  To protect public safety and facilitate fire suppression efforts, the following closures are in effect:
• Siskiyou Complex area:  Dillon Creek Campground, the GO Road north of Road 11N11, Dillon Creek Trails, and Roads 14N69, 13N35, 14N19, 14N38, 13N38, 11N11, 12N12, 15N38.  Rafting access to the Klamath River in the fire area is restricted.

• Ukonom Complex area:  Salmon River Road (Siskiyou Co.) near Forks of Salmon Dillon Creek, Oak Bottom & Nordheimer Flat Campgrounds, Medicine Mountain Trail (5820), Wooley Creek Trail (5820), Portuguese Peak Trail (5833), Bridge Creek Trail (5816), & all trails within the Ukonom RD Marble Mountain Wilderness, Norcross and Johnson Hunting Ground Trailheads.  Although Salmon River Road near Somes Bar to the Forks of the Salmon is closed to the general public, local residents only are allowed to travel this road with restrictions.

• Blue 2 Fire area:  Roads: Forest Road 14N01 (Red Mountain Road) from Red Mountain Lookout NE to Intersection with Road 15N01 (GO Road).  Road 15N01 from intersection of Road 14N01 east to its termination point.  Forest Road 14N01 from intersection with Road 15N13, continuing NE to intersection with Road 15N01. Road 15N01, from intersection with Road 15N39, continuing south to its termination point. Road 15N39, from intersection with Road 15N01, continuing E to its termination point. Trails:  Summit Valley Trail-3E07; South Kelsey Trail-4E06; Gunbarrel Trail-3E01; Boundary Trail-4E50.

USDA Forest Service - Klamath National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 06 August 2008 at 08:37:02 EDT