I.V. fire largest in the United States
From our weekly issue dated August 18, 2010
Helitac base has been established at the Illinois Valley Airport, located a few miles south of Cave Junction, on the morning of Monday, Aug. 16. (Photos by Scott Jorgensen, I.V. News)
More than 800 acres of forestland has burned as a result of the Oak Flat Fire, in rugged terrain approximately 10 miles northwest of Selma out Illinois River Road.
The blaze currently is the largest in the United States and is at zero percent containment.
Ray“s Food Place in Selma, and Illinois Valley Fire District Station 2 initially were used as staging sites for incoming fire rigs from various locales.
At least four heavy-lift helicopters are allocated to cool the fire“s edge and provide assistance to the hand crews as they construct containment lines, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said. Additional crews, aircraft, fire engines and other equipment were to be deployed beginning Sunday, Aug. 15.
The incident command post is at Lake Selmac. Aircraft and crews are using Illinois Valley Airport.
The fire is upstream of the confluence of Briggs Creek and Illinois River in the Wild Rivers Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, some 20 miles west of Grants Pass.
The blaze was reported Friday morning, Aug. 13, and its cause is under investigation, according to the USFS.
Efforts to combat the fire have been complicated by the area“s steep slopes and fuels comprised of heavy brush, timber and snags, USFS said. High temperatures increased fire behavior, with flame lengths of more than 200 feet Saturday afternoon, Aug. 14, noted USFS.
The Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) said that throughout the weekend, firebrands sparked spot fires up to a half-mile ahead of the main fire front. According to ODF, firefighters began working on Monday, Aug. 16 to establish direct and indirect fire lines; scout for additional containment opportunities; and improve access.
The public is urged to drive with extreme caution on Illinois River Road due to the many fire rigs using it. Public-use restrictions are in effect for fires outside designated USFS land. And to ensure emergency vehicle access, they prohibit any parking along the road.
For current information on fire danger on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou. For information on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry visit http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/FIELD/SWO/SWOfire.shtml.
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