Orleans Complex Moves to Local Management as Fires Near Full Containment

Helicopter over the Orleans Complex [Image from InciWeb]

This is the final update that will be provided by California Interagency Incident Management Team 4. The team will transfer command of the Orleans Complex to the local Klamath type 3 team today at 6 p.m.

Big Cliff Fire (Klamath National Forest, three miles southeast of Idlewild Campground; 906 acres; 26% Contained) Working through increasing temperatures and occasional wind gusts up to 20 mph, fire crews were able to keep the Big Cliff Fire within established control lines yesterday. Deeper in from the perimeter, the fire slowly crept through areas of unconsumed fuels, generating minimal smoke and connecting with other pockets of vegetation near the Creole Belle Gulch and Blake’s Fork areas as it was planned to do. The fuel in those areas is not expected to provide enough energy for the fire to make big runs. Crews today will focus on building and strengthening control lines around all sides of the fire, especially around the eastern flank toward South Russian Creek. Air resources are available to assist ground crews with suppression support, reconnaissance, and potential medical emergencies.

 

Butler Fire (Six Rivers National Forest, ten miles east of Orleans, CA; 21,058 acres, 96% contained) Crews remaining on the Butler Fire are focused on suppression repair and are performing patrol and mop-up activities. Equipment and structure protection materials have been removed, and resources are being demobilized to their home units or reassigned to other incidents. The fire is not expected to spread. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has commenced initial assessments of the fire. Once completed, the public report will be available at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov.

 

WEATHER: Gusting afternoon winds, high temperatures, and poor overnight humidity recoveries are forecasted through the weekend, returning to more normal temperatures and wind patterns early next week. High temperatures and lower humidity will create drier fuels.

 

EVACUATIONS: For current evacuation status or maps, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff, www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES, or https://protect.genasys.com.

 

CLOSURES: For official map and official Forest closure information around the Big Cliff Fire, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts/big-cliff-fire-closure.

 

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Forest fire restrictions are currently in effect. Please visit the local forest pages for more information. Klamath National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts; Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/alerts.