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ROBIN LOZNAK/The News-Review
Forest Service firefighter Dustin Linker watcher from the back of a fire truck as a helicopter battles the Rattle Fire near the Boulder Flats campground along Highway 138 about 30 miles east of Glide on Saturday. The fire closed the highway on Friday.
The Rattle Fire leapt across Highway 138 East early today near the Soda Springs Reservoir, closing the highway between mileposts 50 and 59, from Dry Creek to Toketee.
The original closure was initially extended farther west to Milepost 44, but fire and transportation officials moved it back to allow access for the community of Dry Creek. No evacuation has been ordered.
Type I Hotshot crews are fighting the blaze near the highway and Dry Creek.
Brian Dennis, co-owner of the Dry Creek Store, said “it’s smoke city” in the community today and local residents are hoping plenty more firefighters arrive in the next 24 to 48 hours.
PacifiCorp shut down its power lines Friday evening, leaving Dry Creek without electricity.
The Oregon Department of Transportation expects Highway 138 East to be fully closed between mileposts 50 and 59 today, cutting off access along the highway to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake. A possible one-lane opening and escort by pilot car may occur Sunday.
Motorists should check ODOT’s Web site, www.tripcheck.com, for updates.
The Incident Management Team is beefing up the number of Hotshot crews on the ground today from two to five to fight the boundaries of the Rattle Fire, estimated now at 1,750 acres.
Fire officials expect more smoke and increased fire activity today, with highs expected to reach 95 degrees in the Rattle Fire’s area.
After smoldering and growing lazily throughout the week in the Boulder Creek Wilderness, the Rattle Fire ran south on a jag with Friday afternoon’s hot weather across Boulder Creek, up Pine Bench and over to race down the ridge toward the highway for a growth of more than 700 acres.
Alexis West, information officer with the Northwest Oregon Incident Management Team based at the Diamond Lake Ranger District office of the Umpqua National Forest, said a wind heading southeast could be seen from Diamond Lake on Friday, carrying embers down the ridge.
If conditions allow today, fire officials expect to start a “burnout” on the Rattle Fire’s southern border, so if it reaches that point it will meet already burnt fuel and stop.
The fire reportedly burned a complex of patches on the south side of the highway near the Soda Springs Reservoir, which crews are currently attacking.
With the fire camp organized in Glide for the North Fork Fire — now 100 percent contained — breaking down and reassembling into a smaller camp at the Diamond Lake District Friday, fire officials expect another large camp to rebuild in the next couple of days, possibly at the Toketee Airstrip, located about two miles south of Milepost 59.
An inversion of smoke currently hangs above the fire. Officials expect a better assessment of its conditions later today and tomorrow once helicopters are able to fly over and get a better look.
• You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@nrtoday.com.
The original closure was initially extended farther west to Milepost 44, but fire and transportation officials moved it back to allow access for the community of Dry Creek. No evacuation has been ordered.
Type I Hotshot crews are fighting the blaze near the highway and Dry Creek.
Brian Dennis, co-owner of the Dry Creek Store, said “it’s smoke city” in the community today and local residents are hoping plenty more firefighters arrive in the next 24 to 48 hours.
PacifiCorp shut down its power lines Friday evening, leaving Dry Creek without electricity.
The Oregon Department of Transportation expects Highway 138 East to be fully closed between mileposts 50 and 59 today, cutting off access along the highway to Diamond Lake and Crater Lake. A possible one-lane opening and escort by pilot car may occur Sunday.
Motorists should check ODOT’s Web site, www.tripcheck.com, for updates.
The Incident Management Team is beefing up the number of Hotshot crews on the ground today from two to five to fight the boundaries of the Rattle Fire, estimated now at 1,750 acres.
Fire officials expect more smoke and increased fire activity today, with highs expected to reach 95 degrees in the Rattle Fire’s area.
After smoldering and growing lazily throughout the week in the Boulder Creek Wilderness, the Rattle Fire ran south on a jag with Friday afternoon’s hot weather across Boulder Creek, up Pine Bench and over to race down the ridge toward the highway for a growth of more than 700 acres.
Alexis West, information officer with the Northwest Oregon Incident Management Team based at the Diamond Lake Ranger District office of the Umpqua National Forest, said a wind heading southeast could be seen from Diamond Lake on Friday, carrying embers down the ridge.
If conditions allow today, fire officials expect to start a “burnout” on the Rattle Fire’s southern border, so if it reaches that point it will meet already burnt fuel and stop.
The fire reportedly burned a complex of patches on the south side of the highway near the Soda Springs Reservoir, which crews are currently attacking.
With the fire camp organized in Glide for the North Fork Fire — now 100 percent contained — breaking down and reassembling into a smaller camp at the Diamond Lake District Friday, fire officials expect another large camp to rebuild in the next couple of days, possibly at the Toketee Airstrip, located about two miles south of Milepost 59.
An inversion of smoke currently hangs above the fire. Officials expect a better assessment of its conditions later today and tomorrow once helicopters are able to fly over and get a better look.
• You can reach reporter Adam Pearson at 957-4213 or by e-mail at apearson@nrtoday.com.
Fire update
The following information on the Rattle Fire near Dry Creek is provided by the Web site, www.inciweb.orgRattle Fire Update: Friday evening, September 5, 2008
Incident: Rattle Wildland Fire
Due to the alignment of a northeasterly wind event with recent hotter and drier weather for the last few days, the Rattle Fire made a dramatic run Friday. Down canyon winds pushed the smoldering fire into flames and long-range spotting which burned across Pine Bench. The winds driving the fire carried embers to the southeast across SR 138. Early Friday evening fire managers and Oregon Department of Transportation closed SR 138 due to flame proximity to the highway and snag and fire debris moving downslope.
Hotshots battled to control spot fires south of 138 until late in the night. Crews also worked direct to stop advance of the fire across SR 138 and provided structure protection of the PacifiCorp Transfer station. The three heavy helicopters flew sorties for five hours with turnarounds of less than a minute to try and halt the southeast advance until dusk. The fire continues to be active through the night at the time of this writing. (10 pm)
Due to the complexity of threatened powerline structures and rural communities in proximity to the fires growth. ORCA, a Type II Incident Management team will arrive on Saturday, 6 September at 1 pm and assume command of the Rattle Fire on Sunday, at 1 pm.
PacificCorp shut down their lines in the early evening, causing the community of Dry Creek to loose electricity. Forest and fire information officers will visit local communities on Saturday to answer questions about the fire spread.
Motorists are advised to check Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for conditions on SR 138. On Saturday, if possible, one lane traffic will be allowed with use of a pilot car. Motorists should be prepared for long delays, due to fire suppression vehicles and traffic. To reach ODOT call: 511 (toll free within Oregon);1-800-977-ODOT (6368) (toll free within Oregon); 1-503-588-2941 (outside Oregon). Select route by number and enter 138.
CURRENTLY CLOSED: SR 138 from milepost 44 (Apple Creek) - milepost 59 (Toketee Falls). Boulder Flat Campground, Eagle Rock Campground.
For more information, please call the new Fire Information line at ICP at Diamond Lake Ranger District: 541. 498. 2219. The Fire Information email is: RattleFire20082@gmail.com.
