Posted on 08/30/2002 9:54:51 AM PDT by Grampa Dave
New mapping drops Biscuit fire below half-million-acre mark
By JEFF BARNARD The Associated Press 8/30/02 12:32 PM
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) -- Based on closer mapping, the size of the massive Biscuit Fire dipped below the half-million-acre mark Friday as firefighters built the last bits of containment lines to securely encircle the blaze.
Burning since July 13 when lightning raked the Siskiyou National Forest, the Biscuit Fire stood at 499,780 acres, down from 500,068 acres, and remained 90 percent contained, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Miera Crawford. Full containment was projected for Wednesday.
The delay in full containment was caused by a problem area on the northwestern flank of the fire near Mislatnah Creek, a tributary of the Chetco River, where isolated winds pushed the fire over a primary bulldozer line, Crawford said.
Helicopters dropping water and firefighters digging new line stopped the spread, but work remained to secure the line.
Despite the dip in size, Biscuit remained the biggest wildfire in the nation for this year, as well as the most expensive. The firefighting bill moved up to $117.7 million.
Total personnel continued to decrease, hitting 3,100, less than half the number of people at the fire's peak. Some crews were sent off to rest or to other fires and those remaining largely worked on mop-up and rehabilitation.
The declining fire danger persuaded Siskiyou National Forest to open the Rogue River Trail to hikers, but the Bear Camp Road, the primary shuttle route for whitewater rafters on the wilderness section of the Rogue, remained closed.
Downstream from Agness, the Quosatana campground remained closed, but the boat ramp was to open Saturday.
Campfires were prohibited throughout the national forest.
Evacuation warnings remained in force for the Wilderness Retreat subdivision on the Chetco River east of Brookings and the upper Pistol River drainage.
In southeastern Oregon, the Visher Creek Fire was fully contained at 300 acres of sage brush 20 miles south of Juntura, and the Oliver Fire was 20 percent contained at 400 acres on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Two large fires on the Umpqua National Forest moved closer to containment:
-- The 68,686-acre Tiller Complex, 25 miles east of Canyonville, moved up to 85 percent contained.
-- The 11,000-acre Apple fire, 21 miles east of Glide, moved up to 70 percent contained.
Naah, the Card Carrying Green Enviros who sit on their Keysters and play Florist Circus Klowns, would never do that.
This is interesting to how the smoke from the Tiller and Apple fires going a little south and mainly east. While the smoke from the Biscuit fire is head a little west and south. We had smoke in the Kali upper/North wine country yesterday afternoon. It never got here until later at night with the coastal winds and after dark you could smell smoke.
Friday, August 30, 2002 0930 EDT
Nationally, 235 new fires were reported. Two new large fires (a fire greater than 500 acres in size) were reported, one in Oregon and one in Utah. Three large fires were contained*. Very high to extreme fire danger was reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
* Containment indicates a non-burnable trail was constructed around the entire perimeter of the fire.
Fireline Headlines
Yesterday, approximately 13,902 people were supporting firefighting efforts on 19 wildland fires exceeding 500 acres in size. Currently there are five fires listed on this report that are being managed for resource benefits by fire use teams. According the latest US Drought Monitor, monsoon rainfall across Arizona and New Mexico has been scattered and light, and has resulted in no net change in existing drought conditions. This is resulting in large late season wildfires throughout the southwest.
This report is based on the daily Incident Management Situation Report released at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise Idaho. All wildland fires in forested areas greater than 100 acres and in grassland areas greater than 300 acres are reported in the NIFC Situation Report. For the ease of our readers, this Morning Report only includes wildland fires greater than 500 acres. These are generally the fires that threaten homes, businesses, public and private property, and areas of special interest to our readers.
Fire Activity |
Yesterday |
Year to Date |
2000 yr to Date |
10 yr Average to Date |
Number of Fires |
235 |
62,090 |
------ |
63,443 |
Acres Burned |
9,012 |
6,302,166 |
6,359,395 |
3,121,150 |
All figures from NIFC websites www.nifc.gov/ and www.cidi.org/wildfire/
Crews (20 persons) |
Engines (5 persons) |
Helicopters (7 persons) |
Airtankers (2 persons) |
Overhead |
Total Personnel |
335 |
548 |
128 |
30 |
3,536 |
13,902 |
Regional Large Fires (500 acres or greater) are summarized below; for more detailed information on any specific fire, visit: http://www.nifc.gov
Northwest Area Oregon, Washington http://www.or.blm.gov/nwcc
Oregon: The Biscuit Fire is located 26 miles southwest of Grants Pass in the Siskiyou and Six Rivers National Forests. Fireline rehabilitation and mop-up are underway on the east and south perimeters. Moderate fire behavior was observed along the west and northwest flanks. The fire made a run made in the Mislantah Creek drainage on the west perimeter producing numerous spot fires. Dozers constructed fireline in that area. Firefighters are experiencing moderate fire behavior in heavy timber from the Apple Fire, 21 miles east of Glide. Structure protection remains in place for twenty residences. The Tiller Complex Fire, 25 miles east of Canyonville, consists of eight large and numerous small fires. The complex is seeing some moderate fire behavior in grass, brush, and timber. Aerial ignition to burn out interior islands is continuing. Structure protection is in place for sixty-seven homes. The Oliver Fire, a new fire in the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, has been contained.
Washington: The Quartz Mt. Complex Fire, northwest of Winthrop, is burning within the Pasayten Wilderness and is being managed for resource benefits in a monitor status. Active fire behavior was observed in lodgepole pine and subalpine fir. Three administrative sites are being protected.
Incident Name |
State |
*Lead Agency |
Size (acres) |
Percent Contained |
Estimate of Containment |
Personnel |
Structures Lost |
Biscuit |
OR |
FS |
499,780 |
90 |
8/31 |
3,144 |
13 |
Tiller Complex |
OR |
FS |
68,686 |
85 |
9/2 |
1,481 |
0 |
Apple |
OR |
FS |
11,000 |
70 |
9/5 |
1,114 |
0 |
Quartz Mt. Complex |
WA |
FS |
1,160 |
0 |
Unknown |
28 |
0 |
Oliver |
OR |
FWS |
862 |
100 |
--- |
0 |
0 |
Southwest Area Arizona and New Mexico http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/fire:
Arizona: The Trick Fire, 17 miles southwest of Williams, had moderate fire behavior in ponderosa pine and brush. The fire has burned into the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area. Crews are constructing indirect line in preparation for a burnout operation. Steep, inaccessible terrain and limited water resources are slowing containment efforts. The Pack Rat Fire Complex, eight miles east of Pine, is composed of the Pack Rat and 5 Mile fires. The fire received precipitation yesterday, and fire activity has moderated in ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, and chaparral. This allowed crews to make good progress in constructing fireline
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