Single Publication

Anvil Fire Activity

Size: 348 acres               Start Date:  August 25, 2023      Point of origin: 8 miles east of Port Orford, OR                           

Containment: 0%           Total personnel: 248

Resources: 5 crews, 3 helicopters, 4 engines, 4 water tenders, 4 pieces of heavy equipment

Eight helicopters worked the Anvil Fire yesterday, dropping 196,955 gallons of water. While fire behavior increased due to lower humidity levels, the efforts from the aircraft are currently helping keep the fire north of Red Cedar Creek, east of Anvil Creek, and south of a Dry Creek tributary. These actions help slow fire spread and buy firefighters time to build control lines further away that will have a higher probability of success if the fire grows. Terrain along the active edge of the fire is exceptionally steep, dangerous and unsafe for crews to fight the fire directly. Wildland Fire Modules are assessing weather and fuel conditions around the fire. They determined fuel moisture levels in the drainage bottoms are higher than on the ridgelines, which may also be helping to slow fire spread.

Several Interagency Hotshot Crews are working, along with masticator operators, to clear vegetation 30 feet off each side of Grassy Knob Road so it can be used as a control line if needed. Approximately one mile west of the fire, dozer operators and the Hotshot crews are constructing fireline from Grassy Knob Road south towards the fish hatchery on Elk River Road. This line will tie in with the handline dug behind the hatchery. Two structure protection groups are working at residences along Elk River Road and Sixes River Road.

Flat Fire Activity

Size: 34,242 acres             Start Date:  July 15, 2023                Point of origin: 2 miles southeast of Agness, OR

Containment: 70%           Total personnel: 304

Resources: 5 crews, 3 helicopters, 10 engines, 7 water tenders, 9 pieces of heavy equipment

Pockets of vegetation continue to burn out in the interior of the Flat Fire. Firefighters are watching the firelines and cooling hot spots as they are identified. Seeding and mulching continued yesterday to prevent erosion and water bar installation where necessary. Initial Attack crews are working on both fires but remain on standby for initial attack on new fires if needed.

Weather: Warmer and drier weather will continue through the weekend. Low relative humidity levels have been around 40% in the last few days. A weak cold front moving through the area beginning Sunday could help with humidity recoveries. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for current smoke and air quality updates.

Closures: U.S. Highway 199 has been reopened to all traffic using a pilot car system north of Gasquet to the Oregon border in California. Local law enforcement cautions against any non-essential traffic along this route. Expect 20-40 minute delays. Navigation apps and mapping programs may not have updated and accurate information. Check www.tripcheck.com in Oregon and www.quickmap.dot.ca.go in California for current closures and detours. Do not use forest roads for alternate routes. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has issued closure orders in the areas of the Flat and Anvil fires. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts

Evacuations: Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation status is in place for areas near the Flat Fire. Level 2 “Get Set“ evacuation status is in place along the Elk River from about milepost four to the USFS Butler Bar Campground near the Anvil Fire. Sign up for Curry Co. emergency alerts at https://bit.ly/CurryCoEM.

Restrictions: The RRSNF decreased fire danger from Extreme to High and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level from Level 3 to Level 2, effective Sept. 5, 2023. Public Use Restrictions (PUR) remain at Stage 3 across the forest and on the Wild Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River. Visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts for more information. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire areas. Please do not fly unmanned aircraft (drones) in the fire vicinity. If you fly, we can't.