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The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF) has issued an updated closure order for the Anvil Fire (06-10-28-23-63). Visit https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts for Flat and Anvil Fire closure information.

Anvil Fire Activity

Size: 451 acres               Start Date:  August 25, 2023      Point of origin: 8 miles east of Port Orford, OR                           

Containment: 0%           Total personnel: 283

Resources: 8 crews, 3 helicopters, 4 engines, 5 water tenders, 4 pieces of heavy equipment

Helicopters dropped 149,450 gallons of water on the fire yesterday. Wildland Fire Module (WFM) crew members are helping direct helicopter bucket drops and collecting weather and fuels data. The WFMs are also scouting for alternate lines on the north and south sides of the wilderness boundary. On the north, a location for containment line has been identified that will start slightly southeast of China Peak and extend northwest onto tribal and BLM land. Crews began tracking a dozer into that area today. The Coos Forest Protective Association will construct this fireline where it goes across private, tribal, and BLM land. Crews are still working along with the masticator operator along Grassy Knob Road to the forest boundary to finish clearing vegetation along the road for use as a control line if needed. Interagency Hotshot Crews, dozer and excavator operators worked on the north piece of the Grassy Knob Road to Elk River Road fireline. Fire managers expect completion on this line to take several days. Firefighters continue to improve the lines around the fish hatchery. Structure protection crews are beginning to install sprinkler systems with hoses and pumps at residences along Elk River Road. Fire managers are ordering additional firefighting resources. The fire currently remains north of Red Cedar Creek, east of Anvil Creek, and south of a Dry Creek tributary.

Flat Fire Activity

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

Containment: 75%           Total personnel: 284

Resources: 5 crews, 3 helicopters, 12 engines, 7 water tenders, 6 pieces of heavy equipment

Suppression repair work continues, including pulling in dozer line berms, seeding, mulching, installing water bars, and chipping branches and small trees that were cut and stacked during active suppression efforts. Heat signatures continue to show up on infrared flights and crews are addressing any that are near containment lines. Firefighters are watching interior pockets that continue to burn, especially those near the eastern, uncontained side.

Weather: A weak cold front moved into the area overnight, bringing cooler air, higher humidity, and some drizzles in the morning, which should moderate fire behavior. A weather shift is expected to bring increased winds starting mid-week.

Smoke: Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ for current smoke and air quality updates.

Closures: U.S. Highway 199 was closed overnight due to a rockslide 3 miles south of Patrick Creek but is scheduled to be reopened this morning at 10:00. There is still a pilot car system operating, expect 20-40 minute delays. Local law enforcement cautions against any non-essential traffic along this route. Navigation apps and mapping programs have been routing travelers into active fire areas. 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.

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.