Single Publication

August 16, 2023
Flat Fire Morning Update

Start Date: July 15, 2023 Total personnel : 536
Size: 33,895 acres Containment: 58%

Resources: 22 engines l 9 crews l 3 bulldozers l 20 water tenders l 9 masticators l 4 helicopters

Current Situation: With the increased temperatures and dry conditions, firefighters continue to utilize aviation resources to monitor the scattered hot spots. Fire activity is limited to small, isolated pockets inside the fire perimeter. Fire behavior for today is expected to remain the same with scattered areas of smoldering and creeping and occasional flare-ups with single tree torching. Crews continue to be vigilant with frequent localized weather observations and careful monitoring of ridge tops, drainages, unburned islands, and isolated heat sources. Warmer morning temperatures have created an increase of smoke in some areas. Some drift smoke may also appear from other wildfires across the region. Resources assigned to the Flat Fire continue to assist with initial attack in the area as well.

Today’s activities: All resources are in place, patrolling contained fire lines, monitoring for fire behavior changes, and utilizing both heavy equipment and hand crews for contingency work. Some resources will continue to be available for initial attack as well as assisting with the O’Brien Creek Fire and new starts to the south in Six Rivers National Forest. Air resources will continue to monitor the fire and will also remain available to support initial attack efforts if needed. The Southwest Team 3 will begin to arrive today and tomorrow, anticipating a transfer of command on Friday morning. The objectives for suppressing this fire remain the same and firefighters will continue working towards full containment of the Flat Fire.

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for temperatures a few degrees warmer than yesterday and slightly drier. An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect for portions of the Flat Fire through Thursday but a cooling trend is shaping up for the area starting on Friday and continuing through the weekend.
Smoke: The Smoke Outlook is available at: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/b74901f7?
Closures: Closure orders for the fire area can be found at: https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts

Evacuations: Level 1 “Get Ready” evacuation status in place for areas in the vicinity of the Flat Fire. Link to more
information: https://tinyurl.com/currycountyem

Restrictions: Fire danger is currently extreme; the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest will be moving into Stage 3 Public Use Restrictions (PURs) and IFPL Level 3 starting at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Stage 3 PURs do not allow campfires anywhere on the forest, including developed recreation sites. IFPL Level 3 is a partial shutdown allowing the use of mechanized equipment only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. The Bureau of Land Management Medford District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District have also increased campfire restrictions on those lands located within the boundaries of the Wild section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River. The Wild section flows from Grave Creek to the mouth of Watson Creek. More information here: https://bit.ly/RRSNFAlerts

Please follow all fire restrictions to prevent wildfires. Know before you go. Check on whether there are any campfire restrictions at your recreation destination.

Fire Information:(541)216-4579
Facebook: facebook.com/flatfireoregon2023
Media inquiries: (541)237-6369
Twitter: twitter.com/FlatFireOR2023
Email: 2023.flat.or@firenet.gov
Inciweb: bit.ly/FlatFireOR