Natchez

Natchez, Rogue River-Siskiyou NF. Fifteen miles southeast of Cave Junction, OR. Timber, brush and hardwood litter. Minimal fire behavior. Road, area and trail closures in effect. Precipitation occurred over the fire area yesterday.

September 23, 2018 at 9:39 AM

On September 17 at 0600, management of the Natchez Fire was assumed by a local Klamath National Forest Type 3 Incident Management Team. Ed Willy is the Incident Commander.

Weather: A warming and drying trend is forcast for today through Friday, with temperatures moderating through Sunday.

Today through Sunday’s Activities: Firefighters will continue to monitor for and extinguish hot spots within firelines and continue with repair and rehab on controlled fire boundaries.

Smoke: Air quality and health information are available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com. Information from a temporary air quality monitor located in Happy Camp can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/2o2Z4xf.

Closure Orders: Two Closure Orders remain in effect for the national forest roads, trails and lands near the Natchez Fire area. Both Closures can be found on Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5948/

The B-Zone deer hunting season opened on Saturday 9/15/18 and continues until Sunday 10/21/18. Forest visitors need to exercise caution near the fire closure area since heavy equipment and firefighting vehicles are utilizing area roads. Visitors can contact the ranger station nearest their destination for current information. For a high resolution closure map, please use the following link: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closure/5948.

August 26, 2018 at 10:15 AM

The upper level low pressure remains in place. Air quality is forecast to improve. The fire will continue to ventilate and flames may increase beyond the smoldering-creeping fire behavior exhibited earlier in the week. With the recent cold front passage, temperatures will be noticeably cooler. Afternoon temperatures will be in the mid-80s. The air mass overhead remains dry. Forecasted relative humidity will range from the 30s to the 20s as the day progresses. North-northwest winds should peak this afternoon with gusts to 16 to 20 mph. The 6- to 10-day weather outlook calls for even cooler temperatures and increased moisture; however, rainfall is not yet in the forecast.

Firefighters continue mopping up containment line hot spots, removing snags near control lines, chipping brush piles, back-hauling equipment and patrolling for smokes from Mud Lake north around the northern tip of the fire perimeter and then south to the foot of Baldy Mountain. Structure protection resources are finalizing the home and infrastructure assessment plan in the communities of Takilma and Sunstar. The contingency group continues working along Forest Road 4803, chipping brush piles and grading roads. With the smoke clearing more aircraft will be dropping water over the active fire south of Lookout Mountain and in the Twin Valley and Copper Creek drainages to slow the fire’s advance. Presently, there are 10 to 13 miles of uncontained fire perimeter on the southwest portion of the fire.

Smoke: Smoke today should only be from the Natchez Fire or Klondike Fire to the north. Less smoke is anticipated from other northwestern fires. The low pressure overhead will reduce smoke in the immediate area of the Natchez Fire due to improved ventilation. Ground level smoke should be less of an air quality issue than in previous days. Air quality and health information are available at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com. Information from a temporary air quality monitor now located in Happy Camp can be accessed by using the link or the QR code found at the end of this update.

Evacuations: There have been no recent changes in evacuations or closures. The community of Sunstar remains in a Level 1 evacuation “Ready” status. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has an Evacuation Order affecting six structures southeast of the Natchez Fire. The law enforcement order can be obtained directly from the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/.

July 30, 2018 at 10:12 PM

The community of Sunstar has been placed in a Level 1 evacuation “Ready” status. Del Norte County, CA, including the community of Sunstar, has adopted the Oregon three level evacuation process.

Fire area closures are in place on the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath National Forests. Forest Road 48, known locally as the Grayback Road, between Happy Camp and Cave Junction, remains open at this time.

The air-mass over the fire area is very gradually cooling, however it will remain drier than normal for this time of year. Thus min and max RH values will only see subtle changes each day. Winds remain light and terrain driven.

July 28, 2018 at 8:56 PM

The 3,777 acre Natchez fire was started by lightning on July 15, 2018. Management of the fire was transferred to Pacific Northwest Team 3, a Type 1 Incident Management Team, on July 23, 2018. The 753 personnel assigned to the incident are working to implement suppression actions that will most effectively and safely limit fire growth. Critical fire weather conditions continue today.

Fire area closures are in place on the Rogue River-Siskiyou and Klamath National Forests.

July 26, 2018 at 8:04 AM

A trend towards a very dry air mass continues Thursday afternoon with continued very hot afternoon temperatures. Minimum relative humidity (RH) values approaching single digits will be possible for valleys with mid-teens for mid-slopes and higher terrain. West-northwest breezes will increase Thursday afternoon with gusts up to 18 mph.

Planned Actions: Hold and patrol burnout along NE flank, construct hand and dozer line on east flank to connect road system. Patrol and hold 060 spur road, scout line to connect 060 spur to dozer line in Div L. Continue fire suppression efforts on spot fires if feasible and scout other indirect line opportunities.

On July 23, 2018, management of both the Klondike and Natchez Fires was transferred to Pacific Northwest Team 3. Fire managers are continuing to utilize available resources to suppress both the Natchez and Klondike fires while minimizing risk to the public and firefighters.

The Natchez fire has no evacuation warnings or orders. There are no closures in place for the Natchez Fire.