###

Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

Orleans Complex Incident Update

Size: 21,070

Percent Contained: 38%

Personnel: 1,880

CURRENT SITUATION:

YESTERDAY – Predicted thunderstorms did not materialize yesterday as predicted, and crews reinforced control lines throughout the fire area. In the northern area from Orleans Mountain to Pollack Gulch remained quiet as crews added more depth to current containment lines and added additional containment around Salmon River Road and Quail Ridge. In the southeastern area near Cecilville, crews continue to experience large amounts of debris in the roadways and are assessing methods to remove hazards in effort to ensure safe travel. Control line has been extended west of Knownothing Creek to the 10N07 Road along the highpoint ridge. Westward in the areas of Lunch Creek and Horn Creek, crews coordinated waterdrops to lower the fire intensity of interior fuels within the containment lines.

TODAY – Crews will remain on high alert for new starts and increased fire activity due to predicted dryer conditions and thunderstorms over the fire area today. Firefighters will be scouting containment options west of Lunch Creek while continuing suppression actions towards Nordheimer, the wilderness boundary, and previously burned Red Salmon Fire area. In the east, crews will continue to brush roads to open access on the 39 and 39N30 roads east of Cecilville Road near Godfrey Ranch.

Debris (falling rock and hazard trees) on road systems remains of heightened concern, creating hazards to emergency response personnel, visitors, and residents. Reopening Sawyer’s Bar and Salmon River Roads remains a top priority for incident managers, and crews will continue to focus their efforts to reopen those roads by conducting hazard tree and debris removal activities.

WEATHER – A slight warming trend begins today with temperatures climbing the daily maximum a few degrees each day, beginning at an expected 90-93 degrees today. Very low relative humidities in the teens will cause substantial drying and create a high probability of ignition of new starts. Similar winds are expected in the valleys, upslope 3-5 mph, up-valley 5-10 mph out of the northwest with potential gusting up to 18 mph. The predicted path of storms now covers the Butler Fire area, as well as the Etna base camp, beginning early in the afternoon. These predicted storms could bring lightning and erratic winds, causing fire behavior to increase.

EVACUATIONS: There are evacuation orders and warnings in the immediate vicinity of the fire. For current evacuation status, visit www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff and www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountyOES. Additional evacuation information and a map can be found on the Genasys site at https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14…

CLOSURES: An official forest closure around the Orleans Complex went into effect on July 16th. Hikers are not permitted and will be asked to leave the area. For details and a map of the closure area, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/…/SRF%2010-25-09%20KNF%2025-05.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Forest fire restrictions are currently in effect. Please visit the local forest pages for more information: Klamath National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/klamath/alerts and Six Rivers National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/sixrivers/alerts.

###