North Pelican Fire Update, August 18, 2017

North Pelican Fire Update 

A community meeting will be held tomorrow at the Rocky Point Fire Station at 10am.

The lightning-caused North Pelican Fire was last mapped yesterday afternoon at 109 acres. Fire officials are flying the fire this morning to get an updated acreage and perimeter, which is expected to be over 350 acres. The fire continues to burn in a remote area on Pelican Butte.

The Incident Commander, Leland Hunter, informed engine crews at briefing this morning that “Safe and aggressive actions will be taken where values are at risk.” The fire remains over a mile from the nearest values at risk. Firefighters continue to evaluate and are prepping Forest Service roads to the east and north of the fire along the base of Pelican Butte to use as potential containment lines.

Due to the rocky terrain and remote location no firefighters have been deployed on the active edge of the fire. Fire officials deemed the area too unsafe to insert helicopter repel crews or smokejumpers. Yesterday, numerous aerial resources dropped water along the eastern and northern perimeter of the fire. Fire officials are planning to use retardant dropping aircraft today to slow the fires growth to the east.

North winds continue pushing smoke into the Klamath Basin, especially around Agency Lake. The unusual winds from the north are expected to continue through Sunday. Air quality advisories for the Klamath area are available at klamathair.org.

No closures are currently in place, however forest users are encouraged to avoid Pelican Butte for eclipse viewing on Monday. A closure of that road is being considered to reduce possible conflicts with responders. Motorists are asked to drive with headlights on and use caution around firefighters and equipment.

South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership is an interagency fire management program that provides comprehensive wildland fire service to south central Oregon and northwest Nevada. The partnership strives to achieve a more efficient, effective and integrated interagency fire management program for all participating agencies on the land administered and protected by each agency.

Participating agencies include: Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District BLM (Bureau of Land Management), Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Crater Lake National Park and Klamath-Lake District ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry).

For more information, contact Fire Information Officer, Celeste Prescott with the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership at 907-244-9376 or scofmp.fire.info@gmail.com. 

###