Wildfire Update: Watson Creek Fire 9/6/18
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Watson Creek Fire - August 19, 2018. (Jack Thornton, Geltech Solutions / Inciweb)
Fire crews continue to mop-up and perform suppression repair along the fire boundary and within the interior.
The Level 1 – Be Ready – evacuation status for Lakeview Estates will be lifted at noon today. Fire managers ask that only residents and property owners use the roads, as there is significant traffic from fire crews, heavy equipment, ranchers and logging trucks.
Near critical fire weather yesterday, which included gusty winds, caused some tree torching and burning of interior pockets of previously unburned fuels near the 3315 Road. Fire lines were tested on the Eastern flank, and thanks to a bucket drop from the Type 1 helicopter they all held.
All road and area closures remain in effect through September 17. South Central Oregon Interagency Fire Incident Management Team 3 is carefully weighing if the some areas could be opened sooner, but must consider safety of the public first. Many snags are still being removed, and roads cleared and repaired.
A dry cold front is expected to bring more gusty winds Friday, followed by cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Fire crews are patrolling constantly to ensure the fire remains well within its established boundaries.
Prescribed burns and other fuels treatments in strategic locations were key to suppressing the Watson Creek Fire, forest officials said.
Prescribed fires are carried out in safe conditions – usually when the ground is wet in late fall or early spring – to improve habitat and reduce the threat of wildfire starts, intensity, and/or the rate of wildfire spread. Extensive planning is involved and it can sometimes take years to achieve the right conditions for implementation.
Visit https://www.scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml for the most current fire restrictions and other information.
Klamath Falls News coverage of the 2018 Wildfire Season is brought to you by Excel Auto Body.
We at Excel Auto Body appreciate the brave men and women wildland firefighters that put themselves in harms way to protect our greatest treasures. Thank you for all that you.
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