Klamath Falls Interagency Fire Center

Skunk Fire Contained - Resources Released to other Fires.

Klamath Falls- August 1, 2002
Contact: Bernie Pineda, IIO (541) 783-3532

Skunk Fire:

Location: 7 miles north of the community of Sprague River and 18 miles east of Chiloquin, mostly on national forest lands.
Started: 7/24/02 by lightning
Total acres: approx 2,544
Percent contained: 100%
Containment date: 7/31/02
Number of personnel involved in incident: 357

This fire is 100% contained as of 6 p.m. on 7/31. Good mop-up progress was made again yesterday. Extensive mop up and rehabilitation of some areas damaged by suppression efforts will continue. A voluntary road closure remains in effect for Forest Road #44 remains from the Lone Pine/Sprague River junction to the 4400350 junction.

Fire crews have completed the 600-foot safety zone around the fire and prepared to turn over the fire to the Chiloquin Ranger District on Friday morning. Today efforts will center on continued mop-up and burned area rehabilitation in the 2,544 acre burned area. Members of the Northwest Oregon Interagency Incident Management Team [Type 2] will be returning home for a well-deserved weekend's rest. The team has been on assignment since early June, moving between fires throughout the west.

The lightning-caused Skunk fire has been burning in Ponderosa Pine and bitter brush since July 24th. More than 500 fire fighters brought in from throughout the nation battled to protect threatened residences in the Klamath Forest Estates, and area forest and cultural resources. Fire fighters were able to contain the fire through a combination of aggressive fire fighting tactics and favorable weather conditions. "It's a great example of local, state and federal resources coming together to get the job done safely", said Dale Gardner, Incident Commander.

Efforts from this point forward will center on extinguishing remaining hotspots and beginning the task of rehabilitating dozer and hand lines, and installing water bars for erosion control. Information about burned area rehabilitation will be available through the Chiloquin Ranger District office, (541) 783-4001.

The Type 3 team assigned to the Chiloquin Ranger District will include the following resources: 5 engines, 2 line crews, 1 dozer and 1 water tender. Fire Information will be available by contacting Mindy Sherrieb, Oregon Dept. of Forestry at (541) 883-5681.

There are airspace restrictions over the Toolbox and Winter Fires due to the large number of firefighting aircraft in the area. Airspace restrictions over the Skunk Fire have been lifted although 2 aircraft are still operating in the area today. Pilots are advised to exercise extreme caution due to the presence of 170 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters operating in and around major fires in the region. Pilots should avoid areas where there is smoke and the terrain is charred. For more information, including maps, on wildland fire related flight restrictions, visit the Interagency Airspace Coordination website.

Residents in fire prone areas, such as the Klamath and Lake counties, are advised to prepare for a long fire season, to clearly mark roads and driveways for emergency access, and to remove hazardous fuels establishing a survivable space around their homes.