Firefighters are taking advantage of cooler temperatures, higher humidities, and light winds on the Tyee Ridge Complex in Douglas County. They remain challenged by steep slopes and dry fuels. The Lighthouse and Cougar Creek fires were active overnight Monday into Tuesday.
The focus continues to be creating and holding fire lines and being ready to put out any new fire starts or spot fires in the Hubbard Creek area. Weather conditions are working in the firefighter’s favor and crews continue to take advantage of that to be prepared for a possible shift in the weather later in the week. The Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces will be in the Lighthouse Road area setting up sprinkler kits and on Hubbard Road providing protection and removing hazard trees near homes and other businesses.
The Oregon Department of Forestry crews, including hand crews and dozers, continued to build fire lines as they worked to keep the fires in check. Numerous resources including heavy equipment engaged along Hubbard Creek Road as the fire backed down to the road in several places. The Tyee Mountain Fire near Umpqua is also in mop-up, although some activity is expected Tuesday. Crews made progress on the Big Tom Fire, including mop-up and placing hose around the fire perimeter. The Hardscrabble, Blue Hole, and Yellow Point fires are in good shape and moving toward a stage where they will be monitored for any flare-ups.
Resources on the complex have grown to more than 900 personnel and containment is at 5%. Fifteen aircraft will be working throughout Tuesday’s shift, pending smoke and weather conditions. The focus continues to be creating and holding fire lines, and being ready for initial attack as needed in the Hubbard Creek area.
All evacuation notices issued by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office remain unchanged. An estimated 183 people have evacuated. The Red Cross shelter for evacuees is now located at The Way Church of Sutherlin located at 1352 E. Central Ave. in Sutherlin, OR. To shelter livestock, contact Douglas County Fairgrounds at 541-957-7010. Companion pets can be sheltered at the Saving Grace Pet Adoption
Center in Roseburg. To view the current evacuation information map, go to
www.dcso.com/evacuations.