Jack Fire has burned 23k acres, 63% contained
Written by Patrick Schneider on July 31, 2021
Steamboat, Ore. – As of Saturday, July 31, the Jack Fire has burned 23,004 acres and is 63 percent contained. The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain that is difficult to access, and it continues to be a challenge for firefighting operations.
Fire behavior on the Jack Fire is most active south of Hwy 138 in the east, southeast, and south flank of the fire. Crews there are conducting firefighting operations as conditions allow, including at the 4770 road, on the 28 road, along the 530 road to Twin Lakes, and near Calf Creek. As burn operations occur, please be aware smoke may be visible to the public.
North of Hwy 138, firefighters are successfully holding control lines and continuing mop-up, patrol, and monitoring activities on the northeast, north, and west perimeters of the fire. Due to the multiple small fire starts over the last two days, which ignited in a remote location along the Upper Steamboat Creek Drainage, fire officials have established a complex.
Newly named the Rough Patch Complex, these fires are located approximately 10 miles north of the Jack Fire. Approximately 22 new starts are associated with lightning storms that recently passed through the vicinity; they are burning in an area of limited road access and steep terrain. A new operational branch has been established to evaluate and manage the new complex, and a containment strategy has been formulated. Initial attack crews composed of firefighters from both the Jack Fire organization and the Umpqua National Forest are actively working to suppress the new starts.
Local resources from the Douglas Fire Protection Association are also assisting with these efforts. Additional resources have arrived to manage these new developments, and more are forthcoming.
Firefighter presence continues within Dry Creek patrolling and monitoring the area.
A heavy Type I helicopter with bucket just arrived to support air operations. It joined two heavy Type I helicopters with buckets, one heavy Type I helicopter with a tank, and one light Type III that were already assigned to the Jack Fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been established over the Jack Fire and Rough Patch Complex to protect aircraft working on firefighting operations.
At this time, Hwy 138 remains open. Be aware there are possible speed limit changes and increased traffic due to fire personnel. Please follow the posted speed limit for your safety and the safety of firefighters. Closures: The Umpqua National Forest’s Horseshoe Bend Campground remains closed to ensure the safety of the public.
Visitors can call the North Umpqua Ranger Station at 541-496-3532 for details on whether additional national forest sites and facilities near the Jack Fire are open.
After two days of extremely high temperatures and scattered lightning storms, weather conditions over the fire area have stabilized to seasonal norms. Monsoonal flow has brought lower temperatures, higher relative humidity, cloud cover, and a chance of wetting showers. Some atmospheric instability remains today, and there is a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Temperatures will reach the low 80s at lower elevations (2500 ft.) and high 70s at high elevations (4000 ft.) Relative humidity will range between 35 and 45 percent. Winds will remain terrain-driven at 4 to 10 mph, with gusts around 15 mph. Incident meteorologists forecast that similarly stable weather conditions will prevail through Wednesday.
