In the river canyon fire severity was reduced by natural vegetative conditions, higher levels of humidity and less exposure to heavy winds. At the same time, the canyon’s remnant old stands and scattered old trees sustained less mortality than the surrounding plantation stands.įire severity was highest on the ridges and mid-slope, where the fire could build some steam and was most influenced by wind and solar radiation. As the fire approached the coastal portions of the watershed stand structure did influence fire severity to some degree, and plantation stands did contribute to the level of mortality sustained during the Chetco Bar Fire.
#CHETCO BAR FIRE COMMANDER 2017 DRIVER#
The winds and low relatively humidity largely overrode fuel loading as the main driver of fire severity in the Chetco Bar Fire. Under these conditions the fire burned through plantation stands, old-growth forests and snag fields from the 2002 Biscuit Fire. On August 15, 2017, under the influence of strong “Chetco Effect” winds and extremely low relative humidity, the fire surged to the west, quickly burning roughly 95,000 acres in one week of extreme fire weather. The fire burned in a diverse fire mosaic, burning slowly and at relatively low severity for the first month and a half of the fire. This past summer the Chetco Bar Fire burned throughout the Chetco River canyon from deep in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness to within five miles of Brookings, Oregon. The Chetco Bar Fire mosaic in the lower Chetco River canyon. Portions of the watershed support the northern-most stands of coastal redwood, much of which was logged off decades ago however, a few remnant stands of redwood forest still remain in the Chetco Watershed. The lower Chetco River once contained intact, old forests of coastal Douglas fir, Port Orford-cedar and western hemlock. The result has been high road densities, vast plantation forests, and simplified ecosystems highly susceptible to stand-replacing fire. In many locations, private timber interests and federal land managers have scalped whole mountainsides, and in some cases, whole watersheds of old-growth timber. In contrast to much of the river basin, the lower Chetco River near Brookings, Oregon is far from pristine. The fisheries of the Chetco River are among the most important on the Oregon Coast and they are currently threatened by post-fire logging on both private and federal land.
The fisheries and water quality of the Chetco River are fed by the countless wild streams flowing through the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and the surrounding wildlands. In fact, 66% of the Chetco River watershed flows through remote wilderness and roadless backcountry. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry and Coos Forest Protection Association.The Chetco River is one of the wildest, most spectacular and most diverse rivers in the West.
The Chetco Bar Fire is operating under unified command with the Oregon State Fire Marshall, U.S. The fire is approximately five miles northeast of Brookings, Oregon. There is no containment at this time, but 1,398 personnel are working to control the fire. The Chetco Bar Fire was reported on July 12, 2017, and is 102, 333 acres. This closure will be in effect immediately and will remain in effect until the Chetco Bar Fire is declared controlled. The area will be closed to motorized and non-motorized transportation, including foot traffic. This closure affects public lands inside the established perimeter of the Chetco Bar road and area closure and is specific to BLM lands and routes only. The areas affected by this closure order will be posted with appropriate regulation signs at main access and entry points. The fire is not contained or controlled, and ongoing suppression and restoration activities preclude safe public access. This emergency closure is necessary to ensure public safety, land health, and resource integrity during firefighting activities. This closure affects public lands within and adjacent to the Chetco Bar Fire, currently burning on approximately 4,000 acres of BLM administered lands. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Coos Bay District is issuing a temporary emergency closure of public lands in Curry County, Oregon.
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