Mayor's Fire Update: Sunday
Posted: Sunday, September 13, 2020
Almeda Fire Update Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020
Last Wednesday, the day after the Almeda Fire began, I learned of Oregon’s Blue Team Incident Command daily meeting and have attended ever since. Here is some information from today.
- John Stromberg, Mayor
There are two active fires in Jackson County, South Obenchain and Almeda. Almeda is the one that started near our wastewater plant and did major damage to Talent and Phoenix. Almeda is still active in the sense that it's not 100% contained, but while the flames are out, necessary mop-up activities are going on before Talent and Phoenix can be opened up again.
However, it is possible to have escorted entrance to the closed area for residents whose homes did not burn. Go to Harry & David Field and register.
All of Jackson County outside the fire area is under an Evacuation Level 1 Order, which means Be Ready in case you're suddenly told to evacuate. Fire areas themselves are under either Level 2 or 3. Check Jackson County’s website for updates.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued as of 10AM this morning for all of Jackson County because a dry cold front is moving over our area with potentially gusty winds from the west/northwest. Smoke thinning could result in warmer temperatures and an increase in extreme fire activity. This front is expected to pass through by 8PM tonight.
While a lot of vegetation has been consumed by the fire, any kind of ignition under hot, dry, and windy conditions can quickly grow into a fast-moving fire that's exceedingly dangerous. This is why the preventive measures in the Fire Adapted Ashland program are so important: see www.fireadaptedashland.orgYou may be saving your own life or your neighbor’s.
One advantage we have right now is that there are lots of fire-fighting resources on the scene that can be rapidly deployed if a fire starts up.
Evacuation: Sign up for Nixle to get evacuation instructions during a fire - see www.ashland.or.us/nixle
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