U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Klamath National Forest News Release 1711 South Main Street September 12, 2020 Yreka, CA 96097 Media Contact: Public Information Office 530-324-2528 www.facebook.com/KlamathNF InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7173/

Slater and Devil Fire Evening Update for September 12, 2020, 9 p.m.

HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA — On the north (Oregon) side of the Slater Fire, firefighting resources scouted opportunities to construct fireline to keep the wildfire out of populated areas. Dozer lines now surround the communities of Sunstar, Takilma, and Holland.

Siskiyou Mountain Ranger District initial attack firefighting resources have begun to prepare the 1040 road in the event that the Devil Fire should work its way out of the Red Buttes Wilderness. Portions of the 1040 road were treated in 2017 during the Miller Complex. Along with increased humidity, the Miller Complex Fire scar should slow or stop fire spread towards the Applegate Valley. Along its eastern edge, the fire has crossed into Sucker Creek and is burning in the Swan Mountain area, but is still far from structures. A public meeting will be held tomorrow, September 13, 2020 at 2:30 p.m.

Slater Fire North Area Virtual Community Meeting Sunday, September 13, 2020, 2:30 p.m. Facebook Live @SlaterAndDevilFireInformation https://www.facebook.com/SlaterAndDevilFireInformation

As of this evening, the Slater Fire has not made it into Steve’s Fork; fire personnel scouted out the area several days ago and completed a full reconnaissance before the smoke settled in.

On the south (California) side, the leading southeastern edge of the fire continued to back downslope. By 6 p.m. the fire was 200 feet from Highway 96. Firefighters completed more than half of the prep work along the road between Happy Camp and Seiad in anticipation of the fire’s arrival there.

In Happy Camp, patrol and mopup around structures continued. Crews on the southwest side of Happy Camp attempted to burn out around structures to secure indirect fireline and create a buffer, but high humidity prevented effective burning.

While the Devil Fire continues to move mainly to the north and west, equipment and crews were able to pick up the pace building fireline to defend the town of Seiad, and so far that line has held.

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On the west side of the Slater Fire, crews and bulldozers worked to build fireline around the Almost Heaven area and Dwight Creek. Fire resources there also scouted Monkey Ridge and Oregon Mountain Road as control features that can help stop the fire’s spread across the state line. Fire operations also looked for ways to tie the western edge of the fire into where it’s burning along the southern perimeter in Happy Camp.

More resources have finally begun arriving at the incident. This means more staffing for day and night shifts, and increased ability to complete control lines and containment strategies.

Winds out of the east have caused smoke impacts from the Slater and Devil Fires that have extended over to the coast. Smoke continues to impact most of the west coast due to multiple large fires. Incident meteorologists say that a cold front coming in could dissipate smoke and bring some precipitation Monday or Tuesday. Meanwhile, winds tomorrow could gust up to 20 miles per hour.

Both fires are still zero percent contained. The Devil Fire is estimated at 3,888 acres. The Slater Fire is estimated at 122,006 acres, according to last night’s infrared flight.

Due to extreme fire danger, all National Forests in California have been closed from September 9 through 14, 2020. More details on these closure orders, along with fire restrictions orders, can be found on National Forest websites and on InciWeb. Highway 199 remains closed from O’Brien south almost to Gasquet. Highway 96 remains closed from Portuguese Creek to Clear Creek.

EVACUATION ORDERS remain in effect for most of Happy Camp. However, Elk Creek Road and Seiad were both downgraded to an EVACUATION WARNING. In Oregon, Level 3 “Go” orders are in effect in the O'Brien and Takilma areas, Dick George Road (including most of Holland Loop) and Takilma Road areas, Brown Road, O'Brien and all areas south of Brown Road O'Brien. EVACUATION WARNINGS are in effect for Gasquet in California, while nearby communities of Hiouchi and Big Flat are on Level 1 “Get Ready” alert. Level 2 “Get Set” orders are in effect south of Kerby and Cave Junction areas in Oregon.

For more specific evacuation information, including information on any potential evacuations, visit the following sites: • Current evacuation orders are posted on Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/. • For Del Norte County evacuation information, see www.facebook.com/DelNorteOfficeOfEmergencyServices. • Evacuation order/warning info and other resources for Josephine County can be found by calling Josephine County Fire Information Center 541-474-5305 (7am-10pm) or online at: https://www.facebook.com/josephinecountyEM https://www.co.josephine.or.us/fire www.rvem.org • Additional information on the Slater Fire is available on Inciweb at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7173/ and on Klamath National Forest Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KlamathNF/.

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