Rain Limits Safe Access to Anvil Fire and Flat Fire Containment Increases to 93%-UPDATED
Recent precipitation has limited safe access for firefighters around the Anvil Fire, but it has also given them an advantage by slowing the once-dangerous blaze.
Southwest Area Incident Management Team 1 reported Wednesday that the Anvil Fire was 22,173 acres with increased containment of 54%. Personnel assigned to the wildfire yesterday was 1,097 including 29 hand crews, 30 engines and seven helicopters.
Crews were shuttled in via helicopter to the west perimeter near Port Orford to finish two sections of handline. Crews continue to remove suppression equipment for backhaul along Elk River Road. Chipping operations and suppression repair continue along Grassy Knob Road. On the northeast side of the fire, heavy equipment is working to reduce fuels and improve fireline. Progress on the contingency line near the southeast perimeter of the fire has been slowed due to rain, but will pick up over the next few days.
Meanwhile, the Flat Fire was holding at 34,242 acres with containment increased to 93%. Total personnel is only 51 including one hand crew and three engines.
Crews were working to fall hazard trees and repair roadways to make them safe for the public. Excavators were working to repair suppression lines on the 93 Road while moving toward the Rogue River.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has lifted all public use restrictions on Forest Service lands and moved to "low" fire danger. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level was reduced to "1."
