Rattler Fire Update for Monday, September 15, 2008

Idleyld Park, OR --- Fire crews continued to hold and secure fire lines under difficult weather conditions yesterday. Record high temperatures and low humidities created good burning conditions especially in the afternoon when the inversion layer lifted. A large column of smoke was visible for most of the afternoon when the fire became active in the northern part near Onion and Spring Creeks in the Boulder Creek Wilderness. Air tankers and helicopters cooled down hot spots and the head of the main fire, where possible. Fire managers were monitoring the fire activity and were channeling the spread towards the higher and wetter vegetation which is away from populated areas.

Today, conditions are expected to be slightly hotter and drier with a Red Flag Warning from 6:00 a.m. until midnight on Tuesday. Isolated thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday with a slight chance of thunderstorms and unstable air on Wednesday.

Timber falling crews were busy at the east end of the Highway 138 closure felling danger trees so that road crews could safely clean fallen debris on the highway and make the road safe for public travel. All efforts are being made to re-open Highway 138 as quickly as possible.

Highway 138 remains closed to all traffic on a four-mile stretch between the Copeland Creek road junction and the confluence of Slide Creek with the North Umpqua River due to large rocks and logs falling off the steep embankment along the highway. For further information on road closures motorists are advised to check the Oregon Department of Transportation website (www.trip check.com) for current conditions on the status of Highway 138. To contact ODOT within Oregon, dial 511, or toll-free at (800) 977-ODOT, or (503) 588-2941.

Information on closures around the fire area can be found on the Umpqua National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua.-- Tom Lavagnino ORCA Public Information Officer (866) 534-9681