This is the final update ODF will issue on this fire: Firefighters assigned to the Board Mountain Fire, located northwest of Trail off of Highway 227, were able to meet their goal of mopping up 50 feet into the perimeter on Thursday, and continued to fall hazardous trees 300 feet into the perimeter. The fire remains 36 acres, affecting private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. As progress remains continuous, this will be the final update unless conditions on this incident significantly change.
Just before 3 p.m., the Swede Cabin Fire was reported near Willow Lake. ODF’s District Type 3 helicopter arrived on scene first, and reported an estimated acre was involved. When engines made access, they discovered it was an active logging operation that had been shut down appropriately at 1 p.m.; the person assigned to the mandatory 3-hour fire watch reported the fire, called their workers back to the jobsite, and began creating a bulldozer line around the fire with equipment on scene. The U.S. Forest Service- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest responded as well. Between the industrial workers and firefighters, the fire was quickly stopped at just under two acres.
Mop-up operations are ongoing, and once complete, the area will be turned over to the company to patrol overnight. Fires on industrial operations are rare, but do happen; to help lower the risk of fires, the Oregon Department of Forestry implements an Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL), similar to public fire danger restrictions. All industrial operators are required to have fire suppression knowledge and training, have a fire extinguisher, shovel and axe available for each employee, as well as have water on the jobsite.
Currently, the IFPL is 3 locally. The company was found to have followed all requirements set forth by this designation, and greatly helped fire crews with stopping the spread of fire any further.
