On September 3rd, a lightning event on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest caused a number of fires in the vicinity of the Rogue River about 10 miles northeast of Agness, Oregon. Six of these made up the initial Moon Complex: the Backbone, Brushy, Pinnacle, Tate, Paradise, and Stair fires. As of September 8, Paradise, Stair, and Brushy fires burned into the perimeters of other fires. Tate Fire is fully contained at 26 acres. Suppression work continued on the Backbone and Pinnacle fires.
On September 26th, the Moon Complex experienced rapid fire growth, with long range spot fires and very active fire behavior. New evacuation orders were issued for areas downriver/southwest of the Moon Complex. As of late September 27th, fire has consumed 12,650 acres, and evacuations have now been extended further to the south due to continued active fire behavior and growth.
According to a Saturday, September 27th, press release from Curry County Sheriff, John Ward, Sheriff’s Deputies, assisted by the Oregon State Police and Agness Fire and Rescue went door to door in all of Agness making Level 3 evacuation notifications after receiving a call from the Deputy Incident Commander at about 10:00am, requesting Sheriff Ward announced that all of Agness be upgraded to a Level 3 (GO Now) evacuation area including from Two Mile Creek to the Oak Flat area. The Illahee area to Two Mile Creek remains under a Level 3 (GO Now) evacuation warning.
Fire is established on the west side of the Tate Creek drainage and moving toward Flora Dell Creek. Spot fires have reached as far as Dans Creek at last report. Crews conducted firing operations around Clay Hill Lodge to protect the structures.
There has been significant and rapid fire growth south of the Rogue River, near Solitude Riffle, which is moving towards East Creek and Wild Rivers Lodge. Crews in this area are actively scouting for safe opportunities to establish control lines.
With the increased fire growth Friday, the incident currently has nine helicopters assigned, with one Unmanned Aircraft System which have dropped 224,000 gallons of water. More aviation is available as needed through local resources.
Air quality is hazardous in Gold Beach and Agness and individuals are advised to stay indoors as much as possible.The Rogue River has been closed from Grave Creek to Foster Bar and Bear Camp Road/Forest Service Road 23 and Forest Service Road 2308 have been closed from Galice to Agness. Forest Service Road 33 has been closed from Agness to Powers.
