July 24, 2023 4:00 a.m. 

The Flat Fire, burning two miles east of Agness in Curry County, has topped 20,000 acres.

A Forest Service update said firefighters have been building line, burning out, and mopping up in completed burnout areas. Fire personnel are also scouting and strategically planning for primary, alternate and contingency control lines around the perimeter of the fire.

The Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest closure order for the fire area, including trails, roads, and a portion of the Illinois River, remains in place.

On Sunday, the Pacific Northwest Regional Forester approved the use of heavy equipment in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness for fire suppression purposes. Fire team operations moved forwards with implementation during Sunday’s shift. Acting Forest Supervisor Jake Winn said, “By taking this action, we have an opportunity to check this fire on the south side”.

The update said this approach reduces risk and exposure to firefighters because the only alternative to utilizing dozer line is to construct handline, which requires considerably more people for a greater amount of time.

1,497 personnel are assigned to the Flat Fire. That includes forty engines, thirty-six crews, eight bulldozers, twenty-six water tenders, eight masticators and eight helicopters.