July 27, 2023 4:00 a.m.

Firing operations in the southwest portion of the Flat Fire in Curry County were postponed Wednesday afternoon, due to weather conditions.

An update from Northwest Incident Management Team 3 said a combination of higher temperatures, low humidity and adverse winds weren’t conducive for burning. Crews have mopped up twenty-five feet in from the fire perimeter along Forest Road 3318 from its junction with Forest Road 130 near Pine Grove Trailhead south down to Forest Road 3680.

Wednesday night firefighters were focused on mopping up previously burned areas and strengthening control lines along the northern, western and southwestern flanks. Crews are also working to complete vegetation reduction efforts along road systems and other control features in the northeast portion of the fire. An additional spike camp was established closer to where firefighters are working in the southwest. Swing and night shift resources won’t have to drive as far to and from base camp, and there will be even more overlap of personnel between shift changes to support suppression efforts.

Weather conditions in the fire area are expected to continue to warm and dry over the next few days. Winds are predicted from the northeast to northwest, with gusts around twenty miles per hour.

A closure order issued by the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest for the fire area including trails, roads and a portion of the Illinois River, along with Oak Flat, Game Lake, and Wild Horse campgrounds, plus the Snow Camp Lookout Recreation Rentals, remains in place.

The fire is listed at 23,104 acres and is three percent contained. 1,593 people are assigned to the fire.

Updates on the Flat Fire are available at: https://www.facebook.com/flatfireoregon2023