Jack Fire picking up where Archie Creek left off causing stress for those still recovering
To get to the Jack Fire, you have to drive through the burned area from last year's Archie Creek Fire. And just about where Archie left off, Jack is picking up. July 6, 2021. (SBG)
GLIDE, Ore. — The Jack Fire in Douglas County is now burning up to 900 acres in the Umpqua National Forest.
Highway 138 has been closed down and evacuation orders have been issued.
To get to this fire, you have to drive through the burned area from last year's Archie Creek Fire.
And just about where Archie left off, Jack is picking up.
It's causing a lot of stress for people who are still recovering from last year.
"With how warm it was, and the breezes that were blowing, and where it approximately started," explains Jack Fire Information Officer Pam Sichting. "It was very steep terrain and the fire did become very active and start to run up the hill."
The fire slowed down in the evening, but picked up in the morning.
"The reason that Hwy 138 is closed is because there's rolling rocks, burning trees, or any type of snags can fall down onto the highway," Sichting says. "It happens a lot, and people think it's not really going to happen. It does happen."
Hwy 138 is closed at Steamboat Creek. Cars and trucks looking to get through have to turn around.
The fire, which is burning northeast, has filled the entire area with smoke.
Unfortunately, this is an all too familiar sight and smell for this area.
The Steamboat Inn, which had a close encounter with the Archie Creek Fire last summer, is just down the road.
"Last year it started about a half mile to a mile west of us," says Steamboat Inn employee, Chip Powers. "This time it's three miles east of us. We seem to be on the edge of it each time. I get nervous. Just knowing that everything I own is here at a house, and I can't fit it all in my little Jeep Wrangler."
The initial call reporting the fire came from the Steamboat Inn.
"We don't have cell service out here where we live, so the Steamboat Inn is the closest landline," Powers says. "As soon as the fire was seen, people came here and reported the fire to us and we contacted the authorities."
The inn was at full capacity, which is about 60 guests.
Even though the fire was burning in the opposite direction, everyone was evacuated.
"Just for safety reasons, we're going to go ahead and stay closed until Friday," Powers says. "As of right now, the fire is moving away from the Steamboat Inn, so we are safe. We don't have an evacuation for us, but at the same time we're so close to the fire, we don't feel like it's responsible to start letting people in just yet."
As the sign says, Highway 138 is still closed.
So if you're planning to head up to Diamond Lake or Crater Lake this week, you'll have quite a detour.
For getting to Crater Lake, the route at this time is to stay on I-5 south to Canyonville, take the Tiller Trail Hwy over to Hwy 62, head northeast up through Prospect and Union, to 230. Or, if you're going to the park, take 62 into the park, then get back onto 138.
