The BLM Issues Updated Closure Order for Public Lands Affected by the Archie Creek Fire
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Roseburg, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Roseburg District, has modified the closure order of public lands east of I-5, within the Swiftwater Field Office. This Amended Emergency Closure Order updates the BLM lands that will remain closed until such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands. The lands are located in Douglas County, Oregon.
On September 9, 2020, the Roseburg District issued an Emergency Closure Order that closed all BLM managed lands east of Interstate 5, managed by the Swiftwater Field Office, due to the Archie Creek Fire.
The Amended Emergency Closure Order reduces the area of the closure to all BLM lands in the Swiftwater Field Office east of the Willamette Meridan, Range 3 and 4 boundary line, and north of Little River Road. This includes Rock Creek Road from the end of Douglas County road maintenance to the boundary of the Roseburg and Northwest Oregon BLM District line, and all BLM recreation sites located within the closure boundary, including Rock Creek, Lone Pine, Millpond, Scaredman, and Susan Creek campgrounds, and all BLM day use areas within the closure area. Cavitt Creek Falls Campground is closed for the season.
The Amended Emergency Closure Order will permit access to public lands west of Glide, OR, including the North Bank Habitat Management Area. A map outlining the exact closure perimeter is provided with this release.
“We understand there is great interest in regaining access to public lands,” said Heather Whitman, Roseburg District Manager. “With the improving containment of the Archie Creek Fire, we can now safely reopen some areas for public access outside of the fire perimeter. This does not mean the fire area is safe to enter, and we continue to encourage the public to avoid areas impacted by fire, or firefighting resources, as much as possible.”
The Amended Closure will be effective as of 12:00 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2020.
Please see attached map.
This closure is necessary to protect public land users from risks associated with active wildland fire, fire suppression, suppression repair, emergency stabilization, and burned area rehabilitation. The closure is also needed to protect wildland firefighters from recreational activities that could interfere with fire suppression.
The public must not enter the closure area. All uses within the closure area are prohibited. Exceptions to these prohibitions are noted under Supplemental Information at the link below.
This closure will remain in effect until such time as conditions allow for safe use of the public lands.
For additional information and the full text of the closure notice and exemptions, please visit Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/7176/57115/
For further information on public lands and closure information within the Roseburg District, please contact Cheyne Rossbach at 541-579-0648 or by e-mail at: crossbac@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.