Oregon, 2002

Wildfire in Oregon, September 18 to 21, 2002

September 18 to 21, 2002 · NWS MFR · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A Red Flag warning effective at the above times was issued for fire weather zones 618/619 for gusty ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries during an offshore wind event. The warning area included all but the southeast portion of Curry county as well as small parts of Coos (extreme south) and Josephine (extreme west) counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MFR wrote it up.

A Red Flag warning effective at the above times was issued for fire weather zones 618/619 for gusty ridgetop winds and poor relative humidity recoveries during an offshore wind event. The warning area included all but the southeast portion of Curry county as well as small parts of Coos (extreme south) and Josephine (extreme west) counties. The available data indicate that this warning verified at the Red Mound RAWS on the nights of 09/18-19 and 09/20-21,and barely missed verifying the night of 09/19-20.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Medford, OR wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 18, 1:30 PM PST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 18, 1:30 PM PST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
SOUTHWEST OREGON/NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEDFORD OR
230 PM PDT WED SEP 18 2002

UPPER RIDGE BUILDING OVER THE AREA TODAY WITH CLEAR SKIES. THIS RIDGE
WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE MOST PART FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS. EXPECT
GENERALLY CLEAR SKIES AND SEASONAL TEMPS. THERMAL TROF ALONG THE SRN
OREGON COAST WILL CREATE GUSTY NRLY WINDS. OFFSHORE LOW LEVEL FLOW
WILL HELP KEEP AIRMASS DRY.

.MFR...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Curry

When
September 18, 3:20 PM PST to September 21, 1:15 PM PST
Where
Curry County, Countywide
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.467, -124.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

See below.

Wildfire, Coos

When
September 18, 3:20 PM PST to September 21, 1:15 PM PST
Where
Coos County, Countywide
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.185, -124.093 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

See below.

Wildfire, Josephine

When
September 18, 3:20 PM PST to September 21, 1:15 PM PST
Where
Josephine County, Countywide
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.366, -123.556 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

See below.

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Oregon in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in Oregon, September 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5320505, 5320506, 5320507.