The Chetco Bar fire burn area is under a flash flood watch Thursday in anticipation of approaching rain storms, the National Weather Service said.

The watch is in effect from Thursday morning to Thursday evening, when heavy rain is expected to fall in Curry County, western Siskiyou County and eastern Josephine County, the weather service said.

The watch does not include the cities of Brookings, Harbor, Pistol River or Happy Camp.

The rainstorms could cause debris flows, landslides and pools of water on roadways, the weather service said. People and property below steep slopes and in canyons may be at risk.

Residents in the area should monitor forecasts and prepare to take action if the watch is upgraded to a flash flood warning, the weather service said.

The Chetco Bar fire burned about 300 square miles and cost more than $61 million to fight. For a time during the summer, it was the largest wildfire and highest priority forest fire in the nation.

— Samantha Matsumoto