The information found on this web page provides information about the Ore Fires. Information for the Oakridge Lightning Fires 2024, and Pyramid and Slate Fire can be found on the InciWeb pages listed below:
Oakridge Lightning Fires 2024 | Pyramid and Slate Fires
Ore Fire: Daily Update (pdf) | Daily Briefing Video | Daily Public Information Map (pdf) | Smoke / Air Quality | Ore Fire Facebook
SPECIAL NOTE:
There will be a community meeting for the Willamette Complex North on Tuesday, August 13th at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Sweet Home Fire Station located at 1099 Long Street, Sweet Home. The meeting will be live streamed and recorded on YouTube at the 2024 Pyramid and Ore Fire Info - YouTube page.
CURRENT CONDITIONS: Effective 0700 this morning, the Willamette National Forest assumed command of the Slate Fire. As fire crews time out and travel home for much-needed rest and recovery, additional crews are being ordered and continue to arrive.
The Pyramid, and Ore Fires are collectively referred to as the Willamette Complex North.
The Pyramid, and Ore fires are not yet fully contained and continue to have potential for growth, as intense heat has been detected by infrared technology.
Ore Fire
Blue River, 2,576 Acres, 20% Contained, 167 Total Personnel, Under Investigation
Crews continued patrol of the fire overnight. Today, crews on the northern flank will prepare and evaluate opportunities for firing operations. Crews on the western and eastern flanks will continue to patrol and secure threats to the line by removing trees, snags and other fuels, and suppressing any flare-ups or hot spots.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Milder, more moist conditions will continue today. Predicted maximum temperature is 82 to 86 °F in the valleys and 76 to 80 °F on the ridgetops. Predicted minimum relative humidity is 40 to 46% in the valleys and 46 to 52% on the ridgetops. Even as weather moderates, fire behavior continues to be active. Higher winds will generate improved smoke transport, however clear skies and sun on fuels may result in an increase in fire behavior. Smoke and air quality conditions are available on: AirNow.gov
EVACUATIONS CLOSURES, & FIRE RESTRICTIONS: On July 17th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Willamette National Forest, issued a Level 3: Go Now Evacuation Alert for an area surrounding the Pyramid Fire. Please refer to the Linn County Fire Map for full details of the issued evacuation area (which will appear in red).
Area, road, recreation sites, and trail (including the PCT) closures are in effect in the Willamette National Forest due to nearby fires. Please see Pyramid Fire Area Closure Forest Order
Due to hot and dry conditions, all campfires, charcoal fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited, including in developed campgrounds and wilderness areas. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters that can be switched on and off are allowed. Please see Forest Order 06-18-00-24-27 for additional information.
ROADS: When traveling in the area, please be mindful of firefighters and their vehicles working near roads. Please visit the Oregon Department of Transportation website for current road conditions.
DRONE SAFETY - KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FLY: Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage. For more information on drones the public can visit the FAA’s website at Home - Know Before You Fly . “If you fly, we can’t!”
ABOUT THE FOREST: The Willamette National Forest offers a stunning choice of year-round recreation for day-trippers and vacationers alike from hiking, camping, fishing or skiing in the Cascade Mountains to picnicking or rafting along one of our scenic rivers. Home to eight wilderness areas, including the popular Three Sisters Wilderness and Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, a variety of backpacking and day hiking opportunities, waterfalls, and much more! Seven major volcanic peaks rise within the Forest's Wilderness areas: Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, and Diamond Peak.
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES: Ensure that strategies and tactics have a high probability of success and provide for firefighter and public safety through sound risk management process. Protect and minimize impact to communities, private property, travel and commuter routes, private timber lands, and infrastructure. Protect economic, natural, cultural and heritage resources, while fostering and maintaining relationships with cooperators, stake holders, and the public. Minimize acres burned. Confine fires to National Forest System lands. Ensure coordinated, timely and accurate release of public information. Maintain fiscal accountability and keep costs commensurate with values at risk.
CONTROL OBJECTIVES: Minimize acres burned where possible, using direct and indirect tactics. Minimize negative impacts to communities, private property/lands, and private timber lands.
Ore Fire:
Keep fire North of Mona & Lookout Creeks.
Keep fire South of the FS 2032 Rd.
Keep fire East of FS 1509 Rd.
Keep fire West of FS 15 Rd.
Current as of | Sun, 08/11/2024 - 20:59 |
---|---|
Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Undetermined |
Date of Origin | |
Location | 7 Miles NE of Blue River, OR |
Incident Commander | California Interagency Complex Incident Management Team 13, Incident Commander Josh Boehm. |
Coordinates |
44° 14' 18'' Latitude
-122° 14' 53
'' Longitude
|
Total Personnel: | 167 |
---|---|
Size | 2,576 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 20% |
Fuels Involved | Brush (2 feet) Closed Timber Litter Timber (Litter and Understory) Fuels are primarily composed of Timber litter and understory with shrub. Mixed aged conifer including old growth with lichen, snags and heavy surface fuel concentration of dead fuels is common. Woody and herbaceous live fuels are also contributing to fire spread. |
Significant Events | Active Uphill Runs ,Torching & Short-range Spotting The east side of the Ore Fire continued to back and creep down to the 15 Road in DIV Z, with suppression efforts successfully holding the fire at this location. The fire also moved up to the ridge south of Flunky Creek, which effectively slowed its progression as it reached the top.
Factors contributing to fire spread included torching trees, rollout of burning heavy fuels, and falling burning trees, in addition to slope-driven fire behavior. Intense or scattered heat was detected throughout the entire fire, indicating that heavy fuels have been burning for over three weeks since ignition. Firing operations in DIV F and D resulted in effective consumption and good depth of burn. |
Planned Actions |
DIV A: DIV Z: DIV D and F: W/Z: |
---|---|
Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Higher humidity and increased fire fuel moisture will limit the spread outside of heavy fuels overnight, especially as smoke begins to settle. Heavy fuels will continue to retain heat and consume. Any significant runs from the evening will persist longer than expected due to the dryness of the heavy fuels, which will preheat and dry the surrounding fine fuels. 24 hours: Fire activity will continue to move north and west within current and planned control lines. With increased moisture in fine dead and 10-hour fuels, heavy dead and down fuels will be the primary carriers of fire. Cooler and wetter weather will limit fire spread in lighter fuels and reduce the probability of ignition. The fire will back and rollout, with heavy fuels capable of igniting spot fires, even with higher humidity. Short uphill runs are expected when the fire aligns with the slope. 48 hours: Heavy dead and down fuels will remain the main carriers of the fire. Slight warming will begin to dry lighter fuels and increase the probability of ignition, leading to a modest rise in fire behavior and greater receptiveness of fine fuels to ignition.
72 hours: Similar to the 48-hour outlook, heavy dead and down fuels will continue to be the primary carriers of fire. Slight warming will enhance the drying of lighter fuels and increase the likelihood of ignition, resulting in a further increase in fire behavior and receptiveness of fine fuels to ignition.
Anticipated after 72 hours: The fire will continue to display intense or scattered heat, with heavy fuels having retained heat for over three weeks. A slight warming trend forecasted for the middle of next week may lead to an uptick in fire behavior. As fine fuels dry with warmer weather or direct sunlight, they will become more likely to carry fire. Areas with a dirty burn, where heavy fuels are present, will have a higher potential for re-burns and continued spread. Stressed trees that still hold heat may torch, causing interior flare-ups, and dry fine fuels will be increasingly receptive to spotting from these torching trees. |
Remarks |
Box 7: Acreage went down to due firing operations increasing to create holding lines. |
Weather Concerns | Conditions are gradually moderating due to increased marine influence and reduced smoke transport. Current temperatures are around 80°F, with relative humidity (RH) down to 40%. Winds have weakened slightly compared to yesterday, with northwest gusts generally less than 15 mph, even in exposed areas. Expect deep marine influence over the next few days: Humidity recoveries will exceed 90%, and morning fog may be possible in low valleys. West winds will weaken, creating cooler conditions in the low 70s, with minimum RH remaining above 50%. |
---|