Falls Fires Update for July 23, 2024  

Falls Fire Quick Facts:  

Size: 139,507 Start Date: July 10, 2024 Location: 13 Miles NW of Burns, Oregon 

Containment: 40% Total Personnel: 1,663 Cause: Human-caused, under investigation 

Structures Triaged: Residences: 300; Commercial: 72*; Outbuildings: 484 

Resources Assigned: 49 hand crews, 100 engines, 100 bulldozers, 30 water tenders 

Aerial resources available to the fire: two helicopters, and single-engine air tankers (SEATS) 

A community meeting for the Falls and Telephone Fires will be held at the Burns Chamber of Commerce tonight, July 23, at 6:30 PM. The meeting will also be live streamed on the Malheur National Forest and Falls Fire 2024 Facebook pages.

Falls Fire: Yesterday, the fire became very active in the afternoon as southwest winds prompted growth along portions of the northern perimeter. The fire remains approximately 13 miles north of Burns, 11 miles southwest of Seneca, 7.5 miles south of Izee, and 2.5 miles west of Highway (Hwy) 395. OSFM task forces protected properties near FSR 47, in the Red Hill area, and along Hwy 395. Efforts to protect private property near FSR 47 were successful despite challenging weather conditions on Sunday. Additionally, preparation work previously completed in the Red Hill area allowed for several OSFM task forces to be quickly reallocated to the Telephone Fire during initial attack. Overall, established control line held despite the weather challenges the lines held firm.

In the northwest corner of the fire, firefighters worked to hold and secure line below the western slopes of Burnt Mountain along FSR 4785 near Coral Creek south then east to FSR 47 near the junction with FSR 3150. Near this junction, the fire grew to FSR 3150 and then began to move northerly and easterly. Construction of secondary contingency (backup) dozer line has been completed to the northwest near Snow Mountain along FSR 4781. Construction of additional secondary dozer line going both north and south off FSR 4781 in the Snow Mountain continued. Firefighters scouted for additional opportunities to locate secondary contingency line to connect to a series of roads near FSR 37 and FSR 31 into a continuous secondary control line running east-west north of the fire. In the northeast corner of the fire, along FSR 31 south of Myrtle Park Meadows, crews continued work on a challenging 200 acre slop-over with the goal of tying it back into FSR 31. Control lines along much of the southern portions of FSR 31 and west to FSR 43 continued to hold firm, despite gusty winds, as mop-up operations are ongoing.

Today, OSFM Task Forces will remain active along the northeast, east and southern edges of the fire. Engines will be strategically placed near values at risk to monitor the fire’s proximity. In the northwest corner, crews will be holding and mopping-up established control lines, and will look for opportunities to construct direct control lines to tie in slop-overs back into FSR 3750. Construction of secondary contingency dozer lines will continue along roads going north and south off of FSR 4781 from Snow Mountain.  Near FSR 3750 and FSR 47, structure and wildland firefighters will continue to mop-up sources of heat along control lines. Firefighters will continue scouting for additional contingency dozer lines on the FSR 3150 and FSR 3160 to connect into the FSR 37 and FSR 31 road systems to establish a continuous secondary control line running east-west north of the fire. OSFM crews will support burnout operations and continue hardening surface prep at cabins and homes off FSR 37. Efforts to control hotspots in the Red Hill are progressing well and operations there are transitioning into a patrol and mop-up stage.  Structures in this area are being hardened by OSFM crews ahead of an anticipated wind shift mid-week that will test control measures along the southern edge.

Further north, away from the fire perimeter, construction will continue on a planned secondary contingency line along FSR 37 just west of Hwy 395 in the Fisk Gulch area.  This secondary contingency line is part of an alternate plan and will run east to west using portions of FSR 37 and FSR 31.

As the fire season continues, resources begin to reach their maximum deployment times which are established to ensure crew safety. As a result, the OSFM Task Force from Lincoln County will be demobilizing today.  

Weather: Fire weather for today will be very active with dry and unstable conditions.  There is a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon and late evening that could bring gusty outflow winds. Winds will generally be coming from the west-southwest winds 6-8 mph, gusts up to 17 mph.  Temperature highs possibly into the upper 90s.

Evacuations: Evacuations were issued last night due to the Telephone Fire. Evacuation notices remain in effect due to the Falls Fire in Grant and Harney Counties. For the most accurate evacuation information, please visit the Harney County Sheriff’s evacuation map here: https://tinyurl.com/3zst4sjy, or the Grant County Emergency Management Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068819321423.

Closures: Due to active wildfires compounded by extremely unfavorable weather conditions, limited firefighting resources and County Resources, Malheur National Forest officials are temporarily closing lands within the Malheur National Forest. This closure means that the public is prohibited from entering lands, roads, trails and recreation areas, and facilities on the Malheur National Forest. A detailed map and description of the closure area is available on the Forest website and at any Forest office. Closure signs will be posted on the ground.

Investigation: U.S. Forest Service fire investigators are seeking the public’s assistance with any tips or information pertinent to the start of the Falls Fire on the Malheur National Forest. Please submit any information that could assist fire investigation efforts to SM.FS.R6TipHotLine@usda.gov.   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Falls-Fire-2024-61562126623985/ 

Falls Fire InciWeb:  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-falls-fire 

Telephone Fire InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ormaf-telephone-fire 

Fire Information Line: 541-208-4370, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Email: 2024.Falls@firenet.gov 

Harney County non-emergency evacuation questions: 541-589-5579 

Air quality questions: 541-573-2271  

Smoke Outlooks: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook 

* Several reclassifications of structures account for the reduction in numbers of commercial properties surveyed. 

Cougar Creek Fire Update for Tuesday July 23, 2024

KEY MESSAGE:

Protection of values to the southwest and northeast edge of the fire continue to be the highest priority for recent operations. Exceptionally dry and hot conditions along with steep terrain make it challenging for fire crews to directly engage the fire in some areas. Crews continue to engage the fire directly and shift to indirect line construction when direct tactics are not effective.

A community discussion will take place at Bartlett Lane-Union Park today at 5:00pm for residents of the Grouse Flat area.

CURRENT STATUS:

The fire continues to move to the southwest and east. Decommissioned roads are being explored to determine which ones will have the highest probability to work as fire breaks when direct line construction is ineffective. Those roads will be reopened and reinforced. In areas where it is currently unsafe to directly engage, such as the north-west corner, the fire is expected to continue to grow into the Umatilla National Forest. Fire managers are planning containment lines that take advantage of natural barriers and existing roads.

FIRE BEHAVIOR AND WEATHER:

Temperatures will cool a few degrees today, but the relative humidity will dip back into the mid-teens. Winds will continue out of the east-northeast at the ridge tops with terrain driven winds below that. Fuels are exceptionally dry and receptive to fire brands increasing potential for fire growth.

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES:

In Washington, Garfield County has established level 2 evacuations levels. Please see evacuation notices on Garfield County Facebook page. All other evacuation levels in Washington remain the same, including the extent of Grande Ronde Rd. In Oregon, a level 2 evacuation is in effect for Wallowa County, including all of Grouse Flat from Bear Creek Rd north to the State boundary and the Garfield County lines to Grande Ronde River. Please see the evacuation notice from Asotin County Sheriff and Asotin County Emergency Management . Grande Ronde Road is closed from Troy, Oregon to Highway 129 junction.

Pioneer Fire Update for July 23, 2024   
Incident Commander Lonnie Click   
Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 3   
(541) 861-5808, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

Quick Facts  
Size: 30,667 acres  
Start Date: June 8, 2024  
Location: 31 miles NW of Chelan, WA  
Containment: 14%  
Personnel: 732  
Cause: Human-caused, under investigation  
Resources Assigned: 12 crews, 7 helicopters, 27 engines, 28 water tenders, 18 heavy equipment

There will be a community meeting in Stehekin Tuesday, 5 PM at the Golden West Visitor Center. There will also be a community meeting in Manson, Wednesday at 5:30 PM at the Manson High School. The meeting in Manson will be streamed live on the Pioneer Fire Information Facebook page. Please submit questions in advance to 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov or via Facebook Messenger. 

CURRENT SITUATION:  Firefighters and equipment from State Fire Assistance have arrived in Stehekin to implement structure protection plans. While the cold front that moved through the region Monday bringing lower humidities and gusty down-lake winds, fire growth was minimal. Pockets of heat remain and could flare up over the coming days within the East Fork of Prince Creek drainage, in Fish Creek drainage, and around Cub Lake. On the south end of the fire, firefighters are monitoring for hot spots in the Lone Fir drainage and along the improved firelines on Nelson Ridge and Coyote Ridge. Firefighters from the Pioneer Fire also provided initial attack response for additional new wildfires starts in the area on Monday.

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Fire personnel in Stehekin will be working with the state mobilization strike team to improve home hardening and defensible space around   structures and infrastructure. Firefighters on the north end of the fire will be constructing a ‘check’ line just south of Flick Creek that will tie into natural rocky features. The check line will help delay fire progression along the lakeshore, however due to heavy downed fuels, inaccessible terrain further upslope, this delaying tactic is not expected to completely stop fire progression. Firefighters are also monitoring and mopping up hot spots along the lakeshore.  Crews will continue improvement of the indirect firelines along Cooper Ridge and Antilon Ridge north of Manson.  The Lone Fir drainage continues to be monitored for hot spots.

WEATHER:  After the cold front passage yesterday, temperatures will be cooler but winds over the fire will remain gusty.  A Red Flag Warning continues for today due to expected winds and low humidities.  Active fire behavior and interior flare-ups with intense heat are expected due to the critical weather situation. Some smoke columns may be visible.

EVACUATIONS:  Level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation levels remain in effect around the Pioneer Fire. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information.

FOREST CLOSURE: Current closures for the North Cascades National Park: https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a closure order in place for much of the fire area: https://bit.ly/PioneerClosure. Campfires are prohibited. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under the TFR.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080 

Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov 

Bridge Creek Road will remained closed today (July 23rd, 2024) due to fire activity along the road.  Please avoid the area and keep our wildland firefighting crews safe.  

Durkee, Cow Valley, and Bonita Fires Update for Tuesday, July 23, 2024

541-208-4371, staffed 7AM to 7PM PDT

2024.durkee@firenet.gov

DURKEE FIRE: Start date: July 17, 2024 | Location: 5 miles southwest of Durkee, OR | Personnel: 635 | OSFM Task Forces: 4 | Fire size: 239,255 acres | Cause: Lightning | Containment: 0%

COW VALLEY FIRE:  Start date: July 11, 2024 | Location: 9 miles east of Ironside, OR | Personnel: 0 | Fire size: 133,490 acres | Cause: Human caused |Containment: 78%

BONITA FIRE: Start date: July 11, 2024 | Location: 9 miles south east of Ironside, OR | Personnel: 0 | Fire size: 2,727 acres | Cause: Human caused |Containment: 90%

Firefighters are working night and day to extinguish the Durkee Fire and six new lightning starts on the east side of Interstate 84 (I-84). The Durkee, Cow Valley, and Bonita Road Fires are now being managed under Unified Command by NW Team 6 and the Oregon State Fire Marshall Green Team. The Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) will work in unison to protect structures, defend critical infrastructure, and coordinate fire suppression efforts.

The Bureau of Land Management Vale District led the initial attack response to yesterday’s lightning starts east of I-84, with Durkee firefighting resources. Baker County Sheriff's Office issue additional evacuation orders in association with the largest new fire — the Thompson Fire, which started near Thompson Creek and was estimated to be 10,000 acres this morning.

The Durkee Fire is now 239,255 acres based on an infrared (IR) flight at 1:11am on July 23. The fire has grown 65,496 acres since an IR flight measured it to be 173,759 acres at 7:25pm on July 21. This growth was due to record setting high temperatures, extremely and unseasonably dry fuels, and erratic high winds. The majority of fire growth occurred on the eastern edge.

Low visibility caused by smoke delayed aerial operations temporarily yesterday morning, but clearer skies in the afternoon allowed consecutive water and fire-retardant drops during initial attack and other fire suppression efforts. 

The Durkee Fire was held in place on the northern flank, staying southwest of Durkee, Oregon, and I-84. The objective is to hold the fire south of Burnt River. The eastern flank of the fire continues to be active, creating large plumes of smoke. It has not crossed I-84. Firefighters focused on structure protection in the Durbin Creek area. They are also working to reduce fuels on the fireline between Lockett Road and Benson Road with fire where necessary. On the western flank, crews completed strategic burning operations west of Bridgeport and worked on structure protection in the community. Fire activity has decreased on the southern flank, north of the communities on Highway 26. Resources continue to patrol and monitor the area for smoke. 

According to the National Incident Management Situation Report, the Durkee Fire is the number one priority fire in the nation. National resources are limited due to commitments on other large fires and emerging incidents.  A Type 3 team has been ordered to work on the new fire starts east of I-84. 

WEATHER AND SMOKE: Yesterday, the northwestern edge received light precipitation, temporarily moderating fire behavior. The fire remained active on all other flanks. Today will be hot and dry with strong northwest winds. Temperatures are expected to reach 106oF. Wind gusts could be up to 55 mph. For current smoke information, visit airfire.org. A Red Flag warning is in effect for Wednesday with the possibility for thunderstorms. 

EVACUATIONS AND CLOSURES: 

The Malheur County Sheriff’s has issued evacuations for the area around Durkee Fire. check for updates on the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. 

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuations for the area around Durkee Fire. Visit the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page for more information. Baker County Sheriff's Office has closed Burnt River Canyon Road to non-local, non-emergency traffic due to the Durkee Fire. 

I-84 and other Highways: Please go to tripcheck.com for current road closures as the situation is dynamic and subject to change.

BURN BAN: A burn ban is currently in effect for all of Malheur County, including all BLM lands.  For more information, visit https://www.malheurco.org/category/public-notices/. 

TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION: There is a temporary flight restriction over the Durkee Fire, please remember, if you fly we can’t! If a drone or other aircraft enters the air space, all firefighting aviation equipment will be grounded.

Durkee and Cow Valley Facebook Page

Easy Fire Update for July 23, 2024 

 Incident Commander Lonnie Click  

Complex Incident Management Team Northwest 3   

(541) 861-5808, staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov  

Quick Facts 
Size: 354 acres 
Start Date: July 17, 2024 
Location: 17 miles west of Mazama, WA 
Containment: 0% 
Personnel Assigned: 30 
Cause: Lightning 
Resources Assigned:  1 crew, 3 helicopters, 3 engines

CURRENT SITUATION: Easy Fire is burning in large dense timber with abundant dead trees and extensive ground vegetation. The terrain is extremely steep. Continued hot, dry, and unstable weather conditions on Monday led to very active fire behavior including torching, or fire climbing from the ground to the tops of trees. Short range spotting, where embers are cast out in front of the fire, also contributed to fire spread.  Easy Fire extends over Mt. Hardy, threatening the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), while also moving down slope toward State Route 20 (SR 20) North Cascades Highway.

While steep slopes contribute to fire suppression challenges, crews are utilizing full suppression tactics that have the highest likelihood for success while mitigating risks to firefighters and the public. 

Rolling rock, falling trees, and active fire near the highway necessitates the closure on SR 20 to protect the public from hazards associated with fire behavior and suppression tactics. Crews are felling dead trees between the active fire edge and State Route 20 to help limit fire spread toward the highway.

Helicopters assisted firefighters on Monday with water bucket drops to slow the spread of Easy Fire. Crews are actively establishing control lines and installing sprinkler systems. 

TODAY’S ACTIVITIES: Extreme terrain prevents direct attack on the Easy Fire. Firefighters will continue identifying and improving indirect firelines that take advantage of natural barriers such as avalanche chutes and historical burn scars. Ground crews will continue felling dead trees above and parallel State Route 20 to reduce hazards and vegetation that serves as fuel for the fire. Firefighters are bolstering control lines and continuing water bucket drops. Additionally, crews may start structure protection work for the historic Mebee Lookout Tower. 

WEATHER: A westside marine layer brought higher humidity to the fire area overnight.  There is dry air immediately above the marine layer, so as it mixes throughout the day, conditions will change. With the cooler temperatures, strong wind gusts as high as 26 miles per hour are predicted. 

EVACUATIONS:  There are no evacuations in place for the Easy Fire. Anyone recreating in the area should be vigilant about being aware of surroundings and stay out of closed areas. Please visit https://t.ly/QoH9w for more information about evacuation levels.  

CLOSURES: State Route 20 is closed in both directions between Granite Creek (MP 148) and Easy Pass Trailhead (MP 157).

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has closures in place for trails within the fire area: https://bit.ly/EasyFireClosures. Campfires are prohibited. There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire: https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_6779.html. Unauthorized drone activity is prohibited under the TFR. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560760893080 

Fire Information Line: 541-861-5808, 8 AM to 8 PM

Email: 2024.pioneer@firenet.gov

Actualización del Incendio Lake 23 de Julio de 2024

Teléfono del Incendio Lake: 213-631-5455 Horas: 8 a.m. - 8.p.m

Correo electrónico del Incendio Lake: 2024.lake@firenet.gov

    Inicio del Incendio Lake: viernes, 5 de julio de 2024 a las 3:48 p.m.

Causa: Bajo investigación

Localización: Cerca del Zaca Lake, en el condado de Santa Barbara, al norte de Los Olivos, California.

Tamaño en el momento de la actualización: 38.664 acres

Contención: 90%

Personal: 925

Detalles completos del incidente: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

Las señales de calor detectadas dentro del perímetro del incendio Lake están disminuyendo con cada día que pasa. Los bomberos continuarán buscando y extinguiendo estos puntos ardientes hasta que estén seguros de que ya no representan una amenaza para las líneas de control establecidas. Muchos de los puntos calientes se están quemando por sí solos a medida que los combustibles pesados ​​se reducen a cenizas. Muchos de los recursos asignados ya no son necesarios y están siendo desmovilizados del incidente para ser reasignados a otros incendios o viajar a casa para disfrutar de un merecido descanso. El personal total asignado cayó ayer a menos de 1,000.

Los bomberos están en el proceso de reposicionar un gran parte del equipo pesado previamente asignado al grupo de contingencia. Los buldóceres, niveladoras y otros equipos ahora tienen la tarea de reparar las líneas de buldócer y las carreteras afectadas por las operaciones de incendio.

Previsión para el martes: Las condiciones persistentes más cálidas y secas continúan con temperaturas máximas a mediados de los 90 grados hasta cerca de 100 grados a mitad de la semana. Una advertencia de calor excesivo está vigente hasta las 10 p.m. del jueves. La mayoría del área del incendio se encuentra por encima de la capa marina que se ha desarrollado cada noche durante los últimos días. La vegetación sobre la capa marina no se ha visto afectada por la mayor humedad en los niveles inferiores del área del incendio. 

Donaciones: Agradecemos el apoyo de la comunidad. Pedimos que cualquier donación o esfuerzo voluntario se dirija a los bancos de alimentos locales para ayudar a la comunidad. Los puestos de comando de incidentes del incendio Lake no pueden aceptar donaciones.

Cierre del área del incendio del lago: Algunos caminos y senderos dentro del Bosque Nacional Los Padres están cerrados. Consulte la Orden de Cierre y el Mapa de Orden de Cierre. Esto cierre permanecerá vigente hasta el 18 de agosto de 2024, o hasta que sea revisado o rescindido.

Humo: El Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Barbara y el Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de Santa Barbara (APCD por sus siglas en inglés) han levantado la alerta de calidad del aire en el Valle de Santa Ynez. La vigilancia de la calidad del aire se mantendrá en todo el condado, y las condiciones de la calidad del aire se prevé que sea buena a moderada en todo el condado.

Áreas de evacuación: El Sheriff del Condado de Santa Barbara ha reducido algunas de las órdenes de evacuación y advertencias. Vea las actualizaciones más recientes: https://https://www.readysbc.org/4281/Incendio-Lake---July-2024. Regístrese para recibir alertas de emergencia en https://www.readysbc.org/es.

Cierre de carreteras: Visite el Mapa de Cierre de Carreterasdel Condado para más detalles.

• Happy Canyon Road en el límite del bosque nacional
• Montaña Figueroa justo al norte de la Midland School
• Ruta forestal 10N06
• Zaca Lake Road al este de Foxen Canyon Road.

Lake Fire Incident Update July 23, 2024

Lake Fire Phone: 213-631-5455 Hours: 8 a.m. – 8.p.m

Lake Fire Email: 2024.lake@firenet.gov

Lake Fire Start: Friday, July 5, 2024 at 3:48 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Location: Near Zaca Lake in Santa Barbara County, north of Los Olivos, California

Size at time of update: 38,664 acres
Containment: 90%

Personnel: 925

Full Incident Details: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/calpf-2024-lake-fire

The heat signatures detected within the Lake Fire perimeter are decreasing with each passing day. Firefighters will continue to seek out and extinguish these smoldering spots until they are certain there is no longer a threat to the established control lines. Many of the hot spots are burning out on their own as heavy fuels burn down to ash.  Many of the assigned resources are no longer needed and are being released from the incident to be reassigned to other fires or travel home for some well-earned rest. Total assigned personnel dropped to below 1,000 yesterday. 

Fire managers are in the process of repositioning much of the heavy equipment previously assigned to the contingency group. Bulldozers, graders and other equipment are now tasked with repairing dozer lines and roadways impacted by fire operations. 

Forecast for Tuesday: Persistent warmer and drier conditions continue with highs in the mid-90s to near 100 degrees mid-week. An excessive heat warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday. Most of the fire area is above the marine layer that has developed each evening over the last few days. The vegetation above the marine layer has not been affected by the higher humidity at the lower levels..

Donations: We appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. We ask that donations or volunteer efforts be directed to local food banks to assist the community. Lake Fire Incident Command posts cannot accept donations.

Lake Fire Area Closure: Some roads and trails within the Los Padres National Forest are closed. Refer to the Closure Order & Closure Order Map  by using links or visiting the Los Padres National Forest website. This closure will remain in effect until August 18, 2024, or until revised or rescinded. 

Smoke: The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) have lifted the Air Quality Alert in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Air Quality Watch will remain in place countywide, and air quality conditions are forecasted to be good to moderate throughout the county.

Evacuation Areas: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff has reduced some evacuation orders and warnings.  See the most recent updates: https://www.readysbc.org/4275/Lake-Fire-Incident---July-2024. Register for emergency alerts at ReadySBC.org.

Road Closures: Visit the County Road Closure Map for details. 

• Happy Canyon Road at the Forest Service Boundary.
• Figueroa Mountain just north of Midland School.
• Forest Route 10N06.
• Zaca Lake Road east of Foxen Canyon Road.

Fire Information               Tuesday, July 23, 2024 

Phone: 208-713-9693 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) 

Email: 2024.homesteadcomplex@firenet.gov 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HomesteadComplexFireInfo 

Inciweb: http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orupf-homestead-complex 

Hotshots to take on Salmon 33 Fire; plan being developed to contain No Man Fire 

Operations personnel with Great Basin Team 5 got a better look Monday at the fires in the Homestead Complex, thanks to clearer air in the afternoon. Based on what they saw, adjustments are being made today to capitalize on the crews and equipment assigned to the complex. The total acreage of all the fires combined is 792 acres, based on infrared mapping overnight. More than 200 people are assigned to the complex. 

Today, the Palomar Hotshots will move from the Reynolds Butte Fire to the Salmon 33 Fire, which was previously believed to be the Steelhead Fire. Fire managers determined that the Salmon 33 Fire is small and could be quickly contained. Crews continue to investigate a separate heat source detected in the area of the Steelhead Fire. 

The No Man Fire north of Chilcoot Mountain near No Man Creek saw moderate fire activity Monday. The steep, rugged terrain means it is unlikely that firefighters will be working on the ground close to the fire’s edge. Team 5 is working with cooperators west of the fire to develop plans for indirect control lines. 

Firefighters assigned to the Horse Heaven Creek Fire and Reynolds Butte Fire will continue building direct containment lines in areas where they have the highest probability of success. The Horse Heaven Fire is staffed today with a hand crew, five engine crews, and several heavy equipment operators. The Reynolds Butte Fire is staffed today with a hand crew, four engine crews, and a couple heavy equipment operators. 

The Lost Bucket Fire has line built and hose laid around it, thanks to the hard work of Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) crews. Today, crews will work with a skidgen to reinforce lines, moving closer to declaring the fire contained. The Fuller Lake Fire and Bullpup Fire are unstaffed; however, Operations personnel continue to develop plans to engage these fires as resources become available. 

Weather today is expected to be warmer with highs in the mid 80s. Light winds are forecast and relative humidities are expected to be higher. These conditions could lead to increased fire activity later in the day. 

Area fire restrictions and danger ratings are as follows: Fire Danger Rating: High. Industrial Fire Restrictions: 2. Public Use Fire Restrictions: 2. 

CLOSURES: The Umpqua National Forest issued a Forest Closure order on July 20, 2024, in response to fire activity to protect public and wildland firefighter safety. This closure impacts all of the Cottage Grove Ranger District and parts of the Diamond Lake, North Umpqua, and Tiller ranger districts. The closure includes the Boulder Flat Campground and Boat Launch. Canton Creek Road is the boundary of the Closure but is OPEN. To view the order, visit www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua. 

Ore Fire Update

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 – 9:30 a.m.

Size: 747 acres | Reported Date: July 16, 2024 | Cause: Under Investigation
Total Assigned Personnel: 246 | 11 engines | 3 hand crews | 3 dozers | 16 water tenders | 4 masticators | 4 feller bunchers | 1 helicopter

An Ore Fire Community Meeting is scheduled for today, Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the McKenzie High School Gymnasium.

(Springfield, Ore.) – Fire suppression efforts continue on the Ore Fire, which is burning 7 miles northeast of Blue River, Oregon. Challenges include steep and rugged terrain, falling rocks and rolling debris, fire-weakened trees, and extreme weather conditions. Firefighter and public safety remain the number one priority on the incident. Fire managers are focusing on activities with a high probability of success while minimizing risk to firefighters and protecting values such as communities, infrastructure and forest, recreation and cultural resources. Progress on the Ore Fire is ongoing as an unprecedented number of wildfires continue to burn across the region. 

Yesterday, cooler temperatures moderated fire behavior with growth mostly isolated to the southwest portion of the fire. Fire backed down the hillside and was held by ground crews at the FS 15 Road, where falling debris remained a hazard. The section of the FS 1509 Road to the Tidbits Trailhead was graded, and a feller-buncher removed fuels from the road to widen the containment lines. Handlines and hose lays have been set up from the FS 15 Road to the 500 Spur, with the equipment ready to be used if fire activity increases.

Today, in coordination with Resource Advisors who have extensive local knowledge, fire managers are evaluating areas along the FS 15 Road where additional bulldozer lines could be established to safely and effectively stop fire spread. Crews and equipment have been strategically placed in areas where the fire poses the greatest threat to values at risk. As more resources arrive, fire line construction to the north will commence. 

Weather: Drier and slightly warmer conditions exist as a very dry northerly flow briefly scours out moisture across the landscape today. Winds will be light and terrain-driven over the fire area. Seasonable temperatures and mostly sunny conditions will continue through the end of the week.

Safety: Fire danger continues to increase as does the number of fire incidents around the region. The public plays an important role in preventing the next wildfire. Avoid causing undue strain on firefighting resources by using caution with all ignition sources. For prevention tips visit, https://keeporegongreen.org. Fire restrictions are in place within the Willamette National Forest. More information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/willamette/fire. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire area.

Smoke: Smoke from numerous wildfires burning throughout the state will affect air quality in many areas over the coming days. For information on air quality in your area, go to: www.airnow.gov. 

Forest Closures: Closures in the Willamette National Forest have been established around fire-impacted areas. These closures include the following sites: Buck Mountain Trail, Tidbits South and West Trail, Gold Hill Trail, Mona Campground, Lookout Campground, and Saddle Dam Boat Launch. For a complete list of recreation and roads in the Ore Fire closure order, visit  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices.