Friday, September 15, 2017
Cooler temperatures and rain in the forecast do not indicate an end to fire season. Current conditions and continued scarce firefighting resources are contributing factors to heightened fire danger. Oregonians are asked to do everything possible to prevent human-caused wildfires, including following fire restrictions when out in Oregon forestlands. To find the restrictions on ODF-protected lands, go to
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx.
ODF resources committed to our mission
ODF has personnel engaged in or closely monitoring many fires on US Forest Service lands which pose a potential threat to ODF protected lands. Our goal is to help coordinate and ensure we meet our mission of minimizing loss and costs while prioritizing firefighter and public safety on all ODF protected lands.
For more information about any wildfires listed here, please visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
For photos and more information on wildfires and wildfire readiness, please go to the department’s wildfire blog at http://wildfireoregondeptofforestry.blogspot.com/.
New ODF Fires
Straw Fork Fire
Acres: 13.5 Containment: 100%
Personnel: 20 Cause: Under Investigation
Firefighters from ODF’s John Day Unit in central Oregon responded yesterday evening to a fire in Wheeler County. The fire was wind and terrain driven, however the location near ODF’s Office in Fossil allowed resources to respond quickly. Dozers from ODF and local landowners, along with ODF engines and resources from Wheeler County Ranches Rangeland Fire Protection Association and Wheeler County Rural were able to stop the progression of the fire at 13.5 acres. Single Engine Air Tankers were used to support efforts on the ground. Firefighters worked late into the night to complete dozer line around the fire and were able to take advantage of cooler temperatures and increased humidity to improve the containment line. Today three engines from ODF and a twenty person hand crew will be working to mop-up inside the perimeter.
Updates on existing Oregon wildfires
Desolation Fire
Acres: 2252 Containment: 0%
Personnel: 195 Cause: Under Investigation
Due to current and expected conditions, evacuation levels have been lowered from a Level 2 (Set) to a Level 1 (Ready). A temporary closure order remains in effect for all of Mill Creek Wilderness and Forest Service land north of the wilderness up to and including Forest Roads 27, 2730 and 2745.
For more information, call (541) 316-7711 or follow online at http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or on Inciweb: Desolation Fire
Eagle Creek Fire – Columbia River Gorge
Acres: 41,550 Containment: 28%
Personnel: 967 Cause: Under Investigation
A community meeting has been scheduled for noon, Saturday, September 16 at the Hood River Valley High School. A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at the Skamania County Fairgrounds, immediately across the Columbia River in Stevenson, Washington.
For information regarding evacuations, please contact your local Sheriff’s Office.
Interstate 84 opened to westbound traffic last night. Crews have worked hard for more than a week to reinforce fire line, remove hazard trees, and address other public safety concerns. Fire line has been completed along I-84 from Bridal Veil to Cascade Locks. Drivers are reminded to obey posted speed limits, be aware of changing visibility and watch out for other hazards. All exits between Hood River and Troutdale will remain closed. Drivers are not to stop along the highway.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Eagle Creek Fire
Chetco Bar Fire – Curry and Josephine counties
Acres: 188,284 Containment: 38%
Personnel: 1,744 Cause: Lightning
A community meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. this evening at the Winchuck Fire Station at 363 Winchuck River Rd.
Due to fire activity, and firefighter and public safety concerns, there are trail, road and area closures in place. For more information and details regarding the closures, please visit the Forests’ websites at http://tinyurl.com/ClosureOrder and https://www.fs.usda.gov/srnf.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Chetco Bar Fire
High Cascades Complex – in and around Crater Lake National Park
Acres: 60,393 Containment: 18%
Personnel: 805 Cause: Lightning
This complex of fires includes the Spruce Lake, Blanket Creek, Broken Lookout, Pup, and North Pelican fires is divided into east and west zones, with an Interagency Incident Management Team assigned to each zone. Road, trail and area closures remain in effect, for a complete list of closures, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/5503/
For more information, please visit Inciweb: High Cascades Complex
Horse Creek Complex – Willamette National Forest
Acres: 31,735 Containment: N/A
Personnel: 384 Cause: Lightning
This complex of fires includes the Avenue, Roney, Separation, Nash, and Olallie Lookout fires, mainly located within the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Highway 126 is now open. All other road, trail, and area closures remain in place.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Horse Creek Complex
Horse Prairie Fire – Douglas Forest Protective Association
Acres: 16,436 Containment: 90%
Personnel: 286 Cause: Under Investigation
This fire is located about 15 miles northwest of Canyonville and started on August 26.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Horse Prairie Fire
Jones Fire – Willamette National Forest
Acres: 9,462 Containment: 55%
Personnel: 283 Cause: Lightning
This fire started August 10 and is located east of Springfield and about 10 miles northeast of Lowell.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Jones Fire
Miller Complex – Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Acres: 34,535 Containment: 54%
Personnel: 545 Cause: Lightning
This complex of fires, located about 17 miles east of Cave Junction, includes the Creedence, Bigelow, Burnt Peak, and Abney fires. ODF continues to actively engage on this complex to keep these fires from spreading to lands protected by ODF.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Miller Complex
Milli Fire – Deschutes National Forest
Acres: 24,025 Containment: 60%
Personnel: 59 Cause: Lightning
This fire is located about 9 miles west of Sisters and started on August 11. Area closures, while recently reduced, are still in effect.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Milli Fire
Rebel – Willamette National Forest
Acres: 8,437 Containment: N/A
Personnel: 141 Cause: Under Investigation
This group of fires started on August 4 and are burning primarily in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area, about 13 miles south of McKenzie Bridge. The fires in this group includes the Rebel, Pete and Box Canyon fires. Road, trail, and area closures, and evacuations are still in effect.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Rebel Fire
Umpqua North Complex – Umpqua National Forest
Acres: 41,441 Containment: 38%
Personnel: 773 Cause: Lightning
This complex of fires, located along Highway 58 about 50 miles east of Roseburg, started on August 11. The complex is currently comprised of nine active fires including the Fall Creek, Happy Dog, Rattlesnake, Devil, Brokentooth, and Ragged Ridge fires.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Umpqua North Complex
Whitewater Fire – Willamette National Forest
Acres: 13,666 Containment: 35%
Personnel: 297 Cause: Lightning
This group of fires started on July 23 and are burning primarily in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area about 15 miles east of Detroit. The group of fires includes the Whitewater, Little Devil, Scorpion, and Potato Hill fires.
Yesterday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office moved the evacuation level from Level 2 (Set) to Level 3 (Go) for the areas of Breitenbush Hot Springs and Breitenbush/Devil Creek Summer Homes. For the most up to date information on Marion County evacuations please go to the Alerts and Emergency tab on the Marion County web page or call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (503) 588-5108. All road, trail, and area closures remain in effect.
For more information, please visit Inciweb: Whitewater Fire
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About this update
This update provides information chiefly about fires 10 acres or larger on land protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. ODF provides fire protection on 16.2 million acres of private and state-owned forestland, and Bureau of Land Management forestlands west of the Cascades. ODF works closely with federal and local firefighting agencies to prevent and suppress fires.
