Terwilliger Fire on Willamette NF tops 4,700 acres

(Update: Adding Saturday update on Wheeler, Gilliam county fires)

The Terwilliger Fire burning at Cougar Fire on the Willamette National Forest has grown to more than 4,700 acres and remains just 1 percent contained, officials said Saturday of the blaze that has sent heavy smoke swirling into Central Oregon in recent days.

Here’s the full Saturday morning update:

S ize: 4,721 acres Containment: 1% Cause: Under Investigation

Location: 5 miles SE of Blue River Structures Destroyed: 0

Total Personnel: 273 including 6 hand crews, 11 engines, 5 dozers, 7 water tenders, and 4 helicopters

Incident Commander: Alan Sinclair with the Southwest Area Type 2 Incident Management Team #3

Summary: Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 is utilizing a suppression strategy and developing tactics that minimize impacts to important values at risk. Incident Responder and public safety remain the highest priority.

Smoke cleared in the valley overnight bringing sunny skies to the fire area and increased fire activity very early in the day. The fire moved upslope up canyon within Annie Creek moving to the north and west into rugged steep terrain limiting the ability to go direct. The continuous coordination between Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Service, and the Incident Management Team has been successful in simultaneously constructing a contingency line and going direct on the western perimeter of the fire.

On the eastern portion, the increased fire activity brought growth into Walker Creek to the north, easterly movement further into the Three Sisters Wilderness and south into the French Pete Creek drainage toward the 2017 Rebel fire scar. Late in the afternoon, the fire spotted across the River to the west and south of the main fire and is now burning between Horn and Balm Creeks. With the clear air, aerial resources were utilized yesterday afternoon dropping water when the new spot fire was discovered.

Today, fire activity is expected to be similar to yesterday as skies are clear this morning. Fire fighters will focus on holding and securing the southwest perimeter and work towards tying into the contingency line ODF constructed on Campbell Global property. Firefighters on the southeast perimeter of the fire will focus on establishing an anchor point on the new spot fire burning between Horn and Balm Creeks and work on developing a plan for containment.

Closures: Willamette National Forest has implemented Closure Order # 06-18-01-18-17 see the closures tab on Inciweb for more details, map and a pdf of the original Forest Order.

Restrictions: The Willamette National Forest has implemented Forest wide campfire ban, which includes all campgrounds and Wilderness areas. For specific information and on Forest Order 06-18-00-18 Public Use Restrictions see the Willamette National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices .

Temporary Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) are in effect around the entire fire area. Remember, that temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems (drones). If you fly, we can’t!

For smoke monitoring information, see Oregon Department of Environmental Quality https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map or https://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/ or https:// www.lraba.org

For further information, please visit the following links:

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6160/

Facebook: @willamettewildfires

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And here’s Saturday’s update on the fires that have burned more than 100,000 acres in Wheeler and Gilliam counties:

Incident Commander: Eric Knerr, Northwest Team 7

Contact: Fire Information, 541-239-3619

Follow Fire Information on Facebook Pages:

Gilliam County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/GilliamCountySheriff/

South Gilliam County Rural Fire Protection District https://www.facebook.com/South-Gilliam-County-Rural-Fire-Protection-District-783137915065669/?ref=br_rs

Wheeler County Sheriff https://www.facebook.com/WheelerCountySheriffsOffice/

[Condon, Oregon] Minimal fire behavior was observed yesterday as firefighters continued to mop up remaining hot spots within control lines. As a result of the successful suppression efforts, the Gilliam County Sheriff has dropped all remaining evacuation levels related to the Stubblefield and Lonerock Fires. Today firefighters will continue to mop up and patrol the perimeter of each of the fires and begin to repair the firelines used to stop the advance of the fires. Interior smoke may be visible as large fuels continue to burn out.

Stubblefield Fire– The fire is currently 95% contained and is 51,729 acres.

Lonerock Fire – This fire is now 95% contained and 5,056 acres.

Jennie’s Peak – This fire is 80% contained and 45,956 acres. Today’s operations will focus on searching for any remaining hot spots around the perimeter of the fire. The fire continues to hold along the John Day River, staying north and east of the river.

Fire danger remains at extreme levels throughout the region. Burning bans are in place for all local, state and federal lands. If you are planning to recreate anywhere in the state of Oregon be responsible for informing yourself on the local fire restrictions. Know before you go. One less spark. One less fire.

Inciweb: Stubblefield Fires: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6162/

Jennie’s Peak Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6163/