Smoke from SW Oregon wildfires blows into C.O.

Firefighters are making good progress on the 22,500-acre Stouts Creek Fire in southwest Oregon — but a wind shift sent major amounts of smoke from that and other far-off fires blowing into Central Oregon on Sunday, making for hazy skies, watery eyes and worried residents.

“Local firefighters continue to respond to small, human-caused fires, but there are no large incidents putting up smoke right now on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests, the Prineville BLM or the Crooked River National Grassland,” the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center said in a Sunday afternoon news release.

The Oregon DEQ’s Air Quality Index map Sunday afternoon showed Bend’s reading had dropped from the “good” to “moderate” category. By 4 p.m., the 24-hour particulate reading also had dropped to “moderate” air quality at the DEQ monitor at Prineville’s Davidson Park.

And by 6 p.m., all four Central Oregon DEQ stations – in Madras, Sisters, Bend and Redmond – reported “moderate” air quality levels.

Monday morning, all Central Oregon reports had air quality back in the “good” category – but the smoke was thick enough in Shady Cove, near the fires, to be labeled “unhealthy” — and for everybody, not just “sensitive groups” such as the elderly, children or those with asthma or other breathing problems.

The smoke clearly was a problem for some with sensitive eyes and many who called dispatchers and the media asking if there was a fire far closer than the one east of Canyonville, some 100 miles to the southwest.

According to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland, a 900-acre wildfire was reported Saturday about 12 miles east of Warm Springs.

Gary Curcio, an air resource advisor to the Forest Service fire managers, said some smoke also was coming from the smaller National Creek Complex of fires at Crater Lake National Park and the Potter Mountain Complex on the Umpqua National Forest.

Curcio said the smoke could get more dense later in the day, as surface and upper airflows create the “soupy mix” the area is experiencing.

You can get the latest on Oregon wildfire smoke issues at this Website.Track Oregon’s other large wildfires at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/38/

COIDC reminded residents that fire danger across public lands in Central Oregon remains extremely high. Campfires are only allowed within fire rings at designated campgrounds, and chainsaw use is prohibited until conditions moderate.

Here’s the Sunday morning update on the Stouts Creek Fire (known previously as the Stouts Fire):

Aggressive firefighting continued Saturday on the Stouts Creek Fire as the number of structures threatened decreased from more than 300 previously to 163 Sunda y.

Containment increased to 35 percent with acreage up to 22,501. The bulk of the activity occurred along the eastern perimeter of the fire, specifically along Hatchet Creek in the northeast and Forest Service Road 3201 to the south.

Sunday ‘s plans called for more of the same tactics that have been successful in recent days: burnout operations along Hatchet Creek continue, crews will work to strengthen lines along the fire’s southern edge and much of the remaining perimeter is in various stages of mop up.

One big change for Sunday is the alignment of upper- and lower-level winds in a west to southwest direction. This will push more smoke into the areas of Milo and Tiller while possibly alleviating smoke issues for residents along Upper Cow Creek Road, officials said.

People planning to drive the Tiller-Trail Highway Sunday were advised to plan for extra time as traffic can be congested and smoke could be an issue between Milo and Drew and points beyond.

If motorists encounter smoke on the road, treat it as fog and use low beam headlights. Please do not stop along the road as traffic from fire operations will be heavy.

Those with health concerns should go to their doctor or the Oregon Smoke Information page, where there is information on wildfires and health, as well as access to AQI monitors.

There are no changes to the evacuation levels.

There are 1,628 people — 62 crews, 47 engines, 28 water tenders and 27 bulldozers – working on the fire, which has reached a cost of $16.8 million. About 53 percent of the fire is on state0protected, BLM and private lands, and 47 percent is on the Umpqua National Forest.

The Stouts Creek Fire is burning on private timberlands, other tracts of private land, Bureau of Land Management and Umpqua National Forest lands. The fire is being managed cooperatively by the Oregon Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. Wildland fire suppression direction is coming from the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 1.