Crews gain ground on Long Hollow Fire

(Update: Lower Deschutes Level 1 evacuation alert lifted; adding Timber Crater 6 Fire update)

The Long Hollow Fire southeast of Dufur has burned more than 34,000 acres, but crews working in extreme heat over the weekend have brought it to 58 percent containment, officials said Monday.

Here’s the Monday morning update:

Long Hollow Fire: 34,550 acres Containment: 58% Reported: July 26, 4:44 P.M. Cause: Human

Dufur, Oregon – Although temperatures have been high and relative humidity low, there has not been a significant growth in fire acres over the last two days. On Sunday, firefighters continued to improve fire perimeter lines. The estimated containment is 58% and size is 34,550 acres.

Temperatures Monday are forecast to be 98 to 103 degrees, minimum humidity 13 to 17%. Wind is expected to be up to 5 mph from the northwest in the morning, increasing to 8 mph from the north/ northwest in the afternoon. Hot and dry conditions will continue through Tuesday.

On Monday, firefighters will continue to patrol, hold and improve existing hand and dozer line along all divisions of the fire. Fire personnel resources are slowly being released as the fire activity decreases.

The Deschutes River access road and Highway 216 are open. The Deschutes River evacuation level in Segment 3 (Buckhollow to Mack’s Canyon) had been lowered to Level 1 (Ready) and that was lifted Monday morning.

The Deschutes River is open for recreational activities. Fire personnel will still be using routes along the river and Highway 216. Use caution traveling in these areas. Roads are narrow and winding and will have increased traffic from fire activity.

Evacuation notifications will continue to be monitored and disseminated from Wasco and Sherman County sheriff’s offices.

Visitors, as well as locals, should always be aware of potential hazards when moving through recently burned areas. Burned area hillsides can become unstable due to loss of vegetation. Burn scar areas are susceptible to rapid soil and debris movement when precipitation occurs.

Local, state and federal partners will participate in two Post Fire Resources Open Houses to connect fire impacted families and communities with relevant federal, state and local programs and information. Meeting dates and locations are:

— Monday, July 30, 4pm – 7pm at Fort Dalles Readiness, 402 East Scenic Drive, The Dalles, OR

— Tuesday, July 31, 4pm – 7pm, Sherman County School, 65912 High School Loop, Moro, OR

As summer progresses, increasing and prolonged temperatures are drying grass, brush and trees, we ask the community and visitors to stay particularly vigilant in being fire safe. Dragging trailer chains, leaving campfires unattended, parking in dry grass, discharging firearms or fireworks, tossing cigarettes, and using mechanical equipment without spark arrestors are all known causes of wildfires.

More information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6040/

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Monday update on the Timber Crater 6 Fire:

Crater Lake National Park, OR – The Timber Crater 6 Fire stands at 3,126 acres, is 75% contained, and is staffed with 394 personnel. The eastern flank of the fire is in patrol status. Crews on the north and west perimeters are securing containment line, while crews on the southern boundary continue to mop up and cold trail the remaining 25% of line.

The Timber Crater 9 Fire is contained at ½ acre. Today firefighters will be flown into the area by helicopter to confirm that containment lines are secure. They will back-haul equipment and surplus supplies. Once the firefighters are satisfied that the containment lines are secure, they will be extracted by helicopter.

Firefighters held the Timber Crater 10 Fire at 184 acres. Multiple fire crews were assigned to initial attack Saturday, working their way east on both the north and south flanks. Yesterday, firefighters pushed containment lines to the head of the fire and linked the lines together at the fire’s eastern end. There is a continuous line built around the fire. Crews will now secure this line by mopping up and cold trailing. At this time the fire is 20% contained. The fire threatened the East Rim and sensitive research and natural areas, but thanks to a quick response by firefighters and air resources the fire remained small. Field Operations Section Chief Keith Dunn summed it up in this morning’s briefing when he said, “It was an incredible catch.”

Suppression repair is underway. Incident Commander Brian Goff shares the National Park and Forest Service’s belief that while wildfire may be compatible with management of the landscape, the work of fire suppression should not leave a lasting mark. Chippers are being used to transform limbs and brush into easily degradable mulch, that is then dispersed over the area. Road graders and water tenders are repairing damage to forest roads. Other firefighters are working closely with resource advisors to develop plans for repairing contingency fireline lines that were constructed outside of the fire perimeter.

Weather conditions in the region today will remain unseasonably hot and dry. These factors could contribute to more active fire behavior. High temperatures will be in the mid 80s. Relative humidity will be 21 to 28 percent, and wind will be easterly at 1 to 4 miles per hour, becoming westerly in the afternoon with speeds of 8 to 10 mph, and with gusts to 15 mph. No wetting rain is forecast in the coming days.

For more information about smoke conditions from air monitoring sites, visit http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/. For hourly updates visit https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/smoke.pl. Smoke monitor #19 is located at Diamond Lake and smoke monitor #20 is located at park headquarters. More information is also available at https://tools.airfire.org/outlooks/CraterLakeArea.

Follow Us: at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5986/, Crater Lake National Park and Fremont-Winema National Forest on Facebook, and swojic.blogspot.com.