Update on Oregon wildfires; smoke relents in Bend
The Terwilliger Fire on the Willamette National Forest has grown to about 5,400 acres, authorities said Sunday as winds that blew wildfire smoke into the Bend area and once again caused unhealthy air quality levels shift and conditions improved to the “good” category by afternoon.
However, reports indicated the smoke was still thick and air quality poor in La Pine and southern Deschutes County:
Here’s Sunday morning’s update on the Terwilliger Fire:
Sunday, August 26, 2018, 9:00 a.m.
Terwilliger Fire Information Phone Number:
Public Information (541) 719-8135
Email: terwilligerfireinfo@gmail.com
Size: 5,398 acres Containment: 1% Cause: Under Investigation
Location: 5 miles SE of Blue River Structures Destroyed: 0
Total Personnel: 321 including 7 hand crews, 13 engines, 5 dozers, 6 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 full-suppression strategy and implementing tactics that minimize impacts to important values at risk. Incident Responder and public safety will always remain the highest priority.
Smoke settled in the valley yesterday during the morning hours before clearing in the early afternoon to bring sunny skies to the fire area and increased fire activity in the afternoon. The fire continued to move north of Annie Creek and into the Basalt Creek drainage, limiting the ability to established a direct line. The continuous coordination between Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Service, and the Incident Management Team has been successful in simultaneously constructing a direct line and a contingency line on the western perimeter of the fire.
A rockslide covered Road 19 yesterday and other rolling debris created obstructions that slowed movement through the area to the southwest perimeter, fire responders engaged midday. Crews were able go direct along the road and aim to strengthen and hold the line during night operations. Air operations engaged the southwestern and western perimeters in the afternoon and will continue as conditions allow with increased resources today.
To the southeast, fire moved into the 2017 Rebel fire scar but slowed significantly due to lack of fuels. In addition, it continues to slowly burn through rugged terrain of the Three Sisters Wilderness.
Fire activity is expected to moderate as clouds, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity cover the fire area. Fire fighters will focus on extinguishing spot fires and holding and securing the southwest perimeter. They will also work towards tying into the contingency line ODF constructed on Campbell Global property.
“Our team is engaged in robust conversations with local authorities to ensure we are hearing and addressing concerns as we manage this incident”, stated Incident Commander Alan Sinclair
Closures: Willamette National Forest has implemented Closure Order # 06-18-01-18-17 seethe 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 http:// www.lrapa.org
For further information, please visit the following links:
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6160/
Facebook: @willamettewildfires
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Sunday update on the Stubblefield, Lonerock and Jennie’s Peak fires in Gilliam and Wheeler counties:
Incident Commander: Eric Knerr, Northwest Team 7
Contact: Fire Information, 541-239-3619 (Sunday)
541-316-7700 (Beginning Monday)
[Condon, Oregon] Minimal fire activity was observed yesterday on the Stubblefield and Lonerock Fires as firefighters continued to mop up remaining hot spots within control lines. Interior burning was observed on the Jennies Peak but posed no threat to the control lines. A cooler, more moist air mass has helped firefighters gain considerable depth on the control lines and they will continue to work today to identify and extinguish any remaining hot spots.
Stubblefield Fire– The fire is currently 95% contained and is 54,221 acres.
Lonerock Fire – This fire is now 95% contained and 5,056 acres.
Jennie’s Peak – This fire is 90% contained and 45,956 acres.
Today will be the final day Northwest Team 7 will be managing these fires. Firefighting resources will be remaining to patrol the fires into the future. We would like to express our appreciation for the support we’ve received from the local fire and Sheriff’s departments of Gilliam and Wheeler Counties and the communities they serve.
Inciweb: Stubblefield Fires: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6162/
Jennie’s Peak Fire: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6163/
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/
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Sunday morning update on the Ramsey Canyon Fire in SW Oregon:
[Sams Valley] Over the last 36 hours, firefighters have been able to capitalize on the cooler weather and have gained excellent progress in securing containment lines. On the east side of the fire, mop up operations built upon containment lines that have now held for several days. There were a couple of spot fires caught outside of those containment lines yesterday, but those were holdover spots from previous days that were discovered by air resources and were quickly contained by firefighters on the ground.
The southern and western containment lines are holding well along Ramsey Canyon Road. Burnout operations and mop up behind homes along East Evans Creek Road have been so successful that fire officials have decided to demobilize some of the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal structure protection task forces this morning. If progress continues as planned, the remainder of structure protection task forces are anticipated to be released from the fire on Monday morning. Homeowners will remain protected by local resources, and structure protection task forces can once again be mobilized if the need arises.
With the exception of an outbuilding destroyed during the first evening, no other structures have been destroyed or lost.
Acres: 1,971 Containment: 25%
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Sunday morning update on the Watson Creek Fire west of Paisley:
The Watson Creek Fire was subdued overnight, according to night operations chief Vince Grace. However, light winds from the southwest this morning are expected to increase in velocity and vary in direction throughout the day. Fire lines on the east side may be tested by the wind and engines will patrol as a precaution.
A slight southerly flow is predicted to pick up in the fire area, becoming westerly around noon then northwesterly in the evening. Winds of 8 to 13 mph could gust up to 25 to 30 mph in places. Temperatures will remain cool in the fire area from the upper 60s to low 70s.
A drone flown by Lakeview Crew 7 from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) detected a two-acre spot fire near where Forest Roads 28 and 33 join. The spot fire was contained and a precautionary Level 2 evacuation order was issued for the area south and southwest of the Watson Creek Fire.
Evacuation notices coordinated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Level 3 (GO): Lakeview Estates neighborhood just north of Campbell and Deadhorse Lakes in the Fremont-Winema National Forest is still in effect. Lake County Sheriff’s Office evacuated area residents August 19. Level 2 (Be Set): Residents west of Highway 31 from Beachler’s Corner (Mile Post 105) north on Highway 31 to Forest Road 29, also known as Government Harvey Pass Road. This includes the town of Paisley west of Highway 31. Residents south of Forest Road 3510 from Forest Road 33 to the west side of Forest Road 3509 and the east side of Forest Road 28. Properties on both sides of Forest Road 3428 from Dairy Point Campground to Forest Road 34. Both sides of Forest Road 34 north of Forest Road 3428 to the junction of Forest Roads 33 and 28. Level 1 (Be Ready): Residents east of Highway 31. Closure Order Number 06-02-03-18-02-02 for the Fremont-Winema National Forest remains in effect.
