Drone intrusion grounds Terwilliger Fire air attack

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A drone incursion on Sunday grounded firefighting helicopters that had been dropping water on the fast-growing Terwilliger Fire on the Willamette National Forest.

The Statesman Journal reports that the drone was detected over the fire east of Eugene and around Cougar Reservoir Sunday afternoon.

Without water-dropping helicopters, crews had a harder time fighting the 8 ½-square mile (5,400-acre) blaze.

The fine for operating a drone in a temporary flight restriction area – such as a wildfire – is up to $27,500.

This wildfire started more than a week ago and nearly trapped 20 people as it burned through Terwilliger Hot Springs. The geothermal pools are a popular destination for camping and hiking about an hour east of Eugene.

The fire has so far closed 26 campgrounds, hiking trails and recreation areas.
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Monday morning’s update on the Terwilliger Fire:

Monday, August 27, 2018, 9:00 a.m.

Terwilliger Fire Information Phone Number:

Public Information (541) 719-8135
Email: terwilligerfireinfo@gmail.com

Size: 5,398 acres Containment: 2% Cause: Under Investigation

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

Total Personnel: 382 including 9 hand crews, 16 engines, 5 dozers, 9 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.

Yesterday, fire activity moderated as clouds, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity covered the fire area until mid-afternoon. The fire continued to move north of the Basalt Creek, moving up slope, and established a well-developed column of smoke. On the southwest perimeter, crews strengthened a direct line along the road and aim to secure this area in the coming days. Air operations engaged the western perimeter heavily and will continue as conditions allow today.

Yesterday afternoon an unmanned aircraft system, or drone, entered the fire area, violating the temporary flight restriction and grounding aerial operations on the fire. In the event medical attention was needed, the drone would ground medical helicopters from transporting patients to receive medical care as well. When drones are in the sky, air resources cannot operate. The fine for operating in the temporary flight restriction area is up to $27,500.

Fire activity moderated with the overnight moisture, but will return today as clouds clear, higher temperatures rise, and humidity drops over the fire area. Forecasts call for winds out of the north, with gusts up to 18 miles per hours in the ridges. Fire fighters will focus on securing the southwest perimeter and strengthening the western perimeter with heavy equipment to construct a direct line, as well as burnout operations to strengthen the line on this perimeter.

The Oregon Department of Forestry on Campbell Global property will continue constructing a contingency line.

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 http://www.lrapa.org

For further information, please visit the following links:

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

Facebook : @willamettewildfires