Two-week-old, lightning-sparked Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone fires returning to local oversight
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Two weeks after a rash of lightning-sparked wildfires around the region, there were new signs of progress Sunday, as the three largest remaining blazes on the Deschutes National Forest are returning to local management.
Officials said command of the Bachelor Complex would transition at 6 p.m. Sunday from the Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 to a Central Oregon Type 3 IMT, while command for the Flat Top and Firestone fires will return to the Deschutes National Forest and a Type 4 incident commander.
Another sign of progress came Friday evening, when Willamette Complex North officials and ODOT fully reopened Highway 126 near the Boulder Creek Fire, after a period when motorists were escorted by a pilot car using one lane in alternating directions. Highway 242, the McKenzie Pass Highway, remains closed.
Here are Sunday's fire updates:
Northwest 3 Complex Incident Management Team
Lonnie Click ~ Incident Commander
September 22, 2024
Bachelor Complex, Flat Top and Firestone Fires Update
September 22, 2024
Quick Facts: Bachelor Complex
Size: 11,741 acres
Start Date: Sept 8, 2024
Location: 20 miles SW Bend, OR
Personnel: 292
Containment: 39%
Quick Facts: Firestone & Flat Top Fires
Start Date: Sept 6, 2024
Location: North of Fort Rock, OR
Personnel: 116
Firestone Size: 9,462 acres
Containment: 90%
Flat Top Size: 36,362 acres
Containment: 86%
At 6:00 p.m. today, Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 will transition command of the Bachelor Complex to a Central Oregon Type 3 incident management team, while command for the Flat Top and Firestone fires will be returned to the Deschutes National Forest and a Type 4 incident commander.
Dry vegetation and very low humidity contributed to an increase in fire activity Saturday, especially in interior pockets of unburned fuel. Fire 846, in the Kwohl Butte area, is about three acres, and firefighters anticipate one or two more shifts of work to secure the fire.
Bachelor Complex: There was increased fire activity within the interior of the Little Lava Fire as heavy fuels, such as downed logs, continued to consume themselves. On the uncontained northern edge, near Sheridan Mountain, terrain and wind direction contributed to a slight increase in acreage as the fire backed north, against the wind and topography. Near Forest Service Road 45, crews will continue disassembling hose lays and hauling out hose that is no longer needed. Patrol and mop-up efforts are ongoing as crews address areas of heat found near the line. Brush chipping operations were completed yesterday along the southern flank and suppression repair is ongoing.
Flat Top Fire: No further updates are planned for the Flat Top Fire, unless conditions change. An infrared flight early Saturday morning indicated heat outside the line near the northwest corner of Flat Top Fire in the area of the previous day’s burnout operation. Firefighters were able secure the two-acre spot by the end of the day. Today, crews will continue mopping-up, chipping brush and doing suppression repair as needed.
Firestone Fire: No further updates are planned for Firestone Fire unless conditions change. Crews continued to secure and deepen the line on the Firestone Fire along Forest Service Road 100. Today’s plan is to continue mop-up, patrol, brush chipping and suppression repair where needed.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Dry and warmer weather is in the forecast across the fire areas. This warming trend continues into mid-week. Given the predicted wind direction, significant fire perimeter growth is not expected.
Closures: While evacuations have been lifted, there are two temporary emergency fire closure areas on the Deschutes National Forest. To view the updated closure orders and maps, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/deschutes/alerts-notices.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deschutesnationalforest/
InciWeb:
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-bachelor-complex-fires
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-flat-top-and-firestone-fires
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CentralOregonFireInfo?app=desktop
Fire Information Line: (541) 249-9829, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Smoke & Air Quality Information: fire.airnow.gov
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Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fire Daily Update
9-22-24
Rail Ridge Fire
Acres: 162,423- Containment: 50% - Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024 - Cause: Lightning - Total resources: 1,376 Crews: 41 - Engines: 50 - Dozers: 17
Operational Update
Hotshot crews and other firefighting resources continue to focus efforts along the northern portion of the fire, working to identify opportunities for direct and indirect line construction along the uncontained fire edge. Crews are working to increase containment while favorable weather conditions persist in anticipation of warmer temperatures and gusting winds that are predicted next week. Mop up and suppression repair is ongoing along the southern half of the fire, where crews work to increase depth along containment lines and repair roads that were damaged during suppression activities.
Wiley Flat Fire
Acres: 30,186 - Containment: 94% - Detection Date: Sept 2, 2024 - Cause: Lightning - Total resources: 141
Crews: 2 - Engines: 3 - Dozers: 2
Operational Update Crews on the Wiley Flat Fire have been focused on establishing containment along the last section of perimeter without control lines in place. Road rehabilitation and suppression repair are ongoing around the fire as firefighters work to restore sensitive areas within the fire footprint to identified standards.
The public is invited to a "Meet and Greet" with fire personnel on Monday, September 23rd in Dayville.
This is an opportunity to get first-hand, updated information on the Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fires.
Fire personnel will be at the Dayville Mercantile from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to talk with area residents.
Closures and Evacuations
Rail Ridge Evacuations: All level 1 and 2 evacuation zones have been lifted for Grant County, and level 3 zones have been downgraded to level 2 “set” status. For Crook and Wheeler counties, all evacuation statuses have been lifted.
Wiley Flat Evacuations: All areas inside the fire perimeter are designated Level 3 Evacuation zones. The area encompassing approximately one-half mile from the fire perimeter is designated Level 2 evacuation zone.
For Current Evacuation Levels in all counties, please visit: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
Closures: The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have implemented closures for the Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fires. For more details and closure maps, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
#RailRidgeFire2024 #WileyFlatFire2024 #FireYear2024
Central Oregon Wildfire Information: centraloregonfire.org
Email: 2024.railridge@firenet.gov -Phone:541-208-7111
Social Media, Evacuation and Closure Information: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire
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North Willamette Complex
Publication Type: News - 09/22/2024 - 08:45
Willamette Complex North Update Boulder Creek, Ore, Linton Creek, 374 and Pyramid Fires
Fire Update for Sunday, September 22 through Monday, September 23, 2024
Fire updates will be provided for a two-day operational period.
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-north-willamette-complex
Willamette Complex North Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565845313387
Email:2024.WillametteComplex.North@firenet.gov
Information line: 541-208-1262 Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Overview: OR-126 between mileposts 13 and 19.5 is now open for two-lane traffic. OR-242 remains closed to all traffic between the intersection with OR-126 and the Dee Wright Observatory (mileposts 55 to 75). For current road conditions, please check Oregon Department of Transportation’s website: https://www.tripcheck.com/.
Temperatures are forecasted to increase over the next few days. As our daylight shortens, the north aspect vegetation will continue to become less available to burn. Warmer and drier conditions may lead to a moderate increase in fire behavior on south aspects. Some fire growth is expected; however, all fires are expected to remain within their current footprints. An increase in smoke visibility is possible during these warmer daytime temperatures.
Willamette National Forest Area Closures: Fire-related closures remain in place on the McKenzie River Ranger District, as well as on the Middle Fork Ranger District. Please respect and avoid closed areas of the national forest.
Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029.
Boulder Creek: 523 acres, 34% contained
Located 5 miles east of McKenzie Bridge. More containment has been gained. Crews will continue to monitor, masticate, and chip vegetative material to draw out areas of heat interior of the containment lines and prevent fire spread as the daytime temperatures continue to increase.
Ore: 3,484 acres, 77% contained
Located 7 miles northeast of Blue River. Firefighters continue mastication and chipping operations to remove vegetative fuels from the edge of the containment lines and carry on with repairing other non-essential firelines. As we move into warmer temperatures, this fire will be monitored for pockets of heat and increased fire activity.
Pyramid: 1,312 Acres, 98% contained
East of Middle Santiam Wilderness. Firefighters have removed all hose and water pumps. All chipping and mastication of fuels have been completed. Crews are shifting focus to suppression repair and rehabilitation of non-primary control lines. This fire will continue to be monitored for fire activity as we move into warmer daytime temperatures.
374: 60 acres, 0% contained and Linton Creek: 1,309 acres, 0% contained
Located in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Both fires are remaining within their footprints adjacent to natural barriers and previous fire scars. Fire activity remains low but is expected to increase slightly with rising temperatures. These fires will continue in monitoring status.
Related Links:
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Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update
Red, 208, Moss Mountain, Coffee Pot, Tire Mountain, McKinley Creek and Chalk Fires
Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024
Fire Causes: Lightning
Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov
Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742
Willamette Complex South: Total Personnel: 414 | Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,400
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires/
Red Fire: Total Personnel: 50 | Total Red Fire Acres: 1,805
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2024RedFireOR/
Summary
The Incident Management Team is assessing long-term strategies for the seven-fire complex. Much of that involves chipping, slash removal, road repair and bolstering containment lines. Fire growth has been minimal of late, but conditions are changing and that may affect fire behavior. Crews have been successful at keeping fire within established containment perimeters. Crews continue working to firm up indirect control lines and repair resources in places impacted by suppression operations. The situation at each fire will be closely monitored as we head into next week.
The Chalk Fire, Coffee Pot Fire, McKinley Creek Fire, and Tire Mountain Fire remain 100% contained and in monitor-and-patrol phase. There has been limited open flame and torching on the Chalk Fire. Crews are clearing brush and repairing roads used by fire crew vehicles and heavy equipment. Operations are designed to be scientifically sound and protect sensitive terrain and vegetation as much as possible. Resource specialists are assisting in plan development. Members of the public are asked to continue respecting area closures and restrictions which may change due to weather conditions and fire behavior. Forest leadership continue to evaluate and will adjust closures when it is safe to do so.
Red Fire (1,805 acres, 11% containment)
The Red Fire is 11% contained. Hauling and removal of slash from Forest Service Road (FSR) 6010 from Summit Lake to the southwestern corner of Crescent Lake remains a priority. Road repairs and clean-up of the shaded fuel break from Whitefish Horse Camp to Crescent Lake Sno-Park continues. Structure protection measures will remain in place, given the shift to warmer, drier weather. Fire growth remains minimal, moderately paced, and concentrated on the southeast perimeter of the fire. Additional fire crews are moving into the area with the anticipated warmer and drier air forecast for the next few days.
208 Fire (8,979 acres, 4% containment)
There were some puffs of smoke observed near the northwest corner. Crews will continue improving holding lines from Lighthouse Rock to Summit Lake. Road repair and material chipping operations are ongoing from Campers Flat to Emigrant Butte along FSR 21.
Moss Mountain Fire (2,175 acres, 10% containment)
Slash and excess vegetation removal along primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain is nearing completion, and some heavy equipment operations are being conducted there. Crews are making progress south of Beach Mountain near FSR 2316 and expect to connect to the existing fire-line along FSR 23 from the 208 Fire.
Weather and Fire Behavior
The passing cold front has run its course, so the brief boost in relative humidity is giving way to higher temperatures and a reduction in relative humidity levels. Temperatures are returning to seasonal averages, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-60s. Those temperatures may warm into the low 80s Tuesday or Wednesday with the arrival of another front. Expect light northwest winds and a drop in minimum relative humidity levels to 20 – 30%. Heavy fuels have been burning out, but smoldering and creeping continue.
Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuations
- For closure information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/RedFireClosures2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024.
- For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/DesFireRestrictions2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024.
- The Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice remains in effect for the Red Fire. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit: www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management.
