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The Sandstone Fire ignited from a lightning strike on Monday, August 5, after a lightning storm event. The fire is located on the south side of Thunder Mountain several miles north of Forest Road 70 on the Clackamas River Ranger District and 9 miles southwest of Ripplebrook OR, on the Mt. Hood National Forest.
At 6:00 a.m. on August 17th, Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 10 took command of the fire, which also includes the Blister Creek Fire. The fire is currently burning in the 2006 Blister Fire burn scar, where there is dead and down fuel and remote, steep, rugged terrain.
While much of the fire area is remote, if the fire were to spread significantly, it could affect nearby population centers in Clackamas County. Fire managers are using a full-suppression strategy to protect private property, public infrastructure, and natural and recreation resources while minimizing risks to responders and the public. Firefighters continue to establish firelines and hose lays, working in conjunction with water-dropping aircraft.
The Mt. Hood National Forest has a closure order in place for the area around the Sandstone Fire. Closed trails include Skookum Lake Trail (#542) and Thunder Mountain Trail (#543). Closed Recreation Sites within the Closure Area include Kingfisher Campground, Bagby Hot Springs, and Pegleg Falls. Please see the 'Closures' tab for more information.
This fire is being managed under a full suppression strategy.
Current as of | Tue, 09/03/2024 - 11:46 |
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Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Lightning |
Date of Origin | |
Location | 9 miles SW of Ripplebrook, OR, on the Mt. Hood National Forest |
Incident Commander | Jeff Dimke - Incident Commander Bob Shindelar – Deputy Incident Commander Northwest Complex Incident Management Team 12 |
Incident Description | Lightning caused wildfire. This is a full suppression fire. |
Coordinates |
44° 59' 19'' Latitude
-122° 10' 45
'' Longitude
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Total Personnel: | 144 |
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Size | 702 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 75% |
Estimated Containment Date | 10/31/2024 |
Fuels Involved | Fuels in the fire area are primarily composed of Timber Litter and Timber Understory. The timber is mixed age mixed conifer. Some shrub species are ceanothus, alder, huckleberry, and ocean spray. Snags and heavy surface fuel concentrations are common throughout. |
Significant Events | Fuels have nearly rebounded from previous cool and moist conditions that ended on August 27. Warming and drying with periods of offshore flows are contributing to decreasing live and dead fuel moistures. Much of the fire perimeter is contained. Minimal fire behavior activity with limited smoldering in available surface fuels continues. |
Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Scattered areas of smoldering fire behavior anticipated in stumps and logs. No fire spread anticipated. 24 hours: Cooler with higher relative humidity. Fire behavior potential decreasing. Scattered areas of smoldering fire behavior anticipated in stumps and logs. No perimeter growth anticipated. 48 hours: Warmer and drier with limited fire behavior potential due to less available fuel and effective suppression efforts. Fire behavior will be scattered smoldering in stump and down logs. No perimeter growth anticipated. |
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Remarks |
Sandstone Fire includes Blister Creek Fire OR-MHF-000808 at 18 acres. UAS requested to enhance situational awareness for inaccessible and difficult to reach areas, in consideration of firefighter safety. |
Weather Concerns | Onshore flow is forecast again tomorrow, though the weather pattern will start to shift. This will allow for temperatures to warm about 5 degrees into the upper 60s to mid 70s. There will still be enough marine influence to keep RH values above 50% in the afternoon. Good recoveries above 80% overnight into tomorrow are also expected. Winds should remain out of the west again at 5-10 mph, though there could be some gusts up to 20 mph. Showers are not expected. |
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