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Previously called the Oakridge Lightning Fires, the Willamette Complex Fires-South include the Chalk, McKinley, Tire Mountain, Moss Mountain, Coffeepot, 217, and 208 Fires. The fires spread from approximately 8 miles north of Oakridge, Oregon to 8 to 22 miles south-southeast of Oakridge in the Willamette National Forest. The 217 Fire and 208 Fire are located in the Diamond Peak Wilderness.
The fires were discovered after an intense lightning storm on July 17. All of the fires are burning in heavy timber in the Willamette National Forest.
Willamette Complex Fires South Summary
Chalk Fire (5,788 acres, 66% contained)
Coffeepot Fire (6,182 acres, 100% contained)
Moss Mountain Fire (923 acres, 0% contained)
208 Fire (602 acres, 0% contained)
217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained)
Tire Mountain Fire (23 acres, 100% contained)
McKinley Fire (24 acres, 100% contained)
For more information, check out the latest daily update and map.
For information on the Ore Fire and Pyramid Fire, see the Willamette Complex North.
| Current as of | Tue, 09/03/2024 - 11:08 |
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| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Willamette Complex South fires are 8 miles north and 8 to 22 miles S-SE of Oakridge. |
| Incident Commander | Brian Jenkins, Incident Commander Allen Briggs, Incident Commander Trainee Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team |
| Coordinates |
43° 53' 14'' Latitude
-122° 25' 52
'' Longitude
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| Total Personnel: | 669 |
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| Size | 13,580 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 64% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 10/31/24 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Litter and Understory) Brush (2 feet) Short Grass (1 foot) Fuels in the fire area are composed of conifer, Timber Litter and Timber with Understory models. Primary tree species include mixed sizes and densities of Douglas fir, cedar, and western hemlock. Local timber litter is compact to fluffy. Brush and understory species include ceanothus, various hardwoods (vine maple, rhododendron) and dog-hair conifer reproduction. Large snags and heavy downed fuel loadings are common throughout all areas. Live woody and herbaceous fuels are seasonally moist, and not contributing to rates of spread. Fuel conditions change by aspect, previous management practices, and soil moisture. Low crown base height, with lichen and moss in the tree canopy may serve as ladder fuels for torching and spotting. A mosaic of large trees and managed timber stands dominate the landscape. |
| Significant Events | Minimal Backing Creeping Smoldering Heavy fuels continue to retain heat and may serve as ignition sources as drying occurs. Moderate fire behavior is likely under current conditions that may include flare-ups and isolated torching where surface heat aligns with dry fuels. Scattered interior areas of creeping and smoldering are the primary fire behavior characteristics within the four principal fires. Fire activity limited to concentrations of large woody fuel. Warming and drying weather may produce areas of surface fire spread on interior portions of the fire. IR last night shows increase of areas of widely scattered heat, and isolated heat sources across the fires. Residual heat sources are well interior of containment features. 208 fire grew by 300 acres yesterday and still has some intense heat in the S and SW portions of the fire. |
| Planned Actions |
Chalk: Continue to monitor and improve containment lines on the south, east, and north portions of the fire. On the west portion, continue to improve and deepen completed control lines from the main body of the fire, west along Road 1912 and tying back into the main body of the fire on Road 1925. Continue to prep indirect lines and address fire weakened trees and snags.
Tire Mountain, McKinley Creek, 217MF: Monitor and patrol fires to ensure they remain fully contained. Assist the local unit with initial attack, as requested. |
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| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Expect a general increase in fire behavior due to sustained warm and dry conditions, and poor night time relative humidity recovery. Flare ups and occasional torching is likely as limited surface fire spread encounters fuel concentrations and ladder fuels. Moss Mountain: Intense heat in NE Corner may cause flare ups, occasional torching, flanking elsewhere scattered residual heat smoldering in heavy fuels. 208: Intense heat in SE corner may cause flare ups, occasional torching, flanking &short-range spotting. Chalk and Coffeepot: Widely scattered interior residual heat smoldering in heavy fuels. Chalk, backing fire filling in interior unburnt areas nicely. 24 hours: Sunnier & warmer weather forecast which will bring in warmer air with lower relative humidity values, fire activity may increase slightly as the fuel moistures decrease.
208: Scattered heat smoldering & creeping in heavy fuels. Chalk: Residual hot spots continue to burn out and latent heat showing up. A few areas where lingering heat may creep around. Coffeepot: Residual heat smoldering in heavy fuels. 48 hours: Fire activity may increase as warmer drier weather returns with lower RH values decreasing fuel moistures & making fuels available for ignition. Mostly creeping and smoldering fire will be observed with the occasional flare ups. Potential for occasional torching & flanking. 72 hours: Fire activity may increase as warmer drier weather returns with lower RH values decreasing fuel moistures & making fuels available for ignition. Mostly creeping and smoldering fire will be observed with the occasional flare ups. Backing fire with occasional torching & flanking & short range spotting may also occur. Anticipated after 72 hours: Warmer, drier weather likely to produce an observable increase in fire behavior with fuels becoming available for ignition. Heavier fuels will act as a catalyst for igniting unburnt fuels. Expecting areas with hot spots along fire perimeters and interior, areas of backing fire with surface fire spread, isolated torching & potential for flare ups, flanking with occasional torching & short range spotting may occur.
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| Remarks |
EA-CIMT1 is managing the Willamette Complex South, which includes the Moss Mountain, 208, Chalk, Coffeepot, 217, McKinley, and Tire Mt fires. NW-7 if managing the Pyramid Fire Resource Summary includes Willamette Complex (South) and Pyramid Fire resources combined. Total complex acreage went up very slightly mostly due to continued interior burning on Chalk Fire, Moss Mountain, and the 208 MF.
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| Weather Concerns | Willamette Complex (South): Temperatures cooled significantly Monday as an upper level storm system brought strong onshore flow to the area. Highs topped out in the 60s and 70s with relative humidity values fairly moist only bottoming out near 60% by afternoon. A few showers also developed during the afternoon, mostly along the easter periphery of the fire area. Slightly warmer and drier conditions are expected Tuesday as storm system lifts to our east. By midweek, hot conditions return with very dry relative humidity values. |
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