Single Publication

Fire Update – Oakridge Lightning Fires (Willamette Complex)

Chalk, Coffeepot, McKinley, Moss Mountain, Tire Mountain, 208, and 217 Fires

Sunday, August 4, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: (541) 208-1742

Email:2024.mossmountain@firenet.gov

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Special Note

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1 (CIMT1) has assumed management of the Pyramid, Slate, and Ore Fires, all of which are active on the Willamette National Forest.

Ore Fire Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-ore-fire

Pyramid and Slate Fire Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-pyramid-and-slate-fires

Current Situation

Trace amounts of precipitation decreased fire activity yesterday across most of the Oakridge Lightning Fires. Firefighters are preparing for an increase in activity today as clouds and smoke will lift in the afternoon. While lighter fuels are expected to be less receptive, heavy dead and down fuels remain extremely dry and will likely become active later today. Firefighters continue to construct and reinforce lines to protect high value assets near the Oakridge Lightning Fires.

Information for each of the seven Oakridge Lightning Fires is provided below. Firefighting activities and suppression actions are described in detail for each double-lettered division on each fire.

Chalk Fire (3,808 acres, 50% contained)

Division AA: Crews continue to patrol and secure existing lines as they work west toward Division TT. A test fire yesterday indicated that this area will be ready for a low intensity firing operation later today. The firing operation may last up to three days.

Division KK: Preparation work continues along the east side of the Chalk Fire which is expected to take two to four days to complete. When complete, a firing operation will be assessed to strengthen containment lines and hold fire to the west.

Division TT: Fire managers are assessing options to build and strengthen lines tighter to the fire’s west side, where they have identified options to limit growth. Contingency lines are being strengthened further west.

Coffeepot Fire (4,801 acres, 0% contained) and Moss Mountain Fire (340 acres, 0% contained)

Division PP: Crews are preparing lines south to the SS division break on the east side of the Coffeepot Fire. Work continues to hold the 45-acre spot in the southwest corner of this division.

Division RR: An earlier successful firing operation is being strengthened today as firefighters look to address some areas of unburned fuel where there is a high probability of success. Firefighters are also preparing the 2119 road as a strategic option to keep the fire within a smaller footprint.

Division SS: More resources, including heavy equipment, were added to this division yesterday. Crews continue to prep lines as they head west to the Division PP break.

Division WW: Firefighters are fine tuning previous prep work and are putting in hose lays around Division WW. Prep is also continuing in this division from the SS division break up towards Division RR.

Contingency Group: This additional group continues working south of the Coffeepot Fire to protect highly values assets on private land.

208 Fire (156 acres, 0% contained), McKinley Fire (24 acres, 54% contained)

The 208 and McKinley fires have shown little growth over the past several days.

217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained) and Tire Mountain Fire (23 acres, 100% contained)

The 217 and Tire Mountain fires are contained.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Mostly sunny skies are expected today. With little fire activity yesterday, there will be considerably less smoke in the air than in previous days. A strong nocturnal inversion is in place this morning and is expected to break by early afternoon, depending on smoke cover.

Active fire behavior is expected today as smoke and clouds lift out of the area. Fuels remain dry and receptive despite the little precipitation received in the area yesterday. Spot fires from rolling logs and flammable lichen are possible today.

Evacuations

For evacuation information please visit: https://www.LaneCountyOR.gov/2024wildfires

To sign up for evacuation alerts please visit: https://www.LaneAlerts.org

Closures and Fire Restrictions

Area, road, trail, and recreation site closures are in place on the Willamette National Forest in the vicinity of many active fires. Temporary road barricades are in place to restrict traffic across the fire areas.

For specific closure information follow this link:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029

Fire restrictions on the Willamette National Forest may be found at this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=81487

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in place over the Chalk and Moss Fires.

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t.

For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

For More Information:

Phone: (541) 208-1742

Email: 2024.mossmountain@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-oakridge-lightning-fires-2024

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakridgeLightningFires2024/

 Total Willamette Complex Personnel: 997

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR