Single Publication

Fire Update – Oakridge Lightning Fires

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

Thursday, August 1, 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: Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) typically work for 14 days before rotating out with another team. Some CIMTs working on other Willamette NF fires will be timing out in the coming days. As a result, Rocky Mountain CIMT1 will assume overall management of the existing crews working on fires outside of the Oakridge Lightning Fires, including taking over management of the Ore Fire starting tomorrow. More details will be provided as this shift in supervision occurs.

Current Situation: Warmer and drier temperatures are forecasted for today and will remain in the area for the next several days. A slight chance of precipitation is possible later in the week; any rainfall is expected to be minimal. Fuels across the Oakridge Lightning Fires are dry and receptive. Burning lichen continues to present challenges to firefighters as it carries flames to very dry and receptive fuels in steep terrain which could provide additional challenges to suppression. Fire activity is expected to increase as smoke rises out of the area today.

The total acreage of the seven fires is 8,106 acres with 713 personnel assigned.

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 (3,655 acres, 40% contained)

Division AA: The Chalk Fire is holding along the 1920 Road. Line has been completed and hose is in place. Crews will continue to prepare and strengthen line while also scouting for additional strategic options.

Division KK: The successful firing operation from earlier this week is being secured along the east side of the fire. Resources will continue building and strengthening line along the 1925 Road toward Division TT.

Division TT: Prep work along 1925 Road will continue with equipment and crews strengthening existing line while also looking for additional strategic opportunities for future operations.

Coffeepot Fire (3,956 acres, 0% contained) and Moss Mountain Fire (263 acres, 0% contained)

Division PP: A spot fire on the southwest side of the fire was picked up and addressed yesterday. Crews were able to hold this spot fire overnight and will continue to secure this area today. A contingency crew is in place to assist this division in holding the Coffeepot Fire to the north of highly valued resources south of the fire.

Division RR: Primary line is in place and holding where earlier firing operations have been successful. Additional firing operations are being considered to the west, should conditions allow. Heavy material rolling downhill remains a hazard to firefighters in this difficult terrain.

Division SS: Bulldozers have pushed to the east, tying in this division with Division WW. Equipment will now work west from south of Moss Mountain toward Division PP, while also scouting locations for future strategic operations to protect private land to the south.

Division WW: Crews will continue preparing line along the 2307 Road down to the 23 Road where they expect to be able to tie in with Division SS to the south.

208 Fire (147 acres, 0% contained) and McKinley Fire (24 acres, 0% contained)
These fires continue to show minimal activity over the past several days. The 208 Fire, located entirely in Wilderness, has shown little to no growth. The McKinley fire is being patrolled for any issues that might arise.

Tire Mountain Fire (23 acres, 100%) and 217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained)
These fires are contained. Staff will continue to patrol and ensure line is holding.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Much warmer and drier this morning and for the rest of the week. Atmospheric instability will present issues which could allow for a smoke column to form and for fire activity to increase. If the smoke clears, this atmospheric instability may create low level gusts, which has the potential to significantly increase fire activity.

Due to higher temperatures, lower humidity, and potential atmospheric instability, fire activity may increase across all active fires today. Previous spot fires resulting from lichen carrying flames to very receptive fuel indicate that additional spot fires may occur.

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 Fire Personnel: 713

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR