Single Publication

Fire Update – Oakridge Lightning Fires

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

Wednesday, July 31, 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: A community meeting will be held tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Oakridge High School, 47997 W 1st St. Oakridge, OR. Fire managers and local officials will provide the latest updates on fire activity and suppression efforts. Parking at the high school is limited; please plan accordingly.

Current Situation: Fire behavior is anticipated to increase today, and over the next several days, as temperatures rise and humidity decreases. Winds will remain light out of the northwest, though up-slope winds may shift slightly to the north. Abundant dead and down fuel is extremely receptive as lichen continues to be observed igniting and carrying flames.

The total acreage of the seven fires is 7,592 acres with 700 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 (3,525 acres, 26% contained)

Division AA: Low intensity firing operations continued on the west side of the Chalk Fire yesterday. Crews will secure and mop up in these areas while additional strategic options are being considered on Division AA.

Division KK: Similar to Division AA, crews will mop up and secure line from the burn operation that occurred earlier this week. Additional crews continue to prepare the 1925 Road.

Division TT: Heavy equipment continues to build and strengthen line on the north side of the Chalk Fire moving east, while fire managers scout for additional opportunities in Division TT.

Coffeepot Fire (3,591 acres, 0% contained) and Moss Mountain Fire (246 acres, 0% contained)

Division PP: Spot fires on the south side of the Coffeepot Fire were addressed via bucket drops yesterday. Crews continue low-intensity firing operations as well as scouting for, and addressing, additional spot fires attributed to burning lichen.

Division RR: Line north of the Coffeepot Fire has been constructed in Division RR. Low-intensity firing operations occurred last night to secure line. Crews will be mopping up in this area today.

Division SS: Line is being strengthened through the use of heavy equipment from the southern point of the Moss Mountain Fire to the east to tie in with Division WW. Equipment will now be used to push line west toward Division PP. A contingency group is scouting this division, looking for future strategic operations to hold fire north of privately held land.

Division WW: Crews constructed line from the 2307 Road and connected it to the 23 Road yesterday. Efforts will shift today to prepare line down the 23 Road. Crews continue to scout for secondary line options should they be needed.

Tire Mountain Fire (23 acres, 100%) – Division TT: The Tire Mountain Fire has been contained. Crews remain in place to patrol and address potential spot fires. Activity remains minimal on Tire Mountain Fire.

McKinley Fire (24 acres, 0% contained) – Division AA: Firefighters identified and addressed a small spot fire yesterday. Activity remains minimal on McKinley Fire, where staff will remain in place to patrol and address future spots.

208 Fire (145 acres, 0% contained) – Branch XII: Fire is holding. There has been no recent growth in this area.

217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained) – Branch XII: The 217 Fire is contained. Crews will continue to patrol.

 Weather and Fire Behavior:

Warmer and drier conditions have arrived; northwest winds will remain light with some potential for upslope and up valley wind. Smoke is expected to lift around 2:00 p.m. today. Higher temperatures and lower minimum relative humidity will be much lower beginning today, and for the rest of the week.

Very dry and receptive lichen continues to carry fire and ignite spots in abundant dead and dry fuel across the fires. Fire weakened trees from this and previous fires remain a concern to firefighter safety. As temperatures rise and humidity decreases, fire intensity and activity can be expected to increase over the next several days.

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: 641

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR