Single Publication

Fire Update – Willamette Complex

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

Tuesday, August 6, 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

In addition to the fires listed above (formerly called Oakridge Lightning Fires), Rocky Mountain CIMT1 is managing the Pyramid, Slate, and Ore Fires; all of which are active on the Willamette National Forest. Newly arrived California CIMT13 will be briefed on the Pyramid, Slate, and Ore Fires today and will assume management of those fires.

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

Fire activity remained moderate on Monday, allowing firefighters to continue making progress on fireline construction and low intensity firing operations aimed at securing more of the fires’ edge. Today’s weather will bring similar conditions, and crews and heavy equipment are expected to once again make good progress on establishing both direct and indirect control lines. A firing group using hand ignition and an ignition-capable UAS (drone) will remove unburned pockets of fuel inside control lines as we work on increasing containment of the fires.

Chalk Fire

Division AA: Crews continue to patrol and secure the established fireline in the southern part of the division. The Firing Group found ideal conditions for extending low intensity firing operations along the indirect line (1920 Road) heading northwest from the western side of the fire. They finished that operation late last night. Today will include further line cleanup and patrol operations.

Division TT: Crews continued to improve indirect firelines north of Chalk Fire while supporting firing operations in Division AA as needed. They were also successful in cleaning up some pockets of unburned fuel along the 1925 Road. Today, conditions allowing, they will begin firing operations near the TT/KK division break, working westward with the goal of eventually tying secure control lines into Division AA.

Division KK: Crews fired an unburned island of fuel within the fire’s southern interior. The remainder of the division was patrolled to ensure firelines remain secure. Today will see further work to secure and patrol the firelines.

Coffeepot Fire and Moss Mountain Fire

Division PP: This division has now been combined into Division RR.

Division RR: Crews are securing and patrolling firelines on the north side of the fire in an area that was fired in recent days. In the southeast part of the fire, firefighters worked to achieve fireline depth inside an indirect control line that was part of the previous night’s firing operations. A UAS (drone) may be used in this area today to remove additional fuels.

Division SS: Moss Mountain Fire was surveilled to ensure no significant movement occurred. Heavy equipment continued with contingency line clearing from south of Moss Mountain west towards the SS/PP division break. Fire managers are assessing potential fireline locations west of Moss Mountain.

Division WW: Crews used chippers to remove fuels and also set up hose lays along contingency lines in the western part of the division. Other resources continued prepping the 2300 road as a contingency line, working to the northwest. This work will continue today.

Contingency Group: This group continues working with local resources to identify and construct contingency lines to protect high value assets existing south of the Coffeepot and Moss Mountain fires.

208 Fire

The 208 Fire in Diamond Peak Wilderness has shown little growth over the past several days. Fire managers are developing plans for aerial surveillance of the fire with either helicopter and operations personnel or remotely with a UAS platform.

217 Fire, Tire Mountain Fire, and McKinley Fire

The 217, Tire Mountain, and McKinley fires are 100% contained.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Overnight temperatures were in the 50-60 degree range with relative humidities (RH) of 60-80%. A nocturnal inversion holding smoke near ground level will break around 2:00 pm. Winds will be light from the west to northwest, temperatures will be about two degrees warmer than yesterday’s high 70s to low 80s, and RH will be slightly lower. An extremely dry airmass is expected to move into the area tonight, and Wednesday will potentially see critically low RHs below 25%

Today’s weather will bring good conditions for continuing low intensity firing operations. Wednesday’s weather will bring unstable conditions and the driest air experienced in recent days. Consequently, fuels will be more subject to ignition and rates of spread may increase.

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.

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: 970

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR