Single Publication

Friday, August 16, 2024 

Total Willamette Complex South Personnel: 820 

Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 12,783 

Resources: 25 Type 6 Engines, 14 Dozers, 10 Masticators, and 1 Skid Steer 

Fire Cause: Lightning  

 Community Meeting TONIGHT! 

There will be a community meeting for the Willamette Complex Fires South on Friday, August 16, at 6:30 pm at the Banner Bank Amphitheater in Greenwaters Park in Oakridge, Oregon. A recording of the in-person meeting will be posted to Facebook and YouTube.   

 Chalk Fire (5,541 acres, 54% containment) 

Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) are available for use on the Chalk Fire for strategic firing operations, as conditions allow. Firing, or burn-out, operations reduce fuel load so that crews can more safely gain containment line. Equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, these UAS also provide fire managers with temperature mapping to identify the locations of hot spots. This will allow them to pinpoint crew deployment for search and destroy missions to extinguish heat.  

 Coffeepot Fire (6,120 acres, 35% containment) 

Unburned islands of fuel remain on the east side of the Coffeepot Fire, near containment lines. Similar to the Chalk Fire, UAS will be used for firing operations in the green islands. Felling crews are removing hazard trees to widen containment lines. Hazard trees not only pose a hazard to firefighters, but also undermine the effectiveness of the containment line.  

 Moss Mountain Fire (799 acres, 0% containment) 

The Midnight Sun Hotshots and Gila Hotshots, supported by a Type 1 helicopter, are preparing and holding the 2120 road on the south of the Moss Mountain Fire. Hotshot crews are a highly trained, self-sufficient, 20-person unit. Their skills are critical to holding this road in steep terrain, heavy timber, and significant hazards. Additional crews are constructing further control lines aided by heavy equipment.  

 208 Fire (238 acres, 0% containment) 

The 208 Fire remains unstaffed but is patrolled daily. Fire managers are assessing strategic options for protecting private timber lands to the west.  

 217 Fire, Tire Mountain Fire, and McKinley Fire  

The 217, Tire Mountain, and McKinley fires are 100% contained. Crews are monitoring heat and mopping up as conditions allow. 

 Weather and Fire Behavior 

Marine air pushed in on Thursday and raised the humidity levels across the complex. Cooler and moister conditions are expected to remain in place through Saturday, with a gradual return to seasonally normal warmer and drier conditions. 

 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 visit tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024 
• For current fire restrictions visit tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024 

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in place over the Chalk, Coffeepot, and Moss Mountain Fires. Visit tfr.faa.gov for up-to-date areas. Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.    

For More Information 

Phone: (541) 208-1742, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south

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

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WillametteComplexFiresSouth

#FireYear2024