Single Publication

Saturday, August 17, 2024 

Total Willamette Complex South Personnel: 886 

Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 12,893 

Resources: 3 Type 1 Hotshot Crews, 23 Type 2 Crews, 3 Type 2 Initial Attack Crews, 25 Type 6 Engines, 15 Dozers, 10 Masticators, and 1 Skid Steer 

Fire Cause: Lightning  

 Summary 

The Willamette Complex South fires are experiencing minimal growth. Fire behavior consists primarily of creeping, backing and isolated torching. Fire managers and crews are employing persistent and deliberate firefighting strategies: building control line, strengthening them by working their way from the perimeter into the fire area about 50 feet or to the point where they feel confident it will hold, and mopping up remaining heat sources. This work takes days, and weeks, to complete. Due to their hard work, crews gained containment on both the Chalk Fire and the Coffeepot Fire. Both are over 50% contained. 

 Chalk Fire (5,607 acres, 57% containment) 

The control lines on the south and east portions of the Chalk Fire are holding. Crews will continue to improve and widen completed control lines from the main body of the fire west along Forest Road 1912 and tie back into the body of the fire on Forest Road 1925. Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) will be used for strategic firing operations as conditions allow. 

 Coffeepot Fire (6,157 acres, 58% containment) 

Crews are patrolling and mopping up control lines along the northern boundary of the Coffeepot Fire. They will improve control lines and continue filling in the unburned islands on the southeast side of the fire. UAS will be used for strategic firing operations as conditions allow. 

 Moss Mountain Fire (804 acres, 0% containment) 

Forest Road 2120 continues to be the best holding point for the southern boundary of the Moss Mountain Fire. Crews have worked from the southern-most tip of the fire on either side, prepping the east and west flanks, and laying hose and sprinklers. Another crew is scouting the fire perimeter near Forest Road 490 to identify the best opportunities to minimize the fire’s footprint. 

 208 Fire (240 acres, 0% containment) 

The 208 Fire in the Diamond Peak Wilderness Area remains unstaffed but is monitored with infrared heat mapping aircraft. The fire area has remained stable with very little growth. The most active portion of the fire is spreading upslope toward rocky outcrops that act as natural holding features. 

 217 Fire, Tire Mountain Fire, and McKinley Fire 

The 217, Tire Mountain, and McKinley fires are 100% contained. The fires are being monitored with infrared heat mapping aircraft and crews are mopping up as conditions allow.  

 Weather and Fire Behavior 

Showers will likely develop Saturday afternoon and taper off overnight. The isolated showers could bring thunderstorms, hail, or heavy rain. To the west, the Cascade Mountains could experience extreme weather and flooding. More seasonally moderate weather will begin on Sunday and continue into the week ahead. 

 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