Single Publication

Fire Update –Willamette Complex (South Zone)

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

Wednesday, August 7, 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

There will be a community meeting for the Willamette Complex (Oakridge Lightning Fires), Ore, Slate, and Pyramid Fires on Thursday August 8th at 6:00 pm. The meeting will take place at the Thurston High School Auditorium at 333 58th St, Springfield. California CIMT13 will assume management of the Pyramid, Slate, and Ore Fires on Thursday morning, and these fires will be collectively referred to as the North Zone of the Willamette Complex. Alaska CIMT3 will assume management of the remaining fires (South Zone of the Willamette Complex) on Saturday morning as the Rocky Mountain CIMT1 reaches the end of our extended tour of duty.

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

Yesterday’s weather again presented conditions favorable for firefighters to make good progress on fireline construction and removal of fuels through low intensity firing operations. Similar operations will continue today, but under much drier conditions as a very dry airmass moved into the area overnight. Crews will carefully assess conditions as the day progresses and continue to use firing operations to clean up fuels only where prudent. Meanwhile, hand crews and heavy equipment will continue the job of establishing new control lines where needed, and reinforcing and patrolling firelines where they already exist.

Chalk Fire

Division AA: The Firing Group used the UAS (drone) yesterday to complete firing of the indirect line and develop additional fireline depth on the west side of the fire. The Firing Group worked late into the evening on this operation. A few small spots occurred outside the line, and these were quickly addressed by hand crews. Today, this section of line will be secured and patrolled.

Division TT: Crews implemented firing operations along the 642 Road, working westward along this indirect control line until late in the evening. Today, this work will continue with the goal of tying the line into the indirect control line on the north end of Division AA.

Division KK: Crews finished firing an unburned island of fuel within the fire’s southern interior. Today’s work will include securing and patrolling firelines along the entirety of this division.

Coffeepot Fire and Moss Mountain Fire

Division PP: Crews continue to work on securing and patrolling lines in this division.

Division RR: Much of the west side of the fire is now contained. Crews continued to patrol and secure the north side of the division. Hand-held firing devices were used to clean up unburned fuels on the southeast side of the fire, achieving a black control line depth of 600 to 800 feet. Today, the UAS (drone) may be used to continue with the cleanup of unburned interior fuels, conditions permitting.

Division SS: Heavy equipment continued with contingency line clearing from south of Moss Mountain west towards the SS/PP division break. Fire managers are assessing potential control line locations west of Moss Mountain.

Division WW: Chipping of fuels along indirect control lines continued in the western part of the division. Mechanized equipment and hand crews continued prepping the 2300 road as an indirect line, working to the northwest. This work, which is being closely coordinated with Resource Advisors, will continue today.

Contingency Group: This group continues working with local resources to identify and construct secondary control 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 and in patrol status.

Weather and Fire Behavior

A dry airmass moved into the area overnight, resulting in poor nighttime humidity recovery. Light south winds this morning will push low lying smoke out of the area. After 2:00 pm temperatures will rise to the 80s while relative humidity will decrease to 20-30% at lower elevations. Winds will shift to north-northwest but remain light. Skies will be clear, promoting active fire behavior. Clouds will move in by Thursday and moisture may enter the area by the weekend.

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 Willamette Complex Personnel: 1,042

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR