InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
The information found on this web page provides information about the North Willamette Complex, Pyramid and Ore Fires. Information for the previously called the Oakridge Lightning Fires, the Willamette Complex Fires-South (the Chalk, McKinley, Tire Mountain, Moss Mountain, Coffeepot, 217, and 208 Fires) , can be found on the InciWeb page listed below:
Willamette Complex Fires - South
The North Willamette Complex is comprised of two fires. The Ore Fire, and the Pyramid Fire.
All Fires: Daily Update (pdf) | Daily Briefing Video | Smoke / Air Quality Outlook | Current Air Quality - Air Now | YouTube Channel
Ore Fire: Daily Public Information Map (pdf) | Fire Progression Map | Ore Fire Facebook
Pyramid Fire: Daily Public Information Map (pdf) | Fire Progression Map | Pyramid Fire Facebook
Cameras: A view of the Ore Fire from ALERTWest - Deathball Mtn.
A community Meeting was held yesterday in Sweet Home to discuss the Ore, Pyramid, and Slate Fires.
Watch the live stream of the meeting at August 13, 2024 Ore and Pyramid Public Meeting (youtube.com)
CURRENT SITUATION: The Ore and Pyramid Fires continue to be managed for full suppression. As fire crews time out and travel home for much-needed rest and recovery, replacement crews are being ordered and continue to arrive.
Ore Fire
Blue River, 2,727 Acres, 15% Contained, 162 Total Personnel, Cause Under Investigation
Yesterday’s weather allowed crews to continue firing operations on the western and northern flanks of the fire—with the goal of inhibiting fire growth beyond the 1509 Road. Night crews continued burnout operations with favorable winds, adding depth to containment lines. Crews on the northern flank did, however, experience small spot fires, and suspended firing operations. Overnight infrared flights continue to show intense and scattered heat across the fire. Today, crews will work to secure the spot fires, before evaluating opportunities to continue burnout operations. Crews and heavy equipment across the Ore Fire will continue to prepare indirect fire line, patrol the perimeter, secure threats to the line by removing trees, snags and other fuels, and suppress any flare-ups or hot spots.
Pyramid Fire
East of Middle Santiam Wilderness, 1,323 Acres, 72% Contained, 185 Total Personnel, Lightning Caused
The fire perimeter continues to hold, with pockets of intense and scattered heat identified by infrared technology. Crews and heavy equipment will continue to hold and improve line, by mopping up and extinguishing hot spots.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Marine influence will recede today, though generally cool and moist air will remain, along with clearer skies and more sun. Predicted maximum temperature is 76 to 80 °F in the valleys and 70 to 74 °F on the ridgetops. Predicted minimum relative humidity is 40 to 46% in the valleys and 44 to 50% on the ridgetops. Heavy fuels continue to hold heat, and more direct and widespread sunlight will generally increase fire weather concerns. For smoke and air quality conditions visit: AirNow.gov
EVACUATIONS CLOSURES, & FIRE RESTRICTIONS: On July 17th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Willamette National Forest, issued a Level 3: Go Now Evacuation Alert for an area surrounding the Pyramid Fire. Please refer to the Linn County Fire Map for full details of the issued evacuation area (which will appear in red).
Area, road, recreation sites, and trail (including the PCT) closures are in effect in the Willamette National Forest due to nearby fires. Please see Pyramid Fire Area Closure Forest Order
Due to hot and dry conditions, all campfires, charcoal fires, pellet fires, or any other open fires are prohibited, including in developed campgrounds and wilderness areas. Pressurized liquid or gas stoves, lanterns, and heaters that can be switched on and off are allowed. Please see Forest Order 06-18-00-24-27 for additional information.
ROADS: When traveling in the area, please be mindful of firefighters and their vehicles working near roads. Please visit the Oregon Department of Transportation website for current road conditions.
DRONE SAFETY - KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FLY: Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage. For more information on drones the public can visit the FAA’s website at Home - Know Before You Fly . “If you fly, we can’t!”
ABOUT THE FOREST: The Willamette National Forest offers a stunning choice of year-round recreation for day-trippers and vacationers alike from hiking, camping, fishing or skiing in the Cascade Mountains to picnicking or rafting along one of our scenic rivers. Home to eight wilderness areas, including the popular Three Sisters Wilderness and Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, a variety of backpacking and day hiking opportunities, waterfalls, and much more! Seven major volcanic peaks rise within the Forest's Wilderness areas: Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, the Three Sisters, and Diamond Peak.
Wildfire Ecology in on the Willamette: Periodic fire can be an important part of maintaining diverse and healthy ecosystems. Nearly every region in the country has some kind of fire-dependent plant or tree. Many plants have evolved adaptations that protect them as a species against the effects of fire, and some are even strengthened by it. When fires burn in intervals appropriate to their ecosystem, they consume leaf litter and other ground vegetation like dead wood. This can trigger a rebirth of forests, helping to maintain native plant species.
Wildfires have always occurred in the Oregon Cascades in what are now wilderness areas. The Wilderness Act allows fire suppression but does not allow people to interfere with the natural recovery of these areas. No timber harvest or replanting is allowed. Read more about Wildfire Recovery and Ecology.
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES: Ensure that strategies and tactics have a high probability of success and provide for firefighter and public safety through sound risk management process. Protect and minimize impact to communities, private property, travel and commuter routes, private timber lands, and infrastructure. Protect economic, natural, cultural and heritage resources, while fostering and maintaining relationships with cooperators, stake holders, and the public. Minimize acres burned. Confine fires to National Forest System lands. Ensure coordinated, timely and accurate release of public information. Maintain fiscal accountability and keep costs commensurate with values at risk.
CONTROL OBJECTIVES: Minimize acres burned where possible, using direct and indirect tactics. Minimize negative impacts to communities, private property/lands, and private timber lands.
Ore Fire:
Keep fire North of Mona & Lookout Creeks.
Keep fire South of the FS 2032 Rd.
Keep fire East of FS 1509 Rd.
Keep fire West of FS 15 Rd.
Pyramid Fire:
Keep fire North of private timberland.
Keep fire South of FS 1152 Rd.
Keep fire East of Santiam Wilderness.
Keep fire West of Hwy 22.
| Current as of | Wed, 08/14/2024 - 13:10 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Los_Angeles |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning / Unknown. |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Willamette National Forest |
| Incident Commander | California Interagency Complex Incident Management Team 13, Incident Commander Josh Boehm. |
| Coordinates |
44° 18' 1'' Latitude
-122° 14' 22
'' Longitude
|
| Size | 4,050 Acres |
|---|---|
| Fuels Involved | Brush (2 feet), Closed Timber Litter, & Timber (Litter and Understory) Fuels are primarily composed of Timber litter and understory with shrub. Mixed aged conifer including |
| Significant Events | Pyramid Fire: The pyramid is holding within control lines. Substantial heat remained across the interior of the fire and heavy fuels continued to burn, but higher humidity and lower temperatures limited fire spread and consumption. Heavy fuels have retained heat for more than 3 weeks and continue to burn. Intense or scattered heat was detected across the entire fire. Ore Fire: Active Uphill Runs, Short-range Spotting & Backing Overall, fire behavior was similar to yesterday, with an increase in the afternoon as the air above the fire cleared. The east side of the Ore Fire continued to back slowly to the ridge above Flunky Creek in Division Z but is mostly holding at the top. The south side of the fire, from Division Z through A, continued to hold on the roads. In Division D, on the southeast side of the fire, it has backed to the bottom of the Waterfall Creek drainage below the line from DP 33 to 13. In Division F, on the northern side of the fire, the fire was mostly backing downslope with rollout. The rollout of burning heavy fuels and falling trees are contributing factors to fire spread, in addition to slope-driven fire behavior. Intense or scattered heat was detected across the entire fire, indicating that heavy fuels have continued to burn since the beginning of the incident. |
| Planned Actions |
Pyramid Fire: All DIV: Improve upon the current containment lines on the fire, ensuring they are as direct as possible to keep the fire within its current footprint. Mop up, patrol and secure to extent that can be done safely with snag hazards.
Ore Fire: Div A: Hold and secure 1509 Rd. Continue to scout for contingency lines to the west. Div Z: Continue to patrol and secure containment lines on the southern and southeastern portions of the fire, specifically along FS Road 1509 and FS Road 15. Div D: Begin firing operation from DP33 South toward handline and fire edge to DIV D/A break. Continue to improve prep on planned control lines. Div F: Assess and if feasible engage in direct line construction with crews or indirect line with equipment from the 829 Rd. in Foxtrot to tie in with resources going direct from the 15 Road in W. Div W: Keep fire in check on the 15 Rd. Continue opening 520 Rd. and prepping to hold fire. Continue prepping the contingency box outside of the primary control lines to the North and East. Scout options to go direct from dozer line off the 15 Rd. west toward the 827 Rd. to contain open fire line. Work with READs to assess options to continue dozer line indirect on ridge to connect 15 rd. to 827. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 Hours: Pyramid Fire: Lower humidity on the ridgetops than last night, slight decrease fire behavior is expected. Heavy fuels will continue to burn and smolder. Ore Fire: Tonight will be more favorable for firing operations with weather warmer and dryer air. Heavy fuels will continue to hold heat and consume. 24 Hours: Pyramid Fire: There will be an increase in fire behavior caused by higher temperatures and lower relative humidity (RH). There is an increased probability of torching, interior flare-ups, and re-burns. Dry fine fuels will be more receptive to spots or ignition from heavy fuels. Ore Fire: Continued fire activity moving to the north and west within current and planned control lines. Fire will back and roll out with heavy fuels being able to ignite spot fires even with higher humidity. Short uphill runs are expected when the fire is in alignment. Fine fuels will be available for ignition and will support fire spread under clear air. 48 hours: Pyramid Fire: Slightly wetter and cooler weather will again reduce fire behavior, but not enough to extinguish heavy fuels. Slight chances of thunderstorms may bring the risk of gusty, erratic winds that could influence fire behavior. Ore Fire: Continued fire activity moving to the north and west within current and planned control lines. With higher fine dead and 10-hour fuel moisture, heavy dead and down will fuels will be the primary carrier of fire. Cooler and wetter weather will limit fire spread in lighter fuels and reduce the probability of ignition. Fire will back and roll out with heavy fuels being able to ignite spot fires even with higher humidity. Slight thunderstorm chances bring the risk of gusty erratic winds which could influence fire behavior. 72 hours: Pyramid Fire: Slightly wetter and cooler weather will again reduce fire behavior, but not enough to extinguish heavy fuels. Slight chances of thunderstorms may bring the risk of gusty, erratic winds that could influence fire behavior. Ore Fire: Heavy dead and down will fuels will be the primary carrier of fire. Slight warming weather will begin to dry lighter fuels and increase probability of ignition. This will lead to a slight increase in fire behavior and increasing receptiveness of fine fuels to ignition. |
| Remarks |
Pyramid Fire: CA-CIMT13 is managing the Pyramid Fire which is also a part of the Willamette Complex, and included within this 209.
|
| Weather Concerns | Deep marine influence continued to envelop the fire this morning, resulting in exceptionally high relative humidity (RH) recoveries around 90% and thick cloud cover. -Cloud cover and smoke gradually eroded through the early afternoon, allowing for scattered areas of warmer and drier |
|---|