Single Publication

Homestead Complex and Lane 1 Fires 

 Update for Thursday, September 12, 2024  

In response to the heavy rains that arrived early yesterday morning, fire managers implemented their safety plan and adjusted operations to ensure firefighter safety and to avoid negative impacts on roads and the natural environment due to heavy rainfall and very saturated soil conditions. Three of the seven fires on the Homestead Complex are 100% contained, the Salmon 33 Fire (275 ac.) on August 24, 2024, the Reynolds Butte Fire (334 ac.) on August 22, 2024, and the Lost Bucket Fire (34 ac.) on July 29, 2024. 

Homestead Complex Fire 

Start Date: July 19, 2024 

Size: 9,483 acres 

Overall Containment: 31% 

Personnel: 476 

Location: 30 miles NE of Glide, OR 

Cause: Lightning 

Fire Information: https://tinyurl.com/25vkhfjp 

Lane 1 Fire  

Start Date: July 17, 2024 

Size: 25,951 acres 

Containment: 99% 

Personnel: 92 

Location: Approx. 16 miles SE of Springfield, OR 

Cause: Lightning 

Fire Information:  https://tinyurl.com/29k3nnly 

Fire Operations Summary: 

Yesterday on the Horse Heaven Fire (2,715 acres, containment: 56%), fire managers directed firefighters to not engage in suppression operations on the northern flank of the fire due to extremely heavy rains, saturated soils, and concerns with falling trees and rolling material. Work on other flanks of the fire continued with chipping and log hauling where road conditions were stable. Today, fire manages will be assessing whether crews can reengage suppression and mop-up efforts on the north flank and continue with chipping, log hauling, and suppression repair on the other flanks of the fire. Fire managers will also be assessing whether conditions are safe and stable enough to continue with completing containment line down into Horse Heaven Creek and opening up an alternate resource access point to the northwest. 

On the Fuller Lake Fire (3,516 ac., containment: 0%), the heavy rains and saturated soils limited operations.  On the east flank, road conditions were so poor that operations were suspended for most of the day. The risk of having heavy trucks and equipment cause damage to the roads, and having vehicles getting stuck in the mud, was very likely. On the north and west flank, only a small amount of work on road clean-up was completed. Today fire managers plan to reengage operations on all flanks of the fire to secure existing, and construct additional, control lines. Work to re-open the 3850 is also planned. 

The Bullpup Fire (520 ac., containment: 7%) remains within primary and secondary control lines. Very little road clean-up work was completed due to heavy rains and poor road conditions. Today, fire managers plan to reengage all planned operations. The priority objective for fire managers is to prevent the fire from progressing further north toward critical habitat for wild steelhead (the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area). 

On the No Man Fire (2,089 ac., containment: 44%), on the north flank of the fire, crews were able to continue with road work doing chipping and hauling.  However, road conditions on the south flank were too wet to allow for planned road grading and roller work. Today, crews plan to reengage with patrolling, mopping-up, chipping, hauling logs and conducting suppression repair operations. No work was done yesterday on the Reynolds Butte and Lost Bucket fires. 

On the Lane 1 Fire (29,951 ac., containment: 99%), reported rain fall amounts were some of the highest of any of the fires in the area.  Only a limited amount of chipping was done before heavy rains put a halt to operations.  Planned road grading was postponed due to saturated road conditions. Today, fire managers plan to reengage all planned operations. 

Closures and Fire Restrictions: 

There are two closure orders impacting every district of the Umpqua National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices. The forest is in High Fire Danger with Public Use Restrictions (PURs) at Level 2: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/fire/?cid=FSEPRD937986 

The closure order issued by Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Roseburg District, for portions of BLM land which border the Umpqua National Forest Emergency Fire Closure north of Steamboat remains in effect: https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2024-07/orwa-fpo-rbg-072624.pdf  

Weather: Tomorrow will be slightly warmer and drier. Winds will be light and variable in the morning and becoming north to northwesterly in the afternoon. Temperatures will range from the 50s at higher elevations to lower 60s in the valleys. 

There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fires. Please remember, if you fly we can’t! If a drone or other aircraft enters the air space, all firefighting aviation equipment will be grounded. 

Fire Information Line: 541-208-7100 (Staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) 
Email: 2024.homesteadcomplex@firenet.gov 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomesteadComplexFireInfo/