Single Publication

Heat and wind push Service Fire across lines on the Fossil Complex

SPRAY, Ore. – Winds of up to 30 m.p.h. drove the Service Fire northward today, pushing it well beyond containment lines. As wind and fire intensity grew, crews withdrew from the head of the fire and relocated to continue work on cooler and safer areas of the fire. By late afternoon, the outflow winds from passing thunderstorms subsided allowing crews to reengage the fire.

A small spot fire on the Kinzua grew to 2.5 acres before crews were able to get line around it and begin securing the perimeter. The unstable winds and poor visibility today made it unsafe or aviation assets to fully engage the wind driven fire. 

Elsewhere on the complex, the Holmes, Canyon and Two Cabin Fires have remained in their footprint through the day and mop up efforts progressed deeper into the black.

Critical fire weather is forecast over the next few days and will continue to test fire lines. As mop up work on the Holmes, Canyon and Two Cabins fires progresses, and additional resources arrive, more resources will become available to minimize the spread of the Service and Kinzua fires. 

Fire Restrictions and Forest Closures
ODF: www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx

Umatilla NF: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umatilla/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5382878

BLM: www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/fire-restrictions

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Fossil Complex

Total Size:  1,342 acres          

Two Cabin-251acres

Canyon-190 acres

Kinzua-96 acres

Holmes-15 acres

Service-789 acres

Containment:  0% 

Cause:  Lightning

Current Cost: 1.6M

All Resources 

Hand Crews: 10

Engines: 6

Water Tender:  1

Dozers:  3

Skidders: 2

Skidgen: 1

Total Resources: 273

Aviation

Type 1: 1

Type 2: 2

Type 3: 3

ODF Incident Commander:

Matt Howard
Incident Management Team 2