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Smoldering Heavy Fuels Persist on Service Fire

SPRAY, Ore. – Gusty winds kept heavy fuels smoldering inside the fire lines. Today was the first day of no fire slopping or spotting across the line. Chipping operations carried on along the northern flank of the fire, along with hazard tree removal where needed. With the wind aiding in the consumption of stumps and roots, the visible smoke shows crews where to begin digging out the heat source. While mop up is underway around the fire’s perimeter and interior islands, the eastern flank crews dug up burning stumps and root systems. Heavy fuels also smoldered and burned along the rocky slopes to the south, where crews secured line and aerial resources cooled things down with bucket drops in support.

Tonight’s work will build upon today’s accomplishments and capitalize upon cooler weather and higher humidities. The fire behavior expected tonight is smoldering and creeping.

There is a 15% chance of wetting rain this evening over the Service Fire according to the National Weather Service. Cooler overnight temperatures of 50-55 degrees are predicted, along with good humidity recovery of 75-85%. 

Videos: Recordings of the Daily Operations Updates and other stories are available at: https://www.youtube.com/@FossilComplex.

Evacuation: Level 3 evacuations remain inside the perimeter of the Service Fire.  For the most recent evacuation levels please go to: https://www.facebook.com/WheelerCountySheriffsOffice/

The Two Cabin, Holmes, Kinzua and Canyon Fires are all in patrol status.  

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Fossil Complex

Total Size:  24,456acres          

Two Cabin-253 acres

Canyon-192 acres

Kinzua-96 acres

Holmes-15 acres

Service- 23,900 

Containment:  17% 

Cause:  Lightning

Current Cost: $18.1 M

All Resources 

Hand Crews: 41

Engines: 53

Water Tender: 18

Dozers:  13

Skidders: 4

Skidgen: 7

Excavator: 2

Masticator: 1

Feller Buncher: 4

Total Resources: 1,279

Aerial Resources

Type 1: 5

Type 2: 8

Type 3: 4

UAS  3: 1

Evacuations: 

Level 3: 11 addresses https://www.facebook.com/WheelerCountySheriffsOffice/

ODF Incident Commander:

Matt Howard
Incident Management Team 2