Single Publication

Heavy Fuels Continue to Smolder on the Service Fire

SPRAY, Ore. – Overnight, cool temperatures and higher humidity aided firefighters who were uncovering and extinguishing hot spots along the fire line. Night shift worked deeper into the fire’s interior in areas where mop up operations are already underway. Along the eastern flank crews continued working and cooling heavy fuels near the lines so that mop up toward the interior can begin. 

Today, fire managers are planning for continued progress toward securing the fire’s perimeter. Felling operations to remove hazardous trees along roadways and fire lines are ongoing. Firefighters are also scouting and mapping all of the fire lines that were installed to suppress the fire’s growth. This is the beginning step of suppression repair operations. Suppression repair is necessary to conserve soil and water quality by removing berms along lines so that rainwater can flow freely. In steeper terrain, where water can gather speed and cause erosion, water bars will be added, along with scattered debris to slow the water’s flow and reduce erosion.

The weather today is expected to be mostly cloudy with a 10% chance of light showers in the morning. Northwest winds are forecast on the ridgetops around the Service Fire, increasing to 8-12 mph with gusts of 20 mph, and winds of 3-7 mph increasing to 5-10 mph and gusting to 15-20 mph in the valleys. Temperatures should range from 60-65 degrees with humidity of 45-50%

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:  24,456 acres          

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

Skidgen: 7

Skidders: 4

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