Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

Red, 208, Moss Mountain, Coffee Pot, Tire Mountain, McKinley Creek and Chalk Fires

Date: Friday, September 20, 2024                                  

Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov               

Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:   Total Personnel: 428 |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,365

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires/

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 18  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,769

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2024RedFireOR/

Summary 

Most fire activity in the area has been limited – some smoldering and slight expansion inside the fires’ perimeters. Though some flames may be visible in sun-exposed acreage, fire growth has been minimal. Crews continue working to firm up indirect control lines and repair resources in places impacted by suppression operations.

The Chalk Fire, Coffee Pot Fire, McKinley Creek Fire, and Tire Mountain Fire are considered 100% contained and have entered the patrol and repair phases. Crews are clearing blocked culverts to maintain proper water drainage and prevent erosion, repairing fire access roads or those impacted by fire suppression activities, and removing fire-line construction materials. Tasks are prioritized under the advisement of specialists such as ecologists, hydrologists, and archeologists in an effort to ensure repairs and restoration are effective and scientifically sound. 

Members of the public are encouraged to continue respecting area closures and restrictions.

Red Fire (1,769 acres, 0% containment) 

Hauling and removing slash from Forest Service Road (FSR) 6010 from Summit Lake to the southwestern corner of Crescent Lake remain a priority. Road repairs and clean-up of the shaded fuel break from Whitefish Horse Camp to Crescent Lake Sno-Park will continue. Structure protection measures – including portable tanks, hoses, and pumps – will remain in place even as fire conditions recently improved, as warmer, drier weather is on the way. Fire growth remains at a moderate pace and concentrated on the southeast perimeter.

208 Fire (8,953 acres, 4% containment) 

Crews observed some spotty smoking near the northwest corner and will continue to improve holding features from Lighthouse Rock to Summit Lake. Road repairs and material chipping are ongoing along FSR 21 from Campers Flat to Emigrant Butte. 

Moss Mountain Fire (2,168 acres, 10% containment) 

Slash and excess vegetation removal to strengthen primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain is nearly complete. Crews are making progress south of Beach Mountain near FSR 2316 and expect to connect to the existing fire-line along FSR 23 from the 208 Fire. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

A weak cold front is moving through early today, reducing the relative humidity by 5-10%, but that will be followed by a warming trend that will usher in higher temperatures and increasing humidity levels until another front arrives mid-week next week.  Temperatures will return to seasonal averages, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-60s but may spike next Tuesday. Expect light northwest winds and relative humidity to decrease to around 40 percent.  Smoldering and creeping fires are becoming less frequent as heavy fuels burn out. 

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuations 

• For closure information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/RedFireClosures2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024. 
• For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/DesFireRestrictions2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024. 
• The Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice remains in effect for the Red Fire. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit: www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management.