Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

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

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2024                                      Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov               Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:   Total Personnel: 674  |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,197

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

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

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 68  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,732

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

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

Summary

Yesterday’s passing weather system provided an opportunity to reevaluate fire behavior and determine operational needs. Fire managers continue to prioritize the minimization of acres burned. With fire behavior moderated by the rain, firefighter operations began shifting from line preparations to repair. However, some work will continue to connect existing segments of fireline. Rain also halted heavy equipment operations, including road repair, in areas where soils were saturated and posed a greater risk to resources than the fire conditions demanded. Where conditions allowed, slash and logs were removed from previously prepped roads.

Red Fire (1,732 acres, 0% containment)

Structure preparations were completed yesterday with the installation of several portable water holding tanks. All deployed structure protection equipment will continue to be checked and maintained in the event of unforeseen changes in fire behavior. Extensive rain halted firefighter operations on the reinforcement of indirect line in the area. The Whitefish Creek Trail was lined with 9,000 feet of hose. This hoselay serves as an indirect line while fire behavior and resource needs in this area are being reevaluated.

208 Fire (8,843 acres, 0% containment)

The fire remains north of Forest Service Road (FSR) 29 where burning operations occurred last Sunday. Fire growth is gradual in the direction of indirect line along FSR 23 to the northwest and FSR 21/2154 to the south. Indirect handline construction meant to protect private timber is complete from FSR 23 to FSR 423.

Moss Mountain Fire (2,133 acres, 8% containment)

Primary and contingency lines along FSR 23, 2120, 490, and 2309 are being patrolled. The focus remains on confinement of the fire's northward spread to minimize burned acreage. Work will proceed today on suppression where needed. Additionally, repair activities will continue as crews evaluate how the rain impacted fire activity.

Chalk Fire (5,987 acres, 86% containment) 
Firefighters remain engaged in repair activities. Crews continue to improve indirect line by removing and chipping vegetation. Additionally, the firefighters will continue to patrol and monitor existing containment lines.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Yesterday, a low-pressure system brought consistent rainfall to the area. On average there was about a 0.50" of rain across the area. This moderated fire behavior by bringing moisture to previously dried fuels. Looking ahead, elevated relative humidity and persistent cloud cover and smoke are expected through early next week. This cooling trend will continue to reduce fire behavior to creeping and smoldering.

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuations

• For closure information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/RedFireClosues2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024.
• For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/DesFireRestrictions2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024.
• For current Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), visit: http://tfr.faa.gov.
• 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.