Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

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

Date: Wednesday, September 11, 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: 67  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,732

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

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

Summary

With rain and cooler weather accompanied by possible thunderstorms predicted for today into tomorrow, NW Team 2 remains available to support extended attack on new starts to the northeast of Oakridge and initial attack on any emergent fires in the area. Firefighters also remain focused on building containment. Today’s rain will allow mop-up operations to begin to build depth in areas where fire activity is reduced. Lastly, work continues on repairing road surfaces and removing material from the roadside. Patrols continue on contained fires (Coffee Pot, Tire Mountain, and McKinley Creek). Observable fire behavior on Tuesday was mostly low intensity ground fire with gradual spread. An even slower rate of fire spread, and smoldering is anticipated for today.

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

Protecting structures and managing fire growth in this area remains the focus. Resources have been working from the White Fish Trailhead and continue to support suppression efforts to keep the fire within the indirect lines. Structure preparation is ongoing as the fire continues to near Forest Service Road (FSR) 60. Pumps and hoses are in place and being checked regularly to protect these important values at risk. Yesterday, low smoke and the adjacent ridgelines sheltered the area from the potential for increased fire behavior from the passing winds. Fire behavior was moderate yesterday despite continued low relative humidity.

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

The 208 Fire is gradually growing towards FSR 23 on the northwest and FSR 21/2154 on the south. Fire behavior is primarily backing, surface fire. Firefighters continue to strengthen these roads with mastication and snag felling. Additionally, coordination with private timber is ongoing to build contingency line FSR 23 to FSR 423. This line will tie in with the existing lines for the Moss Mountain fire in the event of future fire growth to the north from the 208 Fire or south from Moss Mountain Fire.

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

Crews have finished chipping operations on FSR 23, and mastication operations will be ongoing. Primary and contingency lines are being implemented and secured along FSR 23, 2120, 490, and 2309 to confine northward spread of the fire to minimize burned acres. Dozer lines are being prepared along FSR 23, 2307, and 2308.

Chalk Fire (5,987 acres, 86% containment)

Monitoring and improvements to containment lines is ongoing to minimize fire impacts to the communities of High Prairie, Westfir, Lowell, Oakridge, and other surrounding private inholdings. Firefighters continue to work the line hauling slash and chipping, primarily on the northwest corner and western flank of the fire.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Smoke cover along with rising humidity levels on Tuesday moderated fire behavior ahead of today’s wetting rains. Significant rainfall is expected throughout the day on today with potential for heavier rainfall along ridges accompanied by scattered thunderstorms. Rains are predicted to continue into Thursday morning.

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.