Single Publication

PYRAMID FIRE:

East of Middle Santiam Wilderness, 1,193 Acres, 13 Percent Contained, Total Personnel 414, Lightning Caused

Yesterday, hand crews and dozers were able to make good progress improving control lines, aided by water-dropping helicopters. Along the eastern flank, hand crews will continue to increase direct control line today, aiming to complete the entire eastern flank in the coming days. On the southern and western flanks of the fire, crews used heavy equipment in steep terrain and installed water handling equipment, such as pumps and hoses. Today, the focus will be on maintaining and widening control lines, installing pumps and hoses, and extinguishing hot spots. 

SLATE FIRE:

5 miles SW of Detroit, OR, 91 Acres, 77 Percent Contained, Total Personnel, 50, Under Investigation

The hard work by fire crews on the Slate Fire yesterday resulted in an increase in control line mop-up depth up to 125 feet into the fire’s perimeter and a substantial increase in containment. Today, crews will continue to work aggressively on increasing mop-up depth, particularly along the southern flank of the fire perimeter. Extinguishing smoldering material to secure control lines and increasing containment continues to be a priority today through this weekend.

WEATHER: Building high pressure brought a noticeably hotter and drier fire environment yesterday. Today, conditions are sunny, hot, dry and unstable with a high temperature of 90 to 95 °F and a minimum relative humidity of 25 to 28 percent. Predicted weather today and over the next several days will lead to a shift in fire behavior, including increased potential for spotting and fire growth and an increased probability of fire ignition.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Smoke and air quality conditions are available on: AirNow.gov

EVACUATIONS: On July 17th, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Forest, issued a Level 3: Go Now Evacuation Alert for the closure area affected. Please refer to the Linn County Fire Map https://tinyurl.com/LinnCoFireMap for full details of the issued evacuation area (which will appear in red). 

AREA CLOSURES: Due to active fires, road, recreation site, and trail (including the PCT) closures are in effect in the Willamette National Forest. Specific information is posted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are in effect for Willamette National Forest, including the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Waldo Lake, and Diamond Peak Wilderness areas. Read the complete restrictions at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=81487.