Single Publication

Fire Update – Oakridge Lightning Fires

Chalk, Coffeepot, McKinley, Moss Mountain, Tire Mountain, 208, and 217 Fires

Sunday, July 28, 2024 – 9:00 a.m.

Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 1

Dan Dallas, Incident Commander

Information Phone: (541) 208-1742

Email:2024.mossmountain@firenet.gov

Information Staffing Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Current Situation: Fire management continues to identify areas with the highest probability of success while firefighters build and strengthen line across the Oakridge Lightning Fires. Limited available resources have been, and continue to be, mobilized to these areas. While containment lines are being constructed and strengthened in areas of highest priority, the amount of dead and down heavy fuel in areas of steep, rugged terrain remains a challenge as future strategic operations are being planned. The total acreage of the seven fires is 6,257 acres with 641 personnel assigned.

Information for each of the seven Oakridge Lightning Fires is provided below. Firefighting activities and suppression actions are described in detail for each double-lettered division on each fire.

Chalk Fire (3,343 acres, 7% contained)

Division AA: Bulldozers and other heavy equipment continue to support firefighting activities in this division of the Chalk Fire. Low intensity firing operations will continue to steadily strengthen constructed containment lines.

Division KK: Firefighters used low intensity firing operations to connect this division to Division AA to the west and are working east to connect to Division TT. While these containment lines have been connected, there is still growth potential due to heavy, receptive fuel located on steep, rugged terrain throughout the Chalk Fire. Firefighters will continue to strengthen existing line and support other areas where needed.

Division TT: Firefighters on the north side of the Chalk Fire continue to build containment line to tie into existing roads, natural features, and areas with recent fire history.

Coffeepot Fire (2,478 acres, 0% contained)

Division PP: Several small spot fires were discovered by an infrared reconnaissance flight yesterday across the 2120 Road. Crews are being sent to address those spot fires today. Heavy equipment continues to be used in this division to prepare line for future strategic operations.

Division RR: Crews are preparing line in Division RR where they plan on connecting it toward Division WW. Existing lines continue to hold and will be reinforced where necessary.

Division SS: Heavy equipment was brought in yesterday to clear out existing roads for future operations to have better access to strategically beneficial areas as well as acting as containment line should it be needed.

Division WW: Crews are working with heavy equipment to build and strengthen line toward Division RR along the 2307 Road.

Moss Mountain Fire (214 acres, 0% contained)

Division SS: Work continues in this division to scout for areas with a high probability of success for future strategic operations. Heavy equipment is being used south of the Moss Mountain Fire to open existing roadways which will provide better access for crews.

Division WW: Work continues in this division to tie it to the west with Division RR. The fire has been minimally active in this area, allowing crews to make good progress.

208 Fire (140 acres, 0% contained) – Division YY: Fire is holding. There has been no growth over the past several days.

217 Fire (38 acres, 0% contained) – Division YY: Smokejumpers assigned to the 217 Fire are patrolling and mopping up the 217 Fire in very challenging terrain. Some resources from this fire have been mobilized to higher priority areas.

Tire Mountain Fire (20 acres) – Division TT: The Tire Mountain Fire is being patrolled but has not grown in several days.

McKinley Fire (24 acres) – Division AA: Firefighters assigned to patrolling the McKinley fire were able to quickly respond to a one acre spot fire on Saturday. Containment line around the spot fire and the rest of the McKinley Fire is expected to hold. Spot fires in areas of heavy dead and down fuel can be expected. Assigned resources continue to patrol the McKinley Fire for this reason. The decrease in size from previous reports is due to validation and cleaning of the map layer.

Weather and Fire Behavior: The Oakridge Lightning Fires experienced similar weather conditions on Saturday as it has over the past several days; smoke lifting in the afternoon for mostly sunny conditions with light northwest wind. This helped limit fire growth and intensity. While smoke from other fires in Oregon is combining with the smoke from these fires, it is mostly pushing away from Oakridge and other surrounding communities. There is a chance for light precipitation on Monday night, but it is not expected to be significant.

Evacuations: For evacuation information please visit: https://www.LaneCountyOR.gov/2024wildfires
To sign up for evacuation alerts please visit: https://www.LaneAlerts.org

Closures and Fire Restrictions:

Area, road, trail, and recreation site closures are in place on the Willamette National Forest in the vicinity of many active fires. Temporary road barricades are in use to restrict traffic in the areas near High Prairie and Chalk Mountain.

For specific closure information follow this link:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/alerts-notices/?cid=fseprd552029

Fire restrictions on the Willamette National Forest may be found at this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices/?aid=81487

Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

For More Information:

Phone: (541) 208-1742

Email: 2024.mossmountain@firenet.gov

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-oakridge-lightning-fires-2024

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakridgeLightningFires2024/

Total Fire Personnel: 641

Fire Cause: Lightning

Location: North & South of Oakridge, OR

Fire Statistics

Fire                          Acres                   Containment

Chalk                        3,343                             7%

Coffeepot                2,478                              0%

Moss Mountain          214                             0%

Incident 208               140                             0%

Incident 217                 38                          partial        

Tire Mountain              20                          partial    

McKinley                      24                           Partial

Total                        6,257