Single Publication

Fire Update – Oakridge Lightning Fires

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

Tuesday, July 30, 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.

Special Note: A community meeting will be held Wednesday, July 31, at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Oakridge High School, 47997 W 1st St. Oakridge, OR. Fire managers and local officials will provide the latest updates on fire activity and suppression efforts. Parking at the high school is limited; please plan accordingly.

Current Situation: Smoke and clouds are expected to lift around noon today, allowing sun to align with receptive fuels and increase fire activity. There is no increase in acreage numbers across the Oakridge Lightning Fires today, as infrared flights were not able to collect this data last night. New acreages are expected tomorrow, showing low to moderate growth on some fires, while the 217 Fire is now at 100% contained. An increase in firing operations is expected this week, allowing fire management to secure lines and provide additional strategic, long-term options in managing the Oakridge Lightning Fires.

The total acreage of the seven fires is 6,824 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 (3,616 acres, 7% contained)

Division AA: Fire line has been prepared. Firefighters will continue to reinforce line and lay hose as plans move forward for a firing operation to occur within the next few days, as favorable conditions allow.

Division KK: Firing operations from the last few days have been completed. Crews will be mopping up edges where necessary so they can anchor here as firing operations increase on other areas of the Chalk Fire.

Division TT: Heavy equipment and hand crews are working along the 1912 Road and moving north toward the 646 Road as they continue to prepare this area. Felling crews are in place and working to remove snags.

Coffeepot Fire (2,761 acres, 0% contained) and Moss Mountain Fire (224 acres, 0% contained)

Division PP: Crews have secured line where the fire has reached the 21 Road. Additional spot fires were discovered and addressed yesterday. A newly formed Firing Group will supplement efforts on multiple divisions across the Coffeepot Fire and will be focused on supporting efforts in Division PP today.

Division RR: Line is completed, low intensity firing operations are occurring in the Stone Mountain area to strengthen fire line. Additional low intensity firing operations are planned for this evening and tomorrow.

Division SS: Work continues south of Moss Mountain. As more equipment arrives, they will work to tie in with Division WW to the east and Division PP to the west.

Division WW: Line is prepared out to 23 Road where firefighters’ work on building line continues toward the SS division break.

Division YY: Fire managers continue scouting south of the Coffeepot and Moss Mountain areas between the current proposed containment lines and private lands. They are looking for strategic opportunities and possible additional contingency line in the event they are needed.

Tire Mountain Fire (20 acres) – Division TT: The Tire Mountain Fire remains under mop up and patrol status. The fire has not grown in several days.

McKinley Fire (24 acres) – Division AA: Containment lines are in place and expected to hold, however, spot fires may occur due to the significant amount of dead and down fuel. Crews will continue to patrol and mop up the perimeter while remaining vigilant.

208 Fire (141 acres, 0% contained) – Branch XII: Fire is holding. There has been no recent growth in this area.

217 Fire (38 acres, 100% contained) – Branch XII: The 217 Fire is contained. Crews will continue to patrol.

Weather and Fire Behavior:

Clouds are expected to clear out by noon today, allowing the sun to align with aspects across most of the Oakridge Lightning Fires. Fire activity is expected to increase today, though northwest winds will remain light. Temperatures will noticeably increase later this week, starting on Thursday.

Extremely dry and dead fuels will contribute to moderate fire activity today especially where sun is able to reach the forest. Spot fires from burning lichen and large snags rolling down steep terrain remain a concern for firefighters and have contributed to previous spot fires.

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 place to restrict traffic across the fire areas.

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

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are in place over the Chalk and Moss Fires.

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