Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update 

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

Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 

Fire Causes: Lightning 

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov Information 

Phone Line: 541-208-1742 

Willamette Complex South: Total Personnel:481| Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,480 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires/ 

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 72 | Total Red Fire Acres: 1,961 

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2024RedFireOR/ 

Summary

As conditions have continued to change, resources have been reallocated and repositioned to maximize impact and efficiency on these fires. Firefighters continue their focus on monitoring and suppression efforts. After the brief respite afforded by the recent cool front, moisture levels and relative humidity increased slightly, but that has already given way to warmer, drier air and a humidity level that is slowly but steadily dropping. Work has shifted to repairing forest roads and finalizing removal of woody debris from indirect firelines, though some of that was delayed due to wet roads that made it difficult to move heavy equipment into some areas. The Chalk, Coffee Pot, McKinley Creek and Tire Mountain fires are 100% contained. Crews are seeding shaded fuel breaks with fescue and Mountain Bear grass to rehabilitate firelines. 

Road repair crews continue tackling ditch and culvert clearing prior to the final grading of road surfaces. Some workers assigned to the Chalk and Coffee Pot fires have shifted to the Roads Group to aid in that effort, and that work detail has added seven additional pieces of heavy equipment. The Incident Management Team has begun decreasing overall staff numbers to “right-size” operations. 

Red Fire (1,961 acres, 11% containment) 

There was a was relatively small increase in fire acreage again of 45 acres. This growth was anticipated. The fire continues to creep down-slope toward Crescent Lake. Drone-assisted monitoring of fire activity remains a priority, particularly in the Whitefish Creek drainage and along Forest Service Road 60. 

208 Fire (9,045 acres, 4% containment) 

Chipping operations and “mop-up” continues on indirect lines surrounding the fire as crews near completion of this work. Firefighters continue frequent monitoring of the recently active northwest corner of the fire in the Swift Creek area. 

Moss Mountain Fire (2,186 acres, 10% containment) 

Fuel reduction around the Wolf Mountain Communications site paused yesterday because of stormy weather, and firefighters shifted to road repair work in safer locations. Work on and near the communication towers was delayed until yesterday afternoon, as the re-insertion of heavy equipment was paused until conditions improved and became safe enough for that to proceed. Crews will soon put the finishing touches on the 23 Road. Air operations will resume as weather conditions permit, and the forecast is for favorable conditions. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Milder, fall-like conditions are expected today and for the next several days. Skies will be clear and sunny; highs are predicted to be in the upper 60s to low 70s. The recent bump in relative humidity will give way to increasingly drier air, and the relative humidity will likely drop to 20% or less, which could result in a change in fire behavior. 

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuation 

For closure information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/RedFireClosures2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024. 

For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/DesFireRestrictions2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024. 

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