Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

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

Date: Sunday, September 22, 2024                                

Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov               

Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:   Total Personnel: 414 |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,400

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south

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

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 50  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,805

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

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

Summary 

The Incident Management Team is assessing long-term strategies for the seven-fire complex. Much of that involves chipping, slash removal, road repair and bolstering containment lines. Fire growth has been minimal of late, but conditions are changing and that may affect fire behavior. Crews have been successful at keeping fire within established containment perimeters. Crews continue working to firm up indirect control lines and repair resources in places impacted by suppression operations. The situation at each fire will be closely monitored as we head into next week.

The Chalk Fire, Coffee Pot Fire, McKinley Creek Fire, and Tire Mountain Fire remain 100% contained and in monitor-and-patrol phase. There has been limited open flame and torching on the Chalk Fire. Crews are clearing brush and repairing roads used by fire crew vehicles and heavy equipment. Operations are designed to be scientifically sound and protect sensitive terrain and vegetation as much as possible. Resource specialists are assisting in plan development. Members of the public are asked to continue respecting area closures and restrictions which may change due to weather conditions and fire behavior. Forest leadership continue to evaluate and will adjust closures when it is safe to do so.

Red Fire (1,805 acres, 11% containment) 

The Red Fire is 11% contained. Hauling and removal of slash from Forest Service Road (FSR) 6010 from Summit Lake to the southwestern corner of Crescent Lake remains a priority. Road repairs and clean-up of the shaded fuel break from Whitefish Horse Camp to Crescent Lake Sno-Park continues. Structure protection measures will remain in place, given the shift to warmer, drier weather. Fire growth remains minimal, moderately paced, and concentrated on the southeast perimeter of the fire. Additional fire crews are moving into the area with the anticipated warmer and drier air forecast for the next few days.

208 Fire (8,979 acres, 4% containment) 

There were some puffs of smoke observed near the northwest corner. Crews will continue improving holding lines from Lighthouse Rock to Summit Lake. Road repair and material chipping operations are ongoing from Campers Flat to Emigrant Butte along FSR 21.  

Moss Mountain Fire (2,175 acres, 10% containment) 

Slash and excess vegetation removal along primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain is nearing completion, and some heavy equipment operations are being conducted there. Crews are making progress south of Beach Mountain near FSR 2316 and expect to connect to the existing fire-line along FSR 23 from the 208 Fire.  

Weather and Fire Behavior 

The passing cold front has run its course, so the brief boost in relative humidity is giving way to higher temperatures and a reduction in relative humidity levels. Temperatures are returning to seasonal averages, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-60s. Those temperatures may warm into the low 80s Tuesday or Wednesday with the arrival of another front. Expect light northwest winds and a drop in minimum relative humidity levels to 20 – 30%.  Heavy fuels have been burning out, but smoldering and creeping continue. 

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuations 

• 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.