Los Angeles County be prepared for rain in the forecast. While most rain is currently forecasted for areas north of Los Angeles County, everyone should be ready for rain, especially those in recent burn areas. Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts at http://alert.lacounty.gov.

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

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

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024                              

Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov               

Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:   Total Personnel: 386  |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,309

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

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

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 24  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,763

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

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

Summary 
Fire activity across the area remains minimal, with most fires exhibiting only creeping and smoldering behavior. In sun-exposed areas, occasional small open flames may still be visible. Crews are focusing on strengthening indirect control lines and repairing resources affected during suppression operations. 

For fires not yet fully contained, any growth is occurring within their existing perimeters. Firefighters are reinforcing indirect control lines to protect communities and values at risk. The fires will continue to smolder and creep until a significant rainfall occurs. 

The Chalk Fire, Coffee Pot Fire, McKinley Creek Fire, and Tire Mountain Fire are all 100% contained and have entered the patrol and repair phases. Crews are clearing debris from culverts to maintain proper water drainage and prevent erosion, repairing damaged roads that were used for fire access or impacted by fire suppression activities, and managing materials removed during fireline construction. Crews will continue to prioritize these tasks in coordination with resource specialists such as ecologists, hydrologists, and archeologists. Their expertise ensures that repairs and restoration efforts are scientifically sound and effective. 

Red Fire (1,763 acres, 0% containment) 
Hauling and removing slash from Forest Service Road (FSR) 6010 from Summit Lake to the southwestern corner of Crescent Lake remains a priority. Firefighters continue road repairs and cleaning the shaded fuel break from Whitefish Horse Camp up to Crescent Lake Sno-Park. Structure protection measures, including portable tanks, hoses, and pumps, will remain in place as fire conditions continue to improve. 

208 Fire (8,953 acres, 4% containment) 
Firefighters are actively improving holding features between Lighthouse Rock to Summit Lake to minimize acres burned. Material chipping will continue today along FSR 21 from Campers Flat to Emigrant Butte. 

Moss Mountain Fire (2,168 acres, 10% containment) 
The removal of excess slash and vegetation to strengthen primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain is nearly complete. Crews are making progress south of Beach Mountain near FSR 2316 and plan to connect to the existing fireline along FSR 23 from the 208 Fire. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 
Today’s warmer weather will bring drier conditions continuing through the night creating reduced fire activity. Smoldering and creeping fires are now less common as heavy fuels burn out and this trend is expected through the second half of the week. Temperatures will return to seasonal averages, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-60s. Expect light northwest winds and relative humidity to decrease to around 40 percent. 

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. 

A Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has been established by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to begin a post-fire burned area assessment of National Forest System lands that burned in the Davis Fire. BAER assessments can take up to two weeks to complete depending on size and complexity of the fire.

“BAER is an emergency program that conducts a risk assessment and develops a plan for stabilization work that involves time-critical activities to be completed before the first damaging storms,” said Kendal Young, Natural Resource and Planning Staff Officer for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. “Emergency response efforts are focused on the protection of human life and safety, and property, as well as critical cultural and natural resources.”

He also explained that the Davis Fire BAER Team is also coordinating with the Washoe County, Truckee Meadow Fire Protection District, State of Nevada, Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Farm Bureau, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Team leaders are Dirk Netz, Forest Service BAER Coordinator, and Meagan Carter, Forest Service BAER Co-Coordinator. The team consists of scientists in hydrology, geology, soil science, botany, biology, and archeology and specialists in geographic information system (GIS), recreation, and road engineering.

The Davis Fire BAER Team is currently conducting field surveys and using science-based models to rapidly evaluate and assess the burned area. This is the first step in assessing potential impacts from wildfires to any Forest Service values that may be at-risk from potential increased flooding, sedimentation, debris flows, and rockslides.

“The information gathered will help the team produce a report that describes potential threats associated with the burned area’s post-fire conditions,” Young said. “Recommended emergency stabilization measures and actions may be included in this report.” He added that the team will share their findings with local agencies to assist them with their analysis of private and county lands affect by the Davis Fire.

Additional information on understanding the BAER program, process, and other post-fire information will be posted on the Davis Fire Burned Area Emergency Response page found at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/nvhtf-davis-fire-burned-area-emergency-response-baer.

For Immediate Release 

September 19th, 1400 MDT

Gem County Sheriff lifts Lava Fire Evacuation Notices

Effective Friday, September 20, 2024 at 8:00am

The Gem County Sheriff’s Office will lift all evacuation orders previously issued (see below for reference) for the Lava Fire effective Friday September 20 th, 2024 at 0800 MDT. 

Currently the following areas are in a level I-Green-“Be Ready” evacuation status. 

• Residences on Third Fork Road, North of Nesbitt Lane.
• Residences on Second Fork Road, North of Nesbitt Lane.
• Residences on Nesbitt Lane.
• The areas surrounding and in proximity to Sage Hen Reservoir.

This evacuation order status downgrade coincides with the Emmett and Cascade Ranger Districts on the Boise National Forests rescinding Stage 1 fire restrictions beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024. While the evacuation orders are being lifted, the wet weather has brought potential concerns to the area including mudslides, flash floods, and falling rocks and trees. Please be aware of the surroundings and the potential road hazards. Current road closures still remain in place due to these conditions and fire crews still in the area.

###

Swauk Creek Fire 

September 19, 2024

Estimated size: 348 acres

Containment: 48%

Start Date/Time: 9/8/2024 at 3:54 PM

Area of Origin: Adjacent to Highway 97, 14 miles east of Cle Elum, WA

Cause: Human                                                      

Structures Damaged: 0

Update: Overnight operations had mostly clear skies and cooler conditions for their shift.  Focusing on patrolling and holding the fire line during the night, crews had a unique visibility to be able to see smoldering fuels and hotspots. Crews completed mop up along the perimeter and monitored for hazards such as trees that may fall across it which could cause the fire to escape.

Last night the weather was favorable allowing for a National Infrared Operations (NIROPS) flight which provides infrared detection and mapping of the fire.  These missions are critical in fire suppression efforts and fire intelligence for the incident management team.  Precise and accurate mapping was received from the flight, and in conjunction with work completed by firefighters walking the perimeter, a more accurate account of acreage burned is being reported.  

Today’s weather will bring additional testing of control lines on the fire perimeter as a cold front will be moving in across the fire this afternoon and into the evening bringing variable and gusty winds.  During weather events like these, crews have a high level of awareness for the potential of changes in fire conditions.  Working in their divisions, crews continue to engage in suppression efforts, improving containment lines in preparation for increased winds over the next 24 hours. 

While the interior burn area continues to consume dry and downed fuels, citizens and travelers in local communities and along Highway 97 may continue to see smoke coming from the fire. The fire continues to be fully staffed to monitor and maintain control lines.

Forest Closures: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has area, road, and trail closures due to the Swauk Creek Fire. For a detailed list of closures, including a map of the closure area, please visit the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/okawen/alerts-notices/?aid=90533.

Road Closures: Highway 97 remains open. Due to the increased flow of fire vehicle traffic traveling in and out of the fire area, we ask that people drive slowly through the area using caution.

Weather: With mostly sunny conditions today, temperatures will range from 68-74 degrees. Relative humidity will range from 30-36% during daytime operations. Winds will stay low this morning but by early afternoon, west to northwest winds will increase bringing a steady flow of 10 to 20 mph with potential gusts up to 27 mph in the evening. Recoveries tonight will not be as good as previous nights though temperatures will cool to 42-47 degrees, becoming mostly clear overnight.

Evacuation Levels: Evacuation levels remain the same. They were updated as a precaution; there is no immediate residential threat from this fire. Evacuations can be found on the interactive map. Many Forest Service roads are affected in this area; please review the map if you want to know about a specific location/road.

Live map of active fires from Kittitas County:

https://kitcogis.maps.arcgis.com/.../minima.../index.html...

The First Creek area is currently closed to the public.

Notification Level 3 (Go Now) is shown on the map; however, this area has no residential structures.

Notification Level 2 (Get ready)

• Residences east of US 97 north of fire to Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 3506 south of fire to Upper Green Canyon Rd

Notification Level 1 (Be Fire Aware)

• The town of Liberty
• All Liberty Rd
• Forest Service Road 9726 and all of its extensions (including Deer Gulch, Pine Gulch, Robinson Gulch, and Harkness Gulch)

Currently, no evacuation notices are issued for residents south of First Creek or west of US Highway 97.

As always, conditions can change quickly; please stay alert and avoid the area if you feel unsafe.

###

The purpose of this Order (# 0402-06-66) is to protect public safety during the Lava Fire. See attached closure order and map. 

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

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

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024                              

Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov               

Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:   Total Personnel: 386  |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,309

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

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

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 24  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,763

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

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

Summary 
Fire activity across the area remains minimal, with most fires exhibiting only creeping and smoldering behavior. In sun-exposed areas, occasional small open flames may still be visible. Crews are focusing on strengthening indirect control lines and repairing resources affected during suppression operations. 

For fires not yet fully contained, any growth is occurring within their existing perimeters. Firefighters are reinforcing indirect control lines to protect communities and values at risk. The fires will continue to smolder and creep until a significant rainfall occurs. 

The Chalk Fire, Coffee Pot Fire, McKinley Creek Fire, and Tire Mountain Fire are all 100% contained and have entered the patrol and repair phases. Crews are clearing debris from culverts to maintain proper water drainage and prevent erosion, repairing damaged roads that were used for fire access or impacted by fire suppression activities, and managing materials removed during fireline construction. Crews will continue to prioritize these tasks in coordination with resource specialists such as ecologists, hydrologists, and archeologists. Their expertise ensures that repairs and restoration efforts are scientifically sound and effective. 

Red Fire (1,763 acres, 0% containment) 
Hauling and removing slash from Forest Service Road (FSR) 6010 from Summit Lake to the southwestern corner of Crescent Lake remains a priority. Firefighters continue road repairs and cleaning the shaded fuel break from Whitefish Horse Camp up to Crescent Lake Sno-Park. Structure protection measures, including portable tanks, hoses, and pumps, will remain in place as fire conditions continue to improve. 

208 Fire (8,953 acres, 4% containment) 
Firefighters are actively improving holding features between Lighthouse Rock to Summit Lake to minimize acres burned. Material chipping will continue today along FSR 21 from Campers Flat to Emigrant Butte. 

Moss Mountain Fire (2,168 acres, 10% containment) 
The removal of excess slash and vegetation to strengthen primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain is nearly complete. Crews are making progress south of Beach Mountain near FSR 2316 and plan to connect to the existing fireline along FSR 23 from the 208 Fire. 

Weather and Fire Behavior 
Today’s warmer weather will bring drier conditions continuing through the night creating reduced fire activity. Smoldering and creeping fires are now less common as heavy fuels burn out and this trend is expected through the second half of the week. Temperatures will return to seasonal averages, with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-60s. Expect light northwest winds and relative humidity to decrease to around 40 percent. 

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. 

Mop up and suppression repair efforts continue as Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 assumes command

FOSSIL, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the Fossil Complex this morning at 6:00 AM from ODF IMT 2. As mop up continues on the Service Fire, focus will shift to suppression repair of Fossil Complex, Battle Mountain, and Lone Rock fire scars. The repair work includes the removal of berms and the addition of water bars along dozer lines, along with fence repairs. This work will help the landscape recover and prevent erosion. Spike camps will be established in Long Creek and at the Morrow County OHV park to facilitate the suppression repair work on the Battle Mountain Complex and Lonerock Fire scar areas.

Some pockets of fuels continue to smolder within the Service Fire’s interior, and residents may see plumes of smoke during flare ups. Firefighters are continuing mop up efforts and widening containment lines. Aerial resources are also ready to respond to any fire activity that may threaten containment.

Today will be mostly sunny, with a mild warming trend for the next few days. High temperatures will be in the low 70s with minimum RH in the mid 20s and light winds from the northwest gusting 10 to 15 mph.

All evacuation levels for the Service Fire have been lifted and all zones have been placed into "Normal" status. The Two Cabin, Holmes, Kinzua and Canyon Fires are all in patrol status.

Videos: Recordings of the Daily Operations Updates and other stories are available at: https://www.youtube.com/@FossilComplex.

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Fossil Complex Total Size: 24,446 acres

Two Cabin - 253 acres

Canyon - 192 acres

Kinzua - 96 acres

Holmes - 15 acres

Service - 23,890

Containment: 68% 

Cause: Lightning

Current Cost: $24.2M

All Resources

Hand Crews: 32

Engines: 45

Water Tender: 17

Dozers: 11

Skidgen: 6

Excavator: 3

Total Resources: 1,020

Aerial Resources

Type 1: 2

Type 2: 2

Type 3: 2

Evacuations: None

ODF Incident Commander:

Tyler McCarty

Incident Management Team 3

Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA

Personnel: 2052

Start date: 09/09/24 1:00 p.m.

Cause: Human

Size: 23,519

Percent contained: 41%

For a printable version of today's complete update for the Airport Fire, please see the related link below. 

Fire managers describe progress on the Airport Fire as “very successful” yesterday and last night.  Firefighters will continue to build on that success as numerous crews surround the perimeter connecting fire line, seeking out hot spots, removing unneeded equipment and start focusing on suppression repair of contingency lines.

Night crews extinguished several hot spots in the Modjeska and Santiago Peak areas where brush and duff continue to hold heat.  Along the northeast line from Santiago Creek to the Modjeska Peak, crews will hold and improve lines today. Hot shot crews have now been able to reach remote, previously inaccessible areas along the southern fire line near Sugarloaf Mountain to reinforce the fire perimeter in that area.  Repopulated areas near El Cariso, Decker Canyon and Long Canyon remain a primary focus.  In an effort to ensure hot spots, snags and fire lines are secure, crews are walking grid lines through the fire area. During morning briefing, firefighters were told to “treat it as if it were your own backyard.”

Please note:  A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in effect over the incident and the immediate area. Drones or other non-incident related aircraft are not permitted to operate in the area while the TFR is in effect. Flying a drone near a wildfire is dangerous and can cost lives. When unauthorized drones fly near wildfires, fire response agencies have to ground their aircraft to avoid the potential for midair collisions. Delaying airborne response poses a threat to firefighters on the ground, residents and property in nearby communities. Anyone who violates a TFR zone can be arrested and/or fined. 

Airport Fire Map September 19, 2024.jpg

Thu, 09/19/2024 - 14:06

---

Airport Fire Map September 19, 2024.jpg

Size: 5,647 acres | Reported Date: September 7 | Cause: Lightning | Personnel: 572 | Containment: 38%

(Silver Lake, Ore.) – The Buck Creek Fire started in heavy timber within the Yamsay Mountain Semi-Primitive Area on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, about 13 miles southwest of Silver Lake, Ore. The fire spread north and east into managed timber stands on National Forest lands with brush and grass understory and it remains about 11 miles from the community of Silver Lake. Yesterday, the Lake County Sheriff lifted evacuations for the Buck Creek Fire area, but the forest closure order remains in effect. Public and firefighter safety are the incident’s top priority.

A tool that is becoming more prevalent in wildland fire suppression is the Unstaffed Aircraft System (UAS/drone). The drones are flown by trained pilots from the ground and are not operated in areas where helicopters are flying. On the Buck Creek Fire, a UAS outfitted with infrared detection technology is being used to help firefighters pinpoint hot spots as small as a coffee cup. The UAS records and transmits the location of each area of heat so firefighters on the ground can then quickly reach and extinguish the hot spot. This capability provides fire managers with even greater assurance that a fire will remain within the containment lines.

Buck Creek:  Last night, crews patrolled to ensure fire did not cross constructed fire lines. During the day, warmer and drier conditions resulted in a slight increase in fire activity inside the fire perimeter. Water tenders and road graders worked to return National Forest roads on the northwest area of the fire to their condition prior to fire suppression activities. All around the fire’s edges, firefighters continued to strengthen fire lines by extinguishing hot spots. Crews worked to fall hazardous trees as needed to create safer working conditions for firefighting and road grading efforts.

Today, crews will work on roads around the fire including Forest Roads 2700 and 7645. A UAS pilot will use infrared technology to detect heat on the north and east edges of the fire. Crews around the fire are mopping up and patrolling to make sure fire lines stay secure. In areas where fire managers are confident the fire line is contained, they are beginning to remove fire hose, pumps and other equipment that is no longer needed. Helicopters remain available to assist on-the-ground crews as conditions allow. 

Evacuations: In coordination with fire managers, the Lake County Sheriff has lifted evacuations for the Buck Creek Fire.  Go to www.lakecountyor.org for details about evacuation levels. 

Weather:  High pressure is expected to bring clear skies and light winds through the remainder of the week. It will become slightly warmer and drier with maximum temperature in the low 70s and minimum humidity in the high 20s.

Safety: Firefighting equipment and personnel are present on local roads. Fire managers ask the public to drive attentively and remain clear of the fire areas. The public also plays an important role in preventing the next wildfire by using caution with all ignition sources. For fire prevention tips, visit: https://keeporegongreen.org. 

Closures and Restrictions: Current fire danger is high and restrictions are in place within the Fremont-Winema National Forest.A forest closure order is in effect for the area around the Buck Creek Fire. For the complete order and map as well as more detail on fire restrictions, go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema. Christmas Valley Airport is being used as the helibase for fire operations and is temporarily closed to general aviation. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Buck Creek Fire. 

Smoke:  Smoke from fires around the region may affect air quality. For more information on conditions and strategies on limiting exposure, go to: www.oregonsmoke.org or www.AirNow.gov.