Cougar Peak Fire Update 

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock

September 18, 2021

Cougar Peak Fire Update 

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock 

September 17, 2021  

Lakeview Ore. – Overall, it was a quiet day on the fire yesterday, the winds that were felt in Lakeview and the valley floors were not as brisk in the higher elevations on the fire. The south-southwest portion of the fire continued to experience the most active fire yesterday and through the night. Fire spread down the hillsides toward the pre-planned indirect contingency line. Firefighters worked the edge of the active fire area, putting in direct line with support from helicopter water drops. Helicopters will again support this area first thing this morning. The heavy equipment group continues to put in indirect line on the west side of the fire.  

Aviation assets were available all day yesterday supporting ground crews with helicopter water drops on hotspots. Efforts of mop-up and cold trailing along the north, east and southern portions of the fire continued throughout the day. The northern end of the fire continued to be mopped up and patrolled. Firefighters are lining areas of unburned fuels within the fire, to protect from igniting and will continue today to do so. Protecting grazing ground that remain unburned remains a priority.  A helitack crew returned to work the hotspots in the inaccessible area on the northeast portion of the fire. Hose lays along the east and south side of the fire are completely plumbed and crews have much of the area on the eastern edge mopped in 10-25 feet and 100 feet on the southern end. Firefighters have now put in over 84 miles of hose on the fire.  

Through the night, moderate surface fire with some torching was observed. Eight engines and a hand crew patrolled and responded to areas where the fire was active. A priority objective for the firefighters was to watch for spot fires. Hotshot crews spiked out over night near the fire, available to operations if needed to support nighttime fire activity. Tonight, additional engines, crews and a dozer will be out overnight working the fire.  

Today, crews will continue mop-up efforts and the heavy equipment group will continue creating planned contingency line. The high winds that have been forecasted will arrive in the area this afternoon. Incident Commander Kevin Stock spoke to all resources on the priority of the day to be focusing on safety and only engaging when and where it’s safe to do so. Air resource managers will be monitoring the winds and are expecting the gusty winds to likely ground all air resources. 

Behavior: Overnight, the southeast corner of the fire had active fire growth. Relative humidity’s on the fire were as low as 21% overnight. Today, windy conditions will increase the spotting distance and spread rates. Moderate relative humidity recovery and strong winds through tonight will allow for active surface fire, group torching and spotting.   

Today’s Operational update by Operations Section Chief, Rod Bonacker can be found on the “Cougar Peak Fire 2021” Facebook page.  

Acreage: 87,755 

Containment: 6% 

Cause: Undetermined 

Fire Information: (541) 900-5788 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)  

E-mail: 2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov 

Information websites:  

Facebook: “Cougar Peak Fire 2021” 

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/  

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com 

Weather:  An approaching Pacific storm system will bring increasing southwest winds to the fire area today with ridgetops gusts up to 30 mph possible along with increasing clouds. Dry conditions will prevail, and relative humidity will remain just above critical thresholds this afternoon following moderate relative humidity recoveries this morning. Temperatures will rebound by several degrees into the lower to mid-70’s and humidity will drop into the teens in valleys staying in the lower 20’s at higher elevations. 

Tonight, temperatures will be 45-50 degrees in the valleys and 49-54 on ridgetops. Relative humidity will be 60-70% in the valleys and 45-55% on ridgetops. Winds will be 5-20 mph out of the southwest, with gusts of 20-25 mph. Even stronger southwest winds associated with the strong storm system arrive Saturday before expected rain moves in late Saturday into Sunday. Wetting rains are likely.  

Resources-1210: 2 - type 1 hand crews, 3 - type 2 IA hand crews, 26 - type 2 hand crews, 3 - camp crews, 4 - heavy lift helicopters, 2 - medium lift helicopters, 1 - light lift helicopter, 48 - engines, 20 - dozers, 25 - water tenders, 2 – masticators, and 8 - skidgines. 

Evacuations: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office evacuation levels remain at Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations in and around the Cougar Peak Fire. For further information please see: 

Lake County website https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php 

Lake County Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906    and an interactive map: https://tinyurl.com/InteractiveEvacMap 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Cougar Peak Fire. Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics. 

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft  are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org. 

For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.  Make sure to Know Before You Go. 

Before the predicted precipitation this weekend, VERY high winds will be moving through the area. The drought-stricken forest and grasslands are VERY receptive to the smallest spark. IT ONLY TAKES ONE SPARK to start a wildfire, please remember, Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!  

 Cougar Peak Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock

September 16, 2021

Lakeview Ore. – Yesterday, on the Cougar Peak Fire, there was widespread active surface fire noted throughout the fire. Air resources assisted firefighters throughout the afternoon with bucket drops of water. On the southeast corner of the fire, a slop over the line was found early in the day and crews worked hard to contain it, stopping it at three acres. On the west-northwest side of the fire, the heavy equipment group made great progress prepping contingency line. The west side of the fire was more active than in days past as the effects of the rain diminish and the fire got more active within contingency lines. On the north end of the fire, cold trailing of the grass and sage fuels, mop-up and patrol continued with the northeast corner of the fire having more active fire than to the north. A helitack crew was flown into an inaccessible  area on the northeast corner yesterday afternoon to work the hotspots in the area. The eastern portion of the fire is plumbed, and firefighters continue to work diligently to mop-up and extinguish areas of heat.

 Cougar Peak Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock

September 15, 2021

  Cougar Peak Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander Scott Magers

September 14, 2021 – Evening

  Cougar Peak Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander Kevin Stock

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander Scott Magers

September 14, 2021 – Morning

Cougar Peak Fire Update

 Community Meeting

Monday September 13, 2021 – 6:30 PM

In person at the Paisley School District on 260 Green Street

Also live streaming on the Cougar Peak Fire Facebook page

Broadcasted on KPAI 103.1 and KORV 93.5

Lakeview Ore. - Firefighters continue making progress lining 230 miles of fire perimeter. An increase in winds is anticipated over the next few days and are expected to test the completed dozer and handlines.

Today’s focus will be on the eastern and southern edges of the fire. Resources will continue building and reinforcing lines and extinguishing hot spots close to the fire’s edge. The southeast corner has been mopped up 25 feet into the interior. The southwest and northern perimeter of the fire has been prepped for burn out operations, weather and resources permitting, those operations will be conducted in locations where indirect line was previously constructed.

The heavy equipment group will be working the northwest side of the fire to build contingency lines. On the northeast side of the fire, plans are to burnout a small portion of a slop over near the existing dozer line. Nearly the entire east side of the fire has direct line in place. Fire crews have utilized a combination of dozer line, hand line, or roads to accomplish this objective. Eight crews have been assigned to the eastern flank to mop up and further secure the line. Air resources will coordinate with firefighters to utilize water drops when flare ups occur, or fire threatens the perimeter.

Four task forces, consisting of 16 engines and four water tenders, from the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal will continue mop-up efforts and help secure lines along the fire’s edge. Teams will also continue patrolling and assisting fire crews where needed, with emphasis on preserving grasslands critical to local livestock operations.

A spike camp will be established near Paisley to support the efforts on the western side of the fire and reduce travel time.

Community Meeting

Monday September 13, 2021 – 6:30 PM

In Person at Paisley School and available via Facebook Live

Broadcasted on KPAI 103.1, KORV 93.5

Cougar Peak Fire Update

Northwest Incident Management Team 8, Incident Commander, Kevin Stock

Oregon State Fire Marshal Incident Management Blue Team, Incident Commander, Scott Magers

September 12, 2021 – Morning

General Updates: Fire managers continue to work in unified command and are closely coordinating with local agencies, resources, and community partners.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces completed a structural damage assessment yesterday and found four structures and six outbuildings were burned. At this time, the damage assessment team believes all impacted structures have been located, but that number could change as further assessments are completed, or fire behavior changes.

The heel of the fire (south flank) has not changed over the past two days. Cooler weather, light winds and better visibility allowed resources to make substantial progress yesterday to lay hose and start mop up near roads, handlines and dozer lines.

The west side of the fire is in difficult terrain with limited access; natural hazards such as drought weakened trees and powder dry soil. Crews are evaluating possible opportunities in this area to tie into road systems and establish indirect containment lines. When completed, strategic firing operations will be conducted.

On the head of the fire (north flank) the majority of sagebrush and shrubs in this area were consumed during the intense wind event. Currently, very little heat remains. Firefighters are cold-trailing (feeling with the hand for heat) to reduce the impacts to remaining vegetation on these key grazing lands and further the containment on this portion of the fire.

On the eastern flank, line has been constructed.  Short pieces of line remain to be built today to tie together the entire flank.

Behavior: Primary expected fire behavior consists of consumption of light surface fuels under protected canopies and of heavy fuels with single to small group torching. Drought and fire weakened trees will be impacted by the forecasted winds.

Acreage: 86,170

Containment: 0%

Cause: Undetermined

Fire Information: (541) 900-5788 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm)

E-mail:  2021.cougarpeak@firenet.gov

Information Websites:

Facebook: “Cougar Peak Fire 2021”

Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7835/

Air Quality: oregonsmoke.blogspot.com

Weather: More smoke will be moving into the area today so air quality will be diminished. Use caution while outside, especially those with health concerns.  Temperatures will be 73-78 degrees in the valleys and 67-72 on the ridgetops degrees with relative humidity of 17-21% in the valleys and 20-24% on the ridgetops.  Winds will be light and variable in the morning becoming southwest around noon at 6-9 mph increasing and shifting to the west then northwest by late afternoon at 7-11 mph with gusts around 20 mph. 

Resources-793: 1 - type 1 hand crew, 2 - type 2 IA hand crews, 14 - type 2 hand crews, 3 - camp crews, 3 - heavy lift helicopters, 2 - medium lift helicopters, 1 - light lift helicopter, 65 - engines, 14 - dozers, 25 - water tenders, and 2 - masticators.

Evacuations: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office evacuation levels remain at Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 evacuations in and around the Cougar Peak Fire.  For further information please see:

Lake County website  https://www.lakecountyor.org/index.php

Lake County Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lake-County-Oregon-104435824529906

and an interactive map: https://geo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=f8a0d8814a67445a9e6bf3485f4fd24f

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Cougar Peak Fire. Please consult the Notice to Airman for specifics.

Red Cross Evacuation Shelter: The Lakeview shelter and planned emergency shelter in LaPine are both on standby. If the need arises, staff are available to reopen either shelter.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Whenever a drone is spotted near the fire, all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of the area. For more information, visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

An average of 85% of fires in the Pacific Northwest are started by humans. Please continue to do your part and be fire aware, know fire restrictions in areas you are visiting and practice safe summer outings! #OnlyYouCanPreventWildfires

    For the latest restrictions and regulations, including Oregon Department of Forestry and federal agencies, visit https://scofmp.org/restrictions.shtml.  Make sure to Know Before You Go.

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