#RiversideFire Video Update: Briefing with Operations Chief on plans for the day. Crews coordinating resources with other fires in the area and will focus on infrastructure needs to ensure areas are safe before folks can return. #ClackamasWildfires

Watch video here: https://bit.ly/2Ru8518 

 

Special Update: Let’s talk containment

What is ‘containment’? Why has containment remained at zero percent? Does containment equal success? If you’ve asked these questions you’re not alone. Our intent with this special update is to help folks understand what’s what and increase your understanding of what these terms mean out on the ground.

‘Fireline’ is the hand or dozer line that firefighters put in down to bare mineral soil to hold the fire and keep it from growing. Over the past several days, crews have worked tirelessly to put in hand-cut and dozer lines to help protect the communities of Estacada, Molalla, and Colton. Combined with favorable weather, these lines have been successful at limiting new fire growth towards populated areas.

But fireline by itself doesn’t equal containment. We only call a section of line ‘contained’ if there are no more ‘hotspots’ or heat near the fireline. We’re not going to call an area of line contained if there is any chance it could ‘come back to life’ and allow the fire to grow past the constructed line. In fact, crews monitor all constructed fireline areas for several days- putting out burning stumps, cooling ash-pits, and walking the ground over and over to ‘cold trail’ by hand. Your life and safety is our number one concern. Every day, every fire, every time.

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to limit new fire growth, protect communities, and safely engage the fire with our partners Clackamas Fire Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal and many more.

#Community #ClackamasWildfires #RiversideFire #EstacadaStrong
 
 

Public use closure for ODF-managed state forests extended through Wed., Sept. 16

September 14, 2020, ODF Public Affairs

SALEM, Ore. — All Oregon Department of Forestry-managed forests are closed to public use through at least Wed, Sept. 16. Fire danger remains extreme, air quality is bad to hazardous, & last week’s wind storms caused downed trees on roads & other safety problems that need to be cleared. This covers the Tillamook, Clatsop, Gilchrist, Sun Pass & Santiam state forests as well as other smaller parcels managed by ODF in Lane, Douglas, Coos, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Polk, Lincoln, & Benton counties.

ODF appreciates the public’s understanding.

#ClackamasWildfires UPDATE: Evacuation levels reduced in some areas of county

Riverside Fire – September 14, 2020 Update

Acres: 134,575                                                                                                                               Percent Containment: 0%

Start Date: September 8, 2020                                                                                                 Cause: Human  

Total Personnel: 385 assigned

Firefighters improving fire lines near communities

There will be a virtual Riverside Fire Community Meeting at 6pm tonight on https://www.facebook.com/RiversideFireInfo. A recording will be posted following the meeting. No account is required to view the video. We will monitor online Facebook questions during the meeting or you can e-mail us your questions at 2020.riverside@firenet.gov.

Today’s Plan: Today ground crews will continue to strengthen and improve lines on the fire area located one half mile southeast of the community of Estacada, OR in the Faraday Lake area. Hotshot crews and engines continue to actively engage with hotspots to hold the fire east of Day Hill Rd and prevent new growth. To the southeast of Estacada, crews will work to improve handline constructed over the previous days to hold the fire south of Fall Creek Rd near the North Fork Reservoir and Highway 224.

To the west, dozers and hand crews will continue to put in holding lines in rugged terrain in the Green Mountain and Goat Mountain areas approximately five miles southeast of the community of Colton, OR. Crews also continue to make progress on putting in handline along the southwest side of the fire near Molalla.

“With the additional resources arriving, we are continuing our efforts to suppress the Riverside Fire where we can do so safely and effectively,” said Dave Bales, Deputy Incident Commander with Southwest Area Team 1. “However with a fire perimeter 107 miles long, we’re looking at a marathon here and not a sprint.”   

Two infrared-capable drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems) will be utilized for a second day to aide firefighters in detecting and mapping hotspots near the fireline where dense smoke continues to limit visibility. Helicopters are on site and will begin work as soon as visibility allows.

Private Drones: If you fly, we can’t. A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect. Do not fly drones near wildfires. All firefighting aircraft will all be grounded if a drone is spotted in the area.

Evacuations: While some evacuation levels have been reduced, there have been no changes in level three ‘go now’ evacuations levels. Interactive map at www.clackamas.us/wildfires or call 503-655-8224.

Smoke: Widespread dense wildfire smoke will continue today, resulting in potentially ‘hazardous’ air quality ratings for numerous communities. Visit oregonsmoke.blogspot.com to learn more about protecting your health from smoke.

Closures: Visit TripCheck.com for numerous road closures in the area. The Mt. Hood National Forest, State Forests in Oregon, and large portions of Bureau of Land Management lands are closed: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7174/

Riverside Fire Info: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7174/ Phone: 541-638-0668 (public) 509-202-4184 (media)

Social Media: facebook.com/RiversideFireInfo and twitter.com/fire_riverside Tags: #RiversideFire #ClackamasWildfires

Special Statement

Riverside Fire: Remote Automated Weather Stations in Use Temporarily to Provide Timely Local Weather Data to Firefighters

The incident management team assigned to the Riverside Fire have begun using Incident Remote Automatic Weather Stations (IRAWS) to provide near real-time observational data as crews work around the clock to continue suppressing and securing hotspots.

Dedicated technicians place weather stations in areas throughout the perimeter temporarily during the fire. The weather stations are intended to be used on or near the fireline, and can be rapidly relocated if and as needed to provide timely weather data.

Fire managers use the portable weather stations to predict fire behavior, assess prescription burning times, help with fire weather forecasting, and gauge canyon and ridge top winds. Meteorologists also use this data to produce spot forecasts and provide fire weather support from all central locations.

IRAWS collect, store, and transmit data via multiple communication methods. The sensors can monitor: relative humidity, average and peak winds, air temperatures, fuel temperature, fuel moisture, precipitation and solar radiation.

To learn more, visit: https://famit.nwcg.gov/applications/RAWS/IRAWS
 

September 13 #RiversideFire Video Update: Cooperators come together to share updates, "We're in this together"#ClackamasWildfires 

Watch video here: https://bit.ly/2FhE0zx 

#ClackamasWildfires UPDATE: City of Molalla evacuation level reduced to Level 2; urban areas removed from Level 1 (including Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Clackamas, Happy Valley, Gladstone, Milwaukie, Tualatin)

UPDATE (Sept. 13, 2020, 7:05 p.m.) CITY OF MOLALLA EVACUATION LEVEL REDUCED TO LEVEL 2

Effective immediately (Sunday, Sept. 13), the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is reducing the evacuation level from Level 3 (Red) to Level 2 (Yellow) for the City of Molalla and some areas north and southwest of Molalla.  

Please refer to the Wildfire Evacuation Zones map for specific areas included.

This change in the evacuation level allows the residents of Molalla to return home.  The Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Operations Center want to caution returning residents to be aware of the following:

• You are still at a Level 2 evacuation. “Be Set” to evacuate if conditions change.
• Be on the lookout for downed powerlines or other hazards.
• Do NOT bring your livestock back to your home at this time.
• Keep bags packed and be ready to leave (Level 2, "Be Set")
• Stay inside as much as possible during this period of poor air quality.

The Sheriff's Office made the decision in collaboration with the Riverside Fire Incident Management Team SWA Team 1, the Office of the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the Oregon Department of Forestry, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Air quality remains extremely poor due to wildfire smoke. Residents are encouraged to stay inside. Keep an eye on https://www.oregon.gov/deq/aq/Pages/aqi.aspx and other resources below for air-quality updates.

[END UPDATE]

UPDATE (Sunday, Sept. 13) CHANGE IN CURFEW ZONES

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office is making adjustments to the curfew enacted on Thursday, Sept. 10. 

Effective immediately, the curfew will ONLY be in effect in the Level 2 ("Be set") and Level 3 ("Go") evacuation zones. 

These zones are indicated on the Clackamas County Wildfire Evacuation Zones web page.  Level 2 is indicated by the yellow-colored zone, and Level 3 is indicated by the red-colored zone.  Curfew hours in those zones remain the same, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The curfew is lifted in all other areas of the county NOT at Level 2 or Level 3.

Although the weather predictions are in our favor, the fire conditions can change rapidly.  The curfew will be based on the Clackamas County Wildfire Evacuation Zones map. Please check back to the linked map for the most current evacuation zones. Our goal is to lift the curfew as quickly and safely as possible.

The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office continues to have an increased patrol presence, with extra deputies patrolling the evacuation areas to enforce the curfew, protect people’s property, and hold offenders accountable.