The Ramsey Canyon Fire was active early in the evening with fire activity on the south-east corner and in the north. On the north side, the fire continues to back down the ridge toward Evans Creek along East Evans Creek Road. It is currently staying at the creek and has not crossed East Evans Creek Road.
The south side of the fire is down to Ramsey Road and is holding. The fire is expected be active on the south side near the intersection of Ramsey Road and Ramsey Canyon Road and is expected to hold there.
The north side of the fire is in steep, rugged terrain and is slowly moving to the north. The Oregon State Fire Marshal will have two structure protection task forces working in the homes to the north of the fire. There will also be two task forces working on the east side of the fire assessing and protecting homes there.
The cooler weather will help firefighting efforts today. Temperatures will be in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s and relative humidity will be in the 25-30% range. Winds are expected to pick up in the afternoon, with similar winds in the 11-14 mph range late in the afternoon. This will cause fire activity to increase at that time.
Yesterday, smoke over regional airports prevented air tankers from working on the fire. Helicopters will continue to work the fire as conditions permit. If the smoke clears at the regional airport air tankers will assist in firefighting efforts.
Acreage is updated from the first infrared flight over the fire.
There are Level 2, Get Set, and Level 3, Go!, evacuations around the fire area.
Community meeting:
- Tonight, Aug. 24, 6 p.m., Hanby Middle School gymnasium, 806 6th Ave., Gold Hill
Location: 12 miles northwest of Eagle Point
Ignition Date: August 22, 2018
Cause: Under investigation
Acres burned: 1,329
Personnel: 631
Containment: 15%
More information:
Watson Creek Fire – Lake County
The Watson Creek Fire is holding at approximately 5.5 to 6 air miles from the town of Paisley. Fire crews prepared for firing operations last night along Forest Road 28 to the 3315 and 3411. On the Forest Road 33-014, firefighters will work today to continue holding that area. Spot fires yesterday were managed on the ground quickly.
A dry cold front brought windy conditions to the Watson Creek Fire yesterday with southwest winds in the morning shifting westerly in the afternoon and northwesterly in the evening. Cooler weather is predicted today in the fire area. Temperatures may drop to the 60s and 70s, with relative humidity at 15-30%. Despite cooler temperatures, dry conditions will continue with breezy afternoon winds. All three level of evacuations are in place.
Location: 13 miles west of Paisley
Ignition Date: August 15, 2018
Ignition Date: August 15, 2018
Cause: Under investigation
Acres burned: 46,525
Personnel: 758
Containment: 10%
More information:
Jennie’s Peak, Stubblefield and Lonerock Fires – Gilliam and Wheeler counties
As the threat to structures has decreased, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Blue Team has demobilized to return to their local units. NW Team 7 will continue to manage the Stubblefield, Lonerock and Jennie’s Peak Fires until they are contained to the point that local resources will be able to take over. Passage of a cold front yesterday increased fire behavior on all three fires, but all established control lines held. All evacuation levels related to the fires in south Gilliam County have been reduced to Level 1 Get Ready. Three Australian helicopter specialists were welcomed yesterday to assist with air operations on these incidents. These folks are part of a contingent of 138 fireline management personnel from Australia and New Zealand assigned to support large fires in the California and Northwest Areas.
The Jennie’s Peak Fire is 70% contained and 41,000 acres. Yesterday crews conducted firing
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| Above: View of Jennie’s Peak. |
operations into the night to secure the northern flank of the fire. Today’s operations will focus on holding and mopping up yesterday’s burnout, continued burning to add depth to the fireline in a few critical areas, and searching for any remaining hot spots around the perimeter of the fire. The fire continues to hold along the John Day River, staying north and east of the river.
The Stubblefield Fire is currently 80% contained and is 51,707 acres. In the steep terrain around the John Day River, rappelers were inserted on the far western flank to secure a finger of the fire located in an otherwise inaccessible area adjacent to the John Day River. This action was successful and today firefighters will continue to improve the control line in this area. All other established containment lines held, and crews continued to mop up any hot spots that could rekindle and threaten those lines.
The Lonerock Fire is now 80% contained and 5,056 acres. Yesterday crews worked the southeastern flank of the fire to continue to strengthen the remaining fireline. Most remaining smoke and torching was on the interior part of the fire, away from the fire edge.
Jennie’s Peak Fire: 41,000 acres, 70% contained
Stubblefield Fire (now includes Seale Fire): 56,763
acres, 80% contained
acres, 80% contained
Lonerock Fire: 5,056 acres, 80% contained
Location: West, southwest and southeast of Condon
Ignition Date: August 17, 2018
Ignition Date: August 17, 2018
Cause: Unknown
Personnel:
249
Stubblefield Fire Info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6162/
Jennie’s Peak Fire Info: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6163/
Miles and Columbus fires
(formerly the South Umpqua Complex/Sugar Pine Fires, also includes Snow Shoe and Round Top)
Miles Fire – 35,310 acres, 54% contained
Columbus Fire – 10,138 acres, 55% contained
Yesterday firefighters and engines from the Miles and Columbus fires helped fight the Ramsey Canyon Fire which is 12 miles northwest of Eagle Point, Oregon in Sam’s Valley.
Location: Approximately 5 miles northeast of Trail
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Acres burned: Combined total of 49,418
Personnel: 630
More information:
Other fires
Taylor Creek and Klondike East
A transfer of command for the Klondike East Zone will occur Saturday. Northwest Team 12, a Type 2 incident management team from Washington, will assume command of the Taylor Creek and Klondike East fires at 6 a.m. NW Team 12, led by incident commander Richy Harrod, was in-briefed by the Alaska IMT on Thursday.
Despite diminished fire activity due to smoke, cooler temperatures and higher relative humidities, firefighters remain vigilant in keeping the Taylor Creek Fire and Klondike Fire East in check. Crews are patrolling fire perimeters for hot spots, mopping up areas of heat, pulling hose and pumps, falling hazard trees, repairing firelines and backhauling trash.
Location: 10 miles west of Grants Pass
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Acres burned: 52,796 acres
Personnel: 387
Containment: 95%
More information:
Klondike Fire West
As expected, the slop-over that occurred north of Silver Creek in the Klondike West zone continues to grow slowly in a very remote area of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The air over the fire was very smoky yesterday which shaded the fire and slowed its rate of spread.
There is no safe option to implement a direct attack
along the active edge of this part of the fire. The area is currently inaccessible to ground crews. The fire is expected to become more active around 3 p.m. today due to lower relative humidities.
The priority for today is to strengthen the expected primary lines. Resources are being relocated from patrolling the contained section of line leading from Bear Camp Road to Flat Top Road and from constructing line along Flat Top Road to Chinaman Hat.
Community meeting: Klondike Fire West
- Sunday, Aug. 26, 3 p.m., outside the Agness Community Library, 3905 Cougar Ln., Agness
Location: 9 miles northwest of Selma
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Acres burned: 80,725 acres
Personnel: 1,235
Containment: 37%
More information:
Terwilliger Fire – Willamette National Forest
Southwest Area Incident Management Team #3 is utilizing a full suppression strategy and developing tactics that minimize impacts to important values at risk. Incident Responder and public safety remain the highest priority.
A high level of coordination between Oregon Department of Forestry, Forest Service, and the Incident Management Team to simultaneously construct a contingency line and go direct has been successful on the western perimeter of the fire.
Weather changes moderated fire behavior allowing firefighters to hold the fire on the southwest side from the 19 westerly to the 115 road. Fire became established in Annie Creek and began moving up canyon. The rugged steep terrain limited the ability to go direct as the inversion lifted in the afternoon.
Today crews will mop up and secure the southwest perimeter and work towards tying into the contingency line ODF constructed on Campbell Global property. Firefighters on the southeast perimeter of the fire will continue to hold fire to the east of Forest Road 19 road and into the Rebel fire burn scar.
The fire did burn through Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs. Damage assessments will begin as soon as it is safe to enter the area.
Community meeting:
- Tonight, Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m., McKenzie High School, old gym, 51187 Blue River Dr., Finn Rock
Location: 30 miles east of Springfield
Cause: Under investigation
Cause: Under investigation
Acres burned: 3,759
Personnel: 195
Containment: 1%
Containment: 1%
More information: