September 28, 2018
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Above: Some of the ODF personnel now in Wyoming
helping that state cope with late season wildfires. |
ODF has sent five fire engines and crews and at least 10 other personnel to Wyoming at the request of the Wyoming State Forestry Division. The strike team is helping with initial attack in Sublette County while other firefighters engage on the 54,071-acre Roosevelt Fire.
The Roosevelt Fire is burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. A number of structures have been reported lost in that fire.
Yesterday three of the engines were redeployed to help with the 21,631-acre Ryan Fire burning in the Routt National Forest by the border with Colorado.
September 28, 2018
GLENDALE, Ore. – Aviation and ground resources continued to work on the Bear Springs Fire Thursday afternoon. The fire is located about seven miles west of Glendale in Douglas County. It is now estimated to be about 20 acres in size. The fire is burning in a mixture of old growth timber and younger trees.
Today, firefighters have used multiple helicopters to help cool the fires spread while ground resources, including firefighters and bull dozers, worked to complete fire trails around the fire. One large air tanker and two single-engine airtankers (SEAT’s) were also used earlier today to drop fire retardant on the fire. Since then, drift smoke from surrounding fires have moved into the area, which has limited visibility, causing the fixed-wing aircraft to be grounded for safety reasons.
Crews recently reported that there is a fire trail around the majority of the fire, some of which is hand line and some is dozer line. Firefighters are also working to install hose lays around the fires perimeter. Once fire trails are completed around the fire, crews will work to improve and hold the fire lines.
Currently, there are no homes threatened by the Bear Springs Fire and no evacuations have been issued. One firefighter received multiple bee stings while working on the fire and was removed from the fire line as a precautionary measure. No other injuries have been reported.
The cause of the Bear Springs Fire is currently under investigation. Anyone with information about the cause of the fire is asked to contact DFPA.
September 27, 2018
GLENDALE, Ore. – Crews from the Douglas Forest Protective Association and ODF’s Southwest Oregon District are on the scene of the Bear Springs Fire about seven miles west of Glendale. The Bear Springs Fire is currently estimated to be about seven to 10 acres in size. It is burning on a steep hillside with poor access. Five helicopters are currently supporting ground resources as they work to contain the Bear Springs Fire. Additional ground and aviation resources have been ordered to assist with the blaze and are en-route to the fire.
Currently, no homes are threatened by the Bear Springs Fire and no evacuations have been issued. The cause of the Bear Springs Fire is currently under investigation.
September 11, 2018
SALEM, Ore. – It will take some time for recent rains to make up for the state’s exceptionally dry summer. Precipitation for the month of August was well below normal according to the Oregon Water Conditions Report, issued by the Oregon Water Resources Department. Some areas received as little as 5 percent of normal precipitation. Areas west of the Cascades and northwestern Oregon were especially dry.
In the past 30 days temperatures have been generally warmer than normal, particularly in the northeast, southwest, and southeast corners of the state.
In the past two weeks temperatures have been cooler at the coast, in the Cascades and in the north central region. The exceptions were eastern and southeastern regions of the state, where temperatures were up to six degrees warmer than normal for this time of year.
Over the next 8 to 14 days, the federal Climate Prediction Center is forecasting an increased probability of above-normal temperatures across most of Oregon. The most recent three-month outlook still indicates increased chances of above-normal temperatures statewide.
Drought conditions not yet over in Oregon
The most recent update to the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates continued drought conditions across Oregon. According to the Monitor’s Sept. 4, 2018 report, 100% of the state is listed as abnormally dry, with 84% in severe drought and almost 22% in extreme drought.
At the start of September, nine Oregon counties were under state-declared drought status. Twelve counties as of Sept. 5 met U.S. Department of Agriculture’s drought designation.
Oregon statewide water year precipitation at snow-monitoring sites continues to hover at just under 86% of normal. The lowest values are in the Rogue/Umpqua basins at 76% of normal for the water year. The highest amounts of water-year precipitation are currently in the Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Willow basins with 102% of normal.
September 10, 2018
Record dry spells in the Willamette Valley were broken up over the
weekend and early Monday, with nominal rain falling from Portland south to
Eugene. Precipitation was heavier in the northwest Coast Range, with some
coastal rain as far south as Coos Bay.
However, no rain fell on most of southwest Oregon, where fire
conditions remain extreme or high. The 10-day forecast calls for seasonal
temperatures with lower-than-normal precipitation. Fuel moisture remains very
low, and even areas that saw rainfall will need significantly more before this
changes.
Meteorologists expect more rain this week west of the Cascades –
chances are lower in southwest Oregon – with possible showers on the east side
as well.
