Weekly Situation Report – September 18, 2023

September 18, 2023

National:  Preparedness Level 3 (This stage typically involves two or more geographic areas requiring significant amounts of wildland fire suppression resources from other areas. At this point, NICC is moving an increased amount of wildland fire suppression resources around the country, including IMTs.)

NW Geographic Area: Preparedness Level 4 (This level involves three or more geographic areas experiencing large, complex wildfires requiring IMTs. Geographic areas are competing for wildland fire suppression resources and about 60 percent of the country’s IMTs and wildland firefighting personnel are committed to wildland fire incidents.)

  # of fires Acres burned
Total to date 42,689 2,193,130

Oregon:  Preparedness Level 4 (This level involves three or more geographic areas experiencing large, complex wildfires requiring IMTs. Geographic areas are competing for wildland fire suppression resources and about 60 percent of the country’s IMTs and wildland firefighting personnel are committed to wildland fire incidents.)

Only ODF-protected lands (16 million acres)
  # of fires Acres burned
2023 year-to-date 881 16,155
10-year avg. year-to-date

(2013 – 2022)

 922 119,269

 

All lands in Oregon (Includes ODF-protected lands)
  # of fires Acres burned
2023 year-to-date 1,684 177,812

Current large fires in Oregon: Includes all lands
*These numbers may change as we receive more data from the individual fires*

Name Date Total Acres ODF Acres Containment Location Cause Notes
Tyee Ridge Complex August 24, 2023 7,939 7,939 90% 10 miles W of Sutherlin, OR Lightning Type 3 Team
Today, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team 3 (IMT 3) will transfer command of the Tyee Ridge Complex to a local Type 3 organization comprised of Douglas Forest Protective Association, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Forestry, and contract personnel.

The complex is 90% contained, with mop up activities continuing on the Cougar Creek and Lighthouse #3 fires.  The Type 3 organization will also be backhauling fire hose and other equipment and completing repair activities across the complex.
Anvil August 25, 2023 9,023 0 0% 8 miles E of Port Orford Undetermined GB Team 4
Fire crews, heavy equipment, and aviation resources took advantage of favorable weather conditions yesterday.  Many operational missions were successfully completed, aided by increased personnel.  Fire engines including night shift resources activated water pumps and sprinklers near homes to increase humidity levels and reduce the likelihood of ignition of adjacent fuels.  Hand crews began a burning operation on Grassy Knob towards the Fish Hatchery and Elk River Road to reduce vegetation and create a defensible containment line in advance of a forecasted Red Flag Warning for high winds.

GB Team 4 is managing the Flat and Anvil Fire. A community meeting will be held Tuesday, September 19, at 7 PM at the Sixes Grange Hall and broadcast live on Facebook. Evacuations in place.
Lookout August 5, 2023 25,174 0 50% 4 miles NE of McKenzie Bridge Lightning PNW Team 2
Firefighters held containment lines as fire activity increased Sunday afternoon. Helicopters and Fire Bosses (single engine fixed-wing air tankers) dropped water on the northern perimeter. More seasonable cooler weather is returning to the fire area Monday, which is expected to moderate fire activity through the week. Although the fire will be less active, firefighters have an array of tasks to complete on this wildfire, including mop up, slash chipping, woody debris removal, repairing dozer lines, and building water bars.

PNW Team 2 is managing the Lookout, Bedrock, Horse Creek and Pothole Fire.
Chilcoot August 24, 2023 1,769 0 60% 20 miles east of Glide Lightning NW Team 6
Fire personnel continue to mop up and secure control lines along the western and eastern flanks of the Chilcoot Fire. A combination of direct and indirect containment lines have been constructed along the southern flank that connects a network of roads with dozer and hand lines. Fire managers plan to conduct an isolated, strategic firing operation along those areas of indirect containment lines to secure the fire perimeter.

Ridge Fire: The Ridge Fire is in patrol status with control lines mopped up and secured up to 250 feet interior.

NW Team 6 is managing the Chilcoot, Ridge, Dinner, Brice Creek, and Grizzly Fire.
Brice Creek|
Grizzly		 August 24, 2023 588 | 140 0 55% | 0% 8 miles SW of Oakridge Lightning NW Team 6
Brice Creek: Yesterday, favorable weather conditions allowed firefighting crews to make good progress. With air support, crews continued to mop up hotspots located in the southwest area of the fire.  Firefighters also finished mopping up a spot fire on the eastern flank that occurred yesterday from a torching tree.  Today, firefighters will continue to hold, secure, mop up control lines, and work on contingency lines. Helicopter bucket work is anticipated, and smoke will continue to show within the fire perimeter.

Grizzly: Yesterday, air resources were hampered by poor visibility due to smoke. As the skies cleared, they made continuous laps cooling the fire and slowing its growth. Last night the fire reached Champion Creek. Today firefighters will focus on keeping the fire east of Champion Creek. Air tankers will be supporting crews on the ground. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will be prepping structures along Champion Creek Road.
Camp Creek August 25, 2023 2,055 0 51% 10 miles NE of Sandy Lightning PNW Team 3
Firefighters have been successful establishing containment lines to hold the fire within the existing footprint. There has been little to no growth of the fire in the last week and fire activity is generally creeping and smoldering in place.

Closures: Barlow Wayside Park and the Sandy Ridge Recreation Site are temporarily closed due to fire activity. Clackamas County residents can sign up at https://www.clackamas.us/dm/publicalerts to receive emergency alerts via email, phone, or text.
Flat July 15, 2023 34,242 50 75% 2 miles SE of Agness, OR Under Investigation GB Team 4
All suppression repair efforts on contingency containment lines are projected to be completed by Wednesday. Fire engines will continue to monitor the fire and respond rapidly as needed to any increased fire behavior.

GB Team 4 is managing the Flat and Anvil Fire.

Weather Forecast:

Westerly flow aloft will continue through Tuesday. Low pressure drops south across the Pacific Northwest beginning Tuesday night with snow starting to reach the highest Cascade slopes. Dry and moderately strong general west winds through the Cascade gaps today reach well into the Columbia Basin. Winds then become more confined to the gaps Tuesday with only a modest increase in humidity. Northeast to east winds Tuesday night through Thursday for the Cascades westward have weakened from recent forecasts but still bring lower humidity at times. However, humidity recovery will be moderate or better. The upper low brings light rain to most areas of western Washington Tuesday night and Wednesday. Light wraparound rain then arrives to eastern Oregon by Wednesday evening.

Northwest Fire Potential Summary:

Rapid spread rates remain a concern in finer fuels in the Columbia Basin and surrounding areas. Also expect breezy winds away from the Basin where terrain aligns with the general flow. Onshore flow is helping decrease fire danger among the lower elevations. Cooler air, increasing humidity, and precipitation should mitigate most risk from the expected winds mid-week. There will be exceptions to this, particularly for smaller fuels. Units planning to burn are strongly encouraged to seek additional spot forecast information for their specific project.

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