Amid intense fire activity and demand for firefighting resources, Oregon’s fire preparedness level has been raised to its highest level – 5. This matches the national level, which was raised last week. Oregon continues to be one of the states most affected by wildfires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Of 98 large active wildfires nationwide, the Center reports 16 are burning in Oregon, more than in any other state.
Left: Gov. Kate Brown thanks members of the Oregon National Guard during a visit to the Garner Complex last week. More Oregon National Guard members are being trained in wildland firefighting in Salem this week. They will be available after training to fill support roles, freeing firefighters for initial attack and direct suppression.
ODF turns over management of Taylor Creek Fire to federal team
Oregon’s largest wildfire is now 58% contained
Left: Gov. Kate Brown thanks members of the Oregon National Guard during a visit to the Garner Complex last week. More Oregon National Guard members are being trained in wildland firefighting in Salem this week. They will be available after training to fill support roles, freeing firefighters for initial attack and direct suppression.
ODF turns over management of Taylor Creek Fire to federal team
ODF’s Incident Management Team 2 has been managing fires in the Garner Complex in southern Oregon since mid-July. Today the team turned over management of the largest fire in the Complex – the 22,774-acre Taylor Creek Fire – to a federal incident management team. The fire’s westward spread is taking it deeper into the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. ODF will continue to be engaged in suppression efforts, particularly on the east and north flanks where the fire has encroached on lands protected by ODF.
Having finished a 14-day duty rotation, ODF IMT 2 also turned over the remaining fires in the Garner Complex to ODF IMT 1 led by Joe Hessel. Those fires include Pleasant Creek, Grave Creek, King Mountain and Spencer Creek fires. These showed no growth over the weekend and remain at 8,886 acres and are now 60% contained, with mop up proceeding in many areas.
Oregon’s largest wildfire is now 58% contained
Containment on Oregon’s largest wildfire – the Long Hollow Fire – has reached 58%. There was only modest growth in the past 24 hours, with the fire now sized at 34,550 acres.
The fire is on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private land not protected by ODF. It started about 5 miles south of Dufur.
Other recent wildfires with ODF engagement
Klondike Fire – Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
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| Above: The Klondike Fire is burning in sections of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness close to burn scars from other large old fires. |
This wildfire in western Josephine County has burned 15,915 acres since it was started by lightning two weeks ago. The fire is being managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Much of it is burning in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area. Among the more than 400 personnel fighting the fire are ODF units, who yesterday worked to stem possible spread to private timberlands. Evacuation notices are in place. Visit Josephine County Emergency Management on Facebook for current information. A community meeting is being held Tuesday night, July 31 at the Selma Center in Selma.
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 5%
Snowshoe and Miles Fires (South Umpqua Complex) – Jackson County
ODF is engaged on these two lightning-sparked fires within the South Umpqua Complex. Some of the Snowshoe Fire is largely in mop up today with no reported spread. About a third of the fire’s footprint was on land protected by ODF – some 1,285 acres out of a total fire size of 3,815 acres.
Hot temperatures and dry fuel continue to hamper suppression efforts on the 3,754-acre Miles Fire. If smoke allows, air resources will be used to slow spread on private land and structures. Where possible, direct suppression or building or using roads or other natural features for indirect control are planned. Burnouts will also be used to reduce fuels between containment lines and the main fire. There is some concern the Miles Fire could burn eastward to join the Sugar Pine Fire.
Wilson Prairie Fire – Central Oregon District
Containment is now 60% on this fire in southwest Morrow County in eastern Oregon, with no change in acreage.
Ignition date: July 23, 2018
Acres burned: 437 – about 120 protected by ODF
Cause: Under investigation
Wilson Prairie Fire – Central Oregon District
Containment is now 60% on this fire in southwest Morrow County in eastern Oregon, with no change in acreage.
Ignition date: July 23, 2018
Acres burned: 437 – about 120 protected by ODF
Cause: Under investigation
Public asked to heed fire restrictions
Find the latest fire danger levels and restrictions at ODF’s Fire Restrictions and Closures web page at https://gisapps.odf.oregon.gov/firerestrictions/PFR.html