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As fires ravage the West, the national fire preparedness
In light of the increased fire activity and fire
severity in Western states, the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group has moved the nation’s Preparedness Level to 5, the highest level. Oregon’s level closely tracks the national preparedness level.
Currently, 89 large fires have burned more than 877,000 acres in
13 states. Oregon is now tied with Alaska for having the most active large wildfires – 15 each – according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
The Center reports on their website that 13 new large fires have
been reported overnight in the U.S., almost all west of the Great Plains. Several large fires displayed extreme fire behavior and made significant runs that caused evacuations for nearby residents.
One of the worst has been the deadly Carr Fire near Redding,
Calif. Reported yesterday, it has already grown to 20,000 acres, destroyed structures and forced evacuations and area closures. To fight it, Cal Fire has ordered 150 fire engines. With so many fires burning simultaneously and 8 more weeks of summer left, firefighting resources are fully engaged at both the state and national level. Garner Complex – Josephine and Jackson counties  Oregon’s largest active wildfire is the lightning-caused Garner Complex in southern Oregon, which this morning stood at 25,097 acres with 25% containment. The largest fire in the Complex is Taylor Creek Fire, which has been expanding on all fronts with heavy fire activity on the perimeter.
The almost two-week-old Complex is being managed by
the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Forest Service. More than 2,500 personnel are engaged on the Complex, including 76 handcrews. Some 112 fire engines are assigned to the fire, along with 41 water tenders, 32 dozers, 7 other heavy equipment and 27 aircraft.
Other recent ODF wildfires
Snowshoe Fire – Jackson County
ODF
is in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service on the Snowshoe Fire, part of the South Umpqua Complex. This fire is located in northern Jackson County north of Shady Cove. Yesterday evening the fire’s size was put at 3,485. ODF-protected land accounts for about a third of the total – some 1,285 acres. Firefighters have built fireline all around the fire.
Ignition date: July 15, 2018
Acres burned: 3,485
Cause: Lightning
ODF
has a smaller share (59 acres) of another fire in the Complex to the northeast – the 982-acre Miles Fire.
Wilson Prairie Fire – Central Oregon District
This fire in southwest Morrow County in eastern
Oregon started on land protected by ODF and spread onto the Umatilla National Forest, where it has led to
Ignition date: July 23, 2018
Acres burned: 437 – about 120 of it protected
by ODF
Cause: Under investigation
Public urged to heed fire restrictions
Find the latest fire danger levels and restrictions at ODF’s
Fire Restrictions and Closures web page at |
