September 29, 2017
Even
though over four inches of rain fell earlier in the week in Columbia County, it took only two to
three days of dry weather to allow a debris burn on private land there to escape into surrounding vegetation. The escaped burn scorched four
acres before being brought under control by personnel from the Oregon
Department of Forestry’s Northwest Oregon District. The blaze highlights how
even a short period of dry weather can allow fine fuels to dry, making it
easier for fire to spread.
Debris burning remains restricted in many areas
throughout the state. For the latest information on restrictions on
ODF-protected lands, go to http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx
or check with your local ODF unit or forest protective association for
details.
Above: Debris burning was the cause of this
4-acre fire in Columbia County. Even when bans are lifted,
care needs to be exercised.
September 27, 2017
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Above: ODF employee Trevor Madison checks equipment
being returned after a wildfire in southern Oregon
to see if any need repair. Most existing Oregon wildfires
are largely contained now and in mop up or patrol.
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With few new fires in the Pacific Northwest and existing fires largely contained and in mop up or patrol, more firefighting resources have become available regionally. That’s true even with the demobilization of the Oregon National Guard and U.S. Army troops from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. This prompted fire officials at the Northwest Interagency Coordinating Center last week to lower the Pacific Northwest’s preparedness level from 5, where it has been for more than a month, to 4. They lowered it further on Monday of this week to 3. The wildfire preparedness level nationally has been at 3 since Sept. 22.
A lower preparedness level at the regional level does not mean a lowering of readiness to fight wildfires. It reflects a better match between the availability of firefighting resources and the expected demand for them.
September 26, 2017
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Above: This recent debris pile burn in southern Oregon
escaped and quickly torched half an acre of pasture
before firefighters brought it under control.
Photo by Kyle Reed.
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While
recent rains and unseasonably cool temperatures took the edge off fire danger in much of Oregon last week, they weren’t enough to end fire season. The next few days will see warm temperatures return, with plenty of sunshine over most of the state. A few sunny hours is all it takes to dry out dead grass and
other light fuels, allowing them to burn again.
This was demonstrated last Friday when
an illegal debris burn sparked a grass fire about four miles south of Rice
Hill in Douglas County. Firefighters from Douglas Forest Protective Association and North Douglas County Fire & EMS responded to the fire near Hogan Road around 3:45 p.m. and attacked the blaze. Fortunately, crews were able to stop the fire at half an acre of grass. While no livestock or buildings were threatened in that fire, fast-moving grass fires can cause considerable property damage. Such fires can destroy fences, parked vehicles, outbuildings, even homes. Livestock can also be trapped in pastures by flames and injured or killed.
So far this year there have been 114 fires caused by illegal debris burning. Of those, 17 occurred in September. Because conditions still carry some risk of wildfire, public use restrictions that include bans on backyard debris burning are still in effect in many parts of Oregon. Those found with illegal
debris burns can be cited and fined. They may also be held liable for fire
suppression costs if their illegal burn turns into a wildfire.
To ensure your burn will be done at a safe time, always check local restrictions first. For the latest information on restrictions on ODF-protected lands, go to
http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Fire/Pages/Restrictions.aspx or check with your local ODF unit or forest protective association for details.
September 25, 2017
After a wildfire is contained and the threat from flames and smoke dies away, the public may think firefighters’ work is done. Actually, an important part of every wildfire is the work fire crews do to repair disturbances to the land caused by firefighting efforts. Fire managers use the term “suppression repair” to describe this work that helps the land start to heal.
Before leaving a wildfire, crews may spread brush and rocks onto bare ground that was created during firefighting efforts, whether by dozers or hand crews. Chipping equipment is often brought in to help chip this woody material so it can be spread easily. This reduces the risk of it becoming fuel for a future wildfire, and allows it to more quickly biodegrade while protecting soil until new vegetation can grow. Where fire lines were built on slopes, channels called water bars may be constructed to divert water so soil doesn’t erode. This prevents gullies from forming. Culverts are sometimes blocked by debris from fires, and these may also be cleared.
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Above: After a wildfire, trees that fell
onto roadways must be cleared,
like this tree that came down during
the Eagle Creek Fire.
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To protect public safety, rocks and logs that rolled off burning hillsides onto roads are removed, and fire-weakened trees that could topple onto roads or popular trails may be cut down. Crews will also remove any flagging, damaged hoses and trash left behind by firefighters as part of their efforts to restore the land to a more natural condition.
Suppression repair can’t hide the devastation left by roaring waves of flame that turn a forest into a charred moonscape. But it does ensure that the heroic efforts to stop those flames don’t themselves injure the land.
September 21, 2017
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Above: Oregon National Guard members received
the same basic training in wildland firefighting
as seasonal firefighters.
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Most of the 250 Oregon National Guard members still engaged on wildfires will be demobilized from wildfires by the end of this week. This is down from the peak of more than 700 who volunteered to help fight wildfires this summer. The troops added capacity to a wildland firefighting system stretched thin by an outbreak of wildfires up and down the Cascades from California to the Columbia Gorge. By early September, the number of Oregon National Guard troops deployed on wildfires was the largest deployed in decades, possibly the largest since 1987 when 1,250 Oregon National Guard troops served on wildfires.
ODF served a coordinating role, arranging for troops to get the same basic training as wildland firefighters. Guard members then helped at a number of fires, including the Horse Prairie Fire on lands protected by the Douglas Forest Protective Association, the High Cascades Complex, and the state’s largest wildfire this year – the Chetco Bar Fire in southwest Oregon.
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Above: Mopping up hot spots
on thousands of acres was an important role
filled by Oregon National Guard troops.
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With persistent wildfires on national forests burning hundreds of thousands of acres, Guard members work mopping up fire perimeters was invaluable. Their efforts helped ensure firelines remained secure. They also staffed control points on roads closed to non-firefighting vehicles.
Another valuable contribution was that of Oregon Army National Guard helicopters, which attacked wildfires from the air. Two Chinook CH-47 helicopters from Pendleton worked first on the Whitewater Fire in the Willamette National Forest east of Detroit, and later on the Chetco Bar Fire. They dropped enough water on wildfires – more than 1.3 million gallons – to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
ODF’s Marganne Allen was a liaison to the more than 150 Oregon National Guard troops assigned to the 16,436-acre Horse Prairie Fire. She says she was impressed with the commitment of the guard to their peacetime mission. “They injected so much energy and enthusiasm,” she says.
At left: Some of the more than 700 Oregon National Guard members who left families and jobs to volunteer on wildfires this summer.
September 19, 2017
Hand crews digging and securing firelines and
mopping up wildfires in Oregon face a number of risks from the
natural environment. Apart from fire and smoke, the most common risks from
nature here may be allergic rashes from the widespread poison oak. Stings by
bees and wasps, often irritated by wildfire smoke, are surprisingly common as
well. By contrast, even though it is not unusual to see snakes in rural areas, snakebites
are rare. However, one bite did occur this year, to a firefighter battling the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County, south of Roseburg.
Oregon is home to 15 species of snake but only one is
venomous – the Northern Pacific rattlesnake. Growing to 3 feet in length (rarely
to 4 feet), this creature is an important part of the ecosystem, eating mice,
rats, squirrels, rabbits, lizards and even other snakes.
Rattlesnakes generally avoid people if they can. Most bites
occur when someone steps on a snake cowering in the undergrowth, or when
someone reaches a hand into where one is hiding. After a wildfire, the warmth
of hot spots at night, such as inside burned out stump holes or beneath burned
logs, can be attractive hiding places for these cold-blooded reptiles.
Unfortunately, those are the very places hand crews seek out during mop up operations
as they attempt to put out any woody debris that is hot to the touch. The firefighter at the Horse Prairie Fire who got bitten by a snake was immediately taken for treatment. Fortunately, no venom was injected and
the firefighter was able to return to duty the next day.
As frightened as people can be of rattlesnakes, they have
more reason to fear us. From pioneer times on, settlers and their descendants
have usually killed rattlesnakes on sight. As a result, the
Northern Pacific rattlesnake has been all but exterminated in densely populated
areas, such as the Willamette Valley.
September 18, 2017
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Above: A few rain showers are not enough
to make burning a debris pile safe yet.
Wait for soaking rains to end fire season,
usually sometime in mid to late October.
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Autumn doesn’t officially arrive until later this week, but fall-like rains are already bringing relief to firefighters who’ve faced persistent wildfires on both sides of the Cascades. The rains and accompanying cooler temperatures helped firefighters check the spread of most large existing fires, about 10 of which reported no new growth yesterday.
Cooler weather, however, does not signal the end of fire season. Fuels which have had all summer to dry out will only be superficially wet by the current showers. When the rain stops near the end of this week, we could see dry east winds. Within hours, dead grass, fallen leaves and downed wood can dry out and be able to burn.
Until fire season is officially declared over, debris burning remains prohibited in most areas. Firefighters have recently had to respond to a number of fires caused by people burning backyard debris piles.
As temperatures drop, the temptation to build a campfire also increases. Fire wardens are discovering and dousing abandoned campfires, which are only allowed in approved, designated campgrounds. Check with your local ODF or forest protective association for details.
While fire restrictions have been eased in several areas, fire managers continue to ask everyone to heed caution when working or recreating outdoors. To find the latest information on restrictions on ODF-protected lands, go to
September 8, 2017
Over a thousand firefighters and support
personnel continue working to fully contain the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County. Fire activity has decreased, which will result in a reduction in the number of personnel assigned to the fire as mop-up
and rehab operations become more of the focus.
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Above: Decreased fire activity on the Horse Prairie Fire
is letting firefighters focus on finishing burnout operations
even as mop up and rehab efforts get underway. |
ODF’s Incident Management Team 3 is finishing their two-week assignment and will transfer command of the fire to ODF’s IMT 1 on Saturday. Their mission will be to help bring the fire to
full containment. The fire stands at 16,436 acres and is now 35 percent contained.
The rain that fell across the valley yesterday
and last night dropped only about 15-hundredths of an inch on the fire. The
light rain is not expected to hinder the burnout operations of unburned areas
within the established fireline and smoke may be visible from Cow Creek Road.
It is essential to finish burning out these “islands” of unburned fuels to
prevent future flare ups and new fires crossing established containment lines.
Other work on the fire today includes the
establishment of sediment controlling “water bars” on the fire trails. These water bars are berms of earth
constructed at an angle and spacing to prevent rain falling on the fire trial
from creating a gully and erosion.
Additional work today will be falling fire-weakened trees along the
railroad tracks to prevent their unexpected fall onto the tracks.
September 7, 2017
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Above: Firefighters on the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County
continue strengthening firelines today. |
RIDDLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Horse Prairie Fire
in Douglas County are reporting that further growth on the fire is not anticipated. The fire’s size is 16,436 acres and containment is 30 percent. Today firefighters will continue strengthening control lines and
burning areas that were included in the constructed fire line but not consumed
by the fire. Burning these areas, now, in a controlled manner, with
firefighters present, will help to prevent an unexpected fire flare-up after
the main body of firefighters leaves. Smoke from these burnouts will
be visible from Cow Creek Road but not be a threat to the control line.
Last night the
evacuation level along Cow Creek Road was reduced from Level 3 to Level
2. Road blocks will remain staffed and residents may return without
an escort from the Douglas County Sheriff’s. Access to the public is restricted due
to heavy fire truck traffic.
A trace of rain fell on the fire Wednesday night. However, fire danger remains high. Warmer temperatures and lower
humidity have been forecast to return Monday.
The fire is staffed with 1,087 personnel. The fire’s Incident Command Post is located just east of Riddle.
Smoke remains in the area. To learn more
about smoke in the area, log on to http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/.
Right: People living near the Horse Prairie Fire in southern Oregon showed their appreciation for firefighters with signs of all kinds.
September 6, 2017
The Eagle Creek and Indian Creek Fires in the Columbia River Gorge have merged and are now being managed as one incident. An infrared fly-over has estimated the combined fires to be 30,929 acres. After experiencing explosive fire behavior on the
Eagle Creek Fire last night, firefighters were successful at holding fire growth to
moderate levels Tuesday. A spot fire, which spread
across the Columbia River early Tuesday near Archer Mountain, is approximately 120 acres today and is
being managed by a Washington Department of Natural Resources Type 3 Team.
Structural firefighters led by the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office saved the historic
Multnomah Falls Lodge, built in 1925. A task force of structural engines and one aerial
ladder truck worked in conjunction with a strike team of water tenders to keep
the lodge wetted down during the fire storm of falling embers. Large trees
nearby torched and fire crews used hose lines to protect the lodge from heat.
Visit the Eagle Creek and Indian Creek Fires Facebook page to see pictures of
the lodge.
Ian Yocum, Incident Commander with the Oregon State
Fire Marshal said firefighters were successful in protecting other structures as well. “Firefighters had a good day out there. We lost one small
residential structure and four outbuildings. We will continue to patrol and
access structural protection needs.”
Defending private property, historical structures in
the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, the various State Parks in the area and
the Bull Run Watershed will continue to be top priorities for firefighters.
The I-84 freeway remains
closed from Troutdale to Hood River due to rocks, snags and other debris
entering the roadway. Oregon Department of Transportation will be working
closely with the Unified Command team to determine when it will be safe to
open. Detour routes are in place.
Temperatures are expected to be cooler today, but a
Red Flag Warning will be in effect in the afternoon for potential lightning.
Winds will shift to westerly, which may help improve the unhealthy air quality in the greater Portland metropolitan area. Those west winds, however, could propel fire growth to the east of the
current fire perimeter.
For real time and current evacuation information,
please contact the sheriffs’ offices in Multnomah, Hood River or Skamania County.
September 5, 2017
The Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area was reported early this morning at 4,800 acres and has come within four miles east of Corbett. The fire started on Sept. 2, just south of Cascade Locks. Over the weekend it jumped the Columbia River near Archer Mountain. All hikers and campers in the area were accounted for and safely removed or led out by Sunday. Trail, railroad and area closures are now in effect.
As of this morning, about 300 personnel were assigned to the fire. Oregon State Fire Marshal task forces are in the fire area doing structure protection. No primary residences have been lost. Additional resources have been ordered. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuations are in place for Cascade Locks and nearby areas in both Hood River and Multnomah counties. Evacuation levels and zones can rapidly change. The Hood River County Sheriff (http://www.hoodriversheriff.com/news/breaking-news/) and Multnomah County Sheriff (https://flashalert.net/id/MCSO/107579?alert=1) are the most reliable sources for the latest evacuation information. Shelters have been set up at Mt. Hood Community College, 3691 NE 17th Drive in Gresham and at the Skamania County Fairgrounds, immediately across the Columbia River in Stevenson, Wash.
A section of Interstate Highway 84 was reported closed from Troutdale (Exit 17) to two miles west of Hood River (Milepost 62). Bridge of the Gods is also closed. SR-14 in Washington is closed to commercial traffic in both directions but open to passenger vehicles. SR-14 is extremely congested in both directions, please travel only if necessary. Get the latest information on road closures at www.tripcheck.com.
On Sunday, Governor Kate Brown declared the fire a conflagration, enabling additional structural resources to be assigned to this fire. She visited the fire’s joint information center in Troutdale this afternoon.
An interagency incident management team (Type 2) assumed command of the fire yesterday. Under Unified Command ODF is fully integrated with that team and providing mutual aid. Also in the Unified Command are the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The team is also assuming command of the nearby 850-acre Indian Creek Fire.
The fire is reported to be human-caused and is under investigation by the Oregon State Police and other authorities.
September 1, 2017
Fighting fires by its very nature has risks. What may surprise most people, though, is that one of the biggest dangers facing wildland firefighters is not on the fireline but in lanes of traffic. The recent death in California of a U.S. Forest Service firefighter, killed yesterday in a vehicle accident while returning from a fire in the Sierra National Forest, underscores the risks of being behind the wheel.
A century of studying fires that resulted in injuries or deaths has led to better equipment, tactics and training, making firefighting safer. Nowadays, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of serious on-the-job injuries and death among firefighter personnel.
Oregon has the worst death rate for fatal motor vehicle crashes on the West Coast, according to 2015 data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Oregon experienced 1.24 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled, compared to less than one death each for California and Washington State.
Brendon Fisher, ODF Safety Manager based in Salem, says single-vehicle crashes in rural areas are not untypical for Oregon.
“According to the data, 62 percent of fatal crashes in Oregon involved only one vehicle,” said Fisher.
“Fatal crashes are also twice as likely to occur in rural areas in Oregon as in cities.”
Seventy percent of fatal crashes in Oregon in 2015 were on rural roads. Those are the same roads ODF personnel travel to get to and from wildfires,” Fisher pointed out.
Fisher said one factor increasing the risk of responders experiencing a crash is fatigue.
“Responding to a fire often brings a surge of adrenalin that temporarily boosts our awareness and energy,” said Fisher. “That wears off, though. After long, physically demanding hours on a fire, people can be more tired than they realize.”
“Long, uninterrupted stretches of driving can dull our attention and alertness,” Fisher pointed out.
Taking frequent breaks on long drives can help restore alertness temporarily.
“Get out, stretch and move around,” advised Fisher. “It might save your life.”
August 31, 2017
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Above: Hoses are a vital tool for fighting wildfires.
Here, firefighters unload an order of hoses, nozzles and other
equipment that will be used today to battle the Naylox Fire.
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Containment lines around the Naylox Fire 11 miles north of Klamath Falls held overnight, and containment is now reported as 15 percent. The fire’s size is estimate at over 400 acres. The fire started near hay barns the afternoon of August 29. The cause is still under investigation.
The threat to structures in the area has been considerably reduced. Therefore the unified command between Oregon Department of Forestry and Klamath County Fire District 1 (KCFD1) will transition today solely to ODF, led by Incident Commander John Pellissier.
Crews overnight continued cleaning up dozer control lines, capitalizing on the good work performed yesterday by ODF’s two helicopters that were able to drop water on the fire most of the day. Day shift on the fire now numbers 70 firefighters and support personnel. Their main objectives are:
Evacuation levels along Algoma Road at the base of Naylox Mountain have been reduced to Level 1, Be Ready. Algoma Road remains closed for emergency personnel and local resident use only between Old Fort Road and Highway 97 North. The FS9718 Road is also still closed to allow firefighters safe access. Travelers along Highway 97 North are asked to be vigilant in watching for emergency vehicle traffic and to reduce speed as necessary.
Pacific Power will begin working on repairing the utility line that was damaged on Algoma Road so that electricity can be restored to the one residence that lost power due to the fire.
A temporary flight restriction is in place within a 3-mile radius of the fire for firefighter safety.
KCFD1 Fire Chief John Spradley attributes holding the Naylox Fire thus far to the partnership between local, state and federal fire agencies in Klamath County. “Our cooperation and strong relationships allowed us to work well together from the get go on Tuesday,” he said.
August 30, 2017
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Above: Just over 4,400 acres in Douglas County
have burned to date in the Horse Prairie Fire. |
Fire growth on the Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County was slowed Tuesday
night due to lower temperatures and higher humidity. Night crews took
advantage of these conditions to strengthen fire lines and build contingency
lines. With the minimal growth overnight, the fire continues to be estimated at
just over 4,400 acres and remains 15 percent contained. It is located about 15 miles northwest of Canyonville. The cause has not been determined.
The fire crossed Cow Creek late yesterday at Dad’s Creek and Table Creek.
There is a burn of approximately 100 acres across the creek and crews and
aircraft are focusing efforts in that area.
Clearing skies today will allow additional aircraft to assist firefighters. But
smoke is expected over the fire later today and may impact air operations. In
addition, any smoke over the air base in Myrtle Creek may prevent aircraft from
taking off.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office continues the Level 3 evacuation
notification for Lower Cow Creek. The notification is for Lower Cow Creek Road
from the end of County Maintenance to Union Creek, including residents living
on Doe Creek Road. The local fire departments have posted a fire engine at all
nine affected homes in the evacuation area.
August 30, 2017
Left: Smoke rises from the Naylox Fire 10 miles north of Klamath Falls.
The
Naylox Fire, which started the afternoon of August 29, is estimated at 400
acres and 5% containment has been achieved. The fire is burning along the
hillside above Hagelstein Park, which is 10 miles north of Klamath Falls. The
fire originated near some hay barns at the intersection of Algoma Road and
Highway 97 North. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A unified
command team led by Klamath County Fire District 1 (KCFD1) and the Oregon
Department of Forestry is managing this fire.
The
fire thus far has moved predominately eastward above Hagelstein
Park. Variable winds, low humidity and increasing temperatures will combine
today and the rest of this week to increase fire activity. Crews
working last night completed dozer containment lines along the eastern edge of
the fire. Crews today, comprised of 40 personnel from KCFD1, Oregon Department
of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service Fremont-Winema, KCFD4, Chiloquin Fire, and Kingsley Fire,
will continue working on dozer lines to the south, west, and north of the fire.
These crews will also begin constructing contingency containment lines. Industrial operators have also been helping with equipment and personnel.
Where
feasible, and if visibility permits, water and retardant dropped by aerial
resources will be used today, mostly on the northern flank of the fire.
Algoma
Road has been closed between Old Fort Road and Highway 97 North. Along with
this closure, five residences and the campground at Hagelstein Park were put in
Level 3, Go, evacuation status, and one residence has been put in Level 2, Get
Set status. Additionally, the Forest Service 9718 Road has been closed to allow
firefighters safe access to their operations.
Residents
countywide who live in and near the wildland-urban interface are encouraged to
review evacuation levels and associated actions on the Ready, Set, Go Wildfire
Evacuation flyer. Klamath County Emergency Management would also like to remind the
public that an emergency alert system is available. Directions for signing up
for the notifications are available on the evacuation flyer, or you can call
Klamath County Emergency Management at 541-851-3741.
Travelers along Highway 97 North are asked to be
vigilant in watching for emergency vehicle traffic and to reduce speeds as
necessary. A temporary command post has been established at Hagelstein Park on
Algoma Road.
Jade Creek Fire
A separate fire also began on Tuesday afternoon in the Klamath-Lake District, this one near some haybarns about 13 miles northeast of the town of Bly. The fire was reported burning in sage, grass, juniper trees and timber. At latest report it was an estimated 120 acres in size.
Facebook
users can follow South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership for all the
latest wildfire information in Klamath and Lake Counties. https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO/
August 29, 2017
The Horse Prairie Fire was very active overnight,
burning an additional 400 acres and bringing the total fire size to about 2,500
acres. The fire continues to grow and is moving primarily in a south, southeast direction.
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Above: Nearly 400 personnel are assigned to the
Horse Prairie Fire in Douglas County, with more expected. |
Eric Perkins, Night Operations Section Chief for ODF Incident Management Team 3, said that the conditions were much hotter
and dryer on the ridges at 3 a.m. than in Camas Valley, roughly eight miles
north of the fire.
Firefighters hope to take advantage of calmer weather conditions today. Close to 400 personnel are currently assigned to the fire with more crews expected to arrive. Additionally, crews are being supported with eight helicopters, nine engines, 14 water tenders and seven bull dozers.
Level 2 evacuation notice
In coordination with the fire team, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office issued
a Level 2 or “Set” evacuation notice for residents living on Lower
Cow Creek Road from the end of County Maintenance to Union Creek. This includes
residents living on Doe Creek Road. A Level 2, or “Set” evacuation
notification means residents must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
There is significant wildfire danger in the area as a result of the Horse
Prairie Fire. Residents are encouraged to voluntarily relocate to a shelter or
with family/friends outside of the affected area. If choosing to remain,
residents should be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Residents may have
time to gather necessary items, but doing so is at their own risk.
Residents should closely monitor official outlets for additional information.
Lastly, residents with a landline telephone number may be contacted via an
automated emergency notification system from the Sheriff’s Office. That same
system can be dialed directly at 1-855-419-2349. Those who do not have a
landline telephone and rely on a cell phone are asked to register their cell
phone number to receive potential emergency messages from the Douglas County
Sheriff’s Office. You may register at www.dcso.com/alerts
To stay current on any changes in fire activity, follow us on social media at
Facebook.com/horseprairiefire or on the national incident reporting site known
as Inciweb.
August 28, 2017
The
Horse Prairie Fire was reported this morning as 15 percent contained. The fire’s
size has grown to an estimated 750 acres. The fire started Saturday afternoon
15 miles northwest of Canyonville, burning in logging slash, stands of young
trees and second-growth timber. Both private industrial forest lands and
Bureau of Land Management forests are affected. No homes are currently
threatened.
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Above: Northwest winds are pushing the Horse Prairie Fire
south and east into more rugged terrain. |
One
factor in the fire’s sudden growth was attributed to late detection because of
the thick layer of smoke that has blanketed the valley from other fires in the
area. Once detected, the fire had already grown to about 40 acres and was
moving rapidly through logging debris, timber and felled and bucked logs. DFPA
and fire crews from multiple agencies, industrial landowners and logging
companies, worked non-stop Saturday night constructing hand and dozer lines in
an effort to minimize fire spread.
Containment
lines along the north and west sides of the fire are holding. The fire is now
being pushed by northwest winds to the south and east into steep, rugged
terrain in the Table Creek drainage. High temperatures, low humidity and
sustained northwest winds continue to challenge suppression efforts in that
steep, roadless area.
ODF
Incident Management Team 3 (Link Smith Incident Commander) has been in place
since Sunday to assist the Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) and its
cooperators. The incident command post is located at Camas Valley, eight miles
southeast of the fire.
Resources
are at a premium due to the many fires burning throughout the Pacific
Northwest. Even so, the team is working diligently through the regional
multi-agency coordination group to bring in additional firefighters, aircraft
and equipment.
Conditions
over the weekend prevented air tankers and large type 1 helicopters from
flying. However, six Type-2 helicopters with 300-plus gallon water buckets
moved over the fire in rotation, but could not keep up with the rapid spread of
the fire.
To
stay current on any changes in fire activity, follow the fire on social media at
Facebook.com/horseprairiefire or on the national incident reporting site known
as Inciweb.
August 28, 2017
Total acres burned on this fire stand at 107,993 acres. Approximately 18,000 of those have been on lands protected by ODF through the Coos Forest Protective Association.
Sunday afternoon, helicopters dropped water to slow the fire, helping firefighters who were working to hold the fire within containment lines and build additional direct and indirect containment line. Firefighters and heavy equipment worked to connect existing roads and dozer lines south and west of the fire. Crews also continued to assess buffer zones around houses and clear brush as needed to protect homes. They have moved into the Pistol River and Winchuk areas.
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Above: A red glow lights the night sky
above the Chetco Bar Fire in Curry County. |
With 80 degree temperatures and 20 percent relative humidity, the fire burned actively overnight and crews worked spot fires on the west and south perimeter.
Today, firefighters will use an infrared heat-sensing device to locate, then suppress hot spots near the fire’s perimeter. As visibility and weather conditions allow, helicopters and aircraft will drop retardant and water to help slow the fire’s spread.
Due to very active fire behavior on the southwest side of the fire, Curry County Sheriff’s Office expanded and heightened evacuation levels for some residents. Evacuation information is online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5385/.
August 27, 2017
ODF’s Incident Management Team 3 takes command at noon today of the Horse Prairie Fire, following briefings by the Douglas Forest Protective Association, which requested the team.
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Above: Flames race through a stand of young trees over the
weekend at the Horse Prairie Fire. Photo by Kyle Reed, DFPA.
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The Horse Prairie Fire started Saturday afternoon 12 miles west of Riddle and eight miles southeast of Camas Valley, where the incident command post will be located. The fire’s size is estimated at about 450 acres. The fire is burning on both private industrial forest lands and Bureau of Land Management forest lands, which including stands of young trees, second growth timber and logging slash. No homes are currently threatened by the fire.
Overnight, fire crews from multiple agencies, industrial landowners and logging companies worked on suppression efforts. Crews focused their efforts in creating fire trails around the perimeter of the fire, utilizing bull dozers and hand crews. As of Sunday morning, approximately three quarters of the fire has been trailed. In addition to the wildland fuels burned by the fire, several pieces of logging equipment in a nearby operation were destroyed by the Horse Prairie Fire.
Today, firefighters will work on creating fire trails around the southern edge of the fire, which is currently uncontained. Additional crews will work to improve and secure existing fire trails around the remaining portions of the fire. Fire resources assigned to the Horse Prairie Fire today include 173 firefighters, six water tenders, four bull dozers, one excavator, four type 2 helicopters and one type 3 helicopter.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area, due to the predicted hot, dry and unstable atmosphere conditions over the fire. These atmospheric conditions have the potential to influence fire growth on the Horse Prairie Fire or any new fire start.
Safety for both the public and firefighters remains the number one priority. Fire officials are asking the public to stay out of the fire area and be aware of the increase in fire traffic in the Tenmile and Camas Valley areas.
August 27, 2017
Yesterday
aerial support was hindered by poor visibility from smoke over the Chetco Bar Fire, which
has grown to 107,993 acres. Most active burning on the fire occurred on the
north, with the smoke column reaching 20,000 feet in the Johnson Butte
area.There was also active fire in the Tin Cup area and around the East Fork of
the Pistol River. Firefighters built and improved both direct and indirect
fireline, scouted for opportunities for alternate firelines and improved roads
to be used as firelines. They continued with structure protection efforts,
including installing and maintaining hoselays, thinning and pulling flammable
materials back from homes and structures.
Today,
structural protection work will continue. Crews will also keep strengthening
and mopping up containment lines on the southwestern corner of the fire. To the
north and south, crews are scouting for and building direct and indirect
fireline using existing roads, sparsely vegetated ridgetops and previously
burned areas.
A
community fire briefing will be held tonight (Sunday) at 6 p.m. at the
Brookings-Harbor High School, 625 Pioneer Road in Brookings.
Even
