DECEPTION COMPLEX FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeceptionORFire
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Fire
|
Acres
|
% Contained
|
Total Personnel
|
Deception
Complex
|
2,297
|
55%
|
953
|
News & Highlights for the Deception
Complex
●
Today, a warming and drying
trend will begin, including a dry easterly flow with warmer temperatures and
relative humidity into the single digits by Thursday. This will significantly
increase fire activity and behavior as the drying trend continues to develop
through Saturday.
●
There is a Fire Weather
Watch for gusty winds and low humidities in effect for Wednesday evening
through Thursday afternoon.
●
A convective column build
up is likely late this afternoon.
●
Local communities and
surrounding areas can expect to see an increase in smoke as the firefighters
respond to more active fire behavior by implementing planned burnout
operations. This strategy will strengthen containment lines for the Deception
Fire while keeping firefighter and public safety a top priority, and reduce the
likelihood of a more devastating stand-replacement fire.
●
Air quality in the valley
should remain good today. However, starting Thursday morning, some smoke may
impact the communites of Oakridge and Westfir and continue northwest along
Highway 58 corridor into Lowerll and Dexter, and possibly beyond.
●
A community meeting was
held last night at Greenwaters Park in Oakridge. Approximately 50 people
attended and received an update regarding the current and future suppression
actions.
●
A new smoke monitor is
installed on the roof of the school in Oakridge to determine the level of
allowable outdoor activity for students as smoke levels increase.
●
Information from smoke
monitors in the Oakridge area is incorporated in the daily Deception Complex
smoke forecast which is posted on the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
website at http://www.lrapa.org
or http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com.
●
Motorists traveling Highway
58 are advised to proceed with caution near the community of Oakridge as
students and teachers return to school this week amidst continuing heavy
fire-related traffic.
●
Deception Creek Mobile Home
Park, Middle Fork Ranger Station and houses along La Duke Road remain under a
Level 1 evacuation notice.
Deception Complex Smoke
Monitoring Discussion
As
fire activity increases due to drier
weather and burnout operations, a similar pattern of smoke intrusions as
experienced last week, is expected.
Smoke will initially impact the communities of Oakridge and Westfir, and
as smoke builds and pools at night, may eventually move northwest down the HWY
58 corridor, and possibly deeper into the WIllamette Valley. Established smoke
monitoring stations will continue to measure particulate matter; associated
public notices will be issued by the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. For today, however, winds from the north
should push the majority of smoke to the south, away from Oakridge/Westfir
area.
Deception Complex
Operations Summary:
Deception Fire:
Several
test fires were lit along the east flank of the Deception Fire yesterday in
anticipation of implementing planned burnout operations. Due to moisture received from recent
precipitation, the test fires did not burn hot enough to reduce the fuels as
needed and operations were postponed.
The night shift did have some success with burnout operations along
Forest Road171.
A
night shift of engines and hand crews continue to patrol, monitor, and take
suppression actions as needed along the north and northeast flanks of the fire.
Today,
crews will continue to prepare for Thursday’s anticipated increase in fire
behavior. An approximate 2-mile section of line is planned for burnout
utilizing a road, a ridge line and a reprod unit, to check the fire, allowing
the fire to burn at lower intensities.
Lines
are being bolstered on the N/NE flank as crews continue to mop up the direct
hand line and dozer line on the eastern side of the ridge-top above La Duke
Road. Engines and heavy equipment will continue work along Forest Roads 5847
and 5850 to improve the fire break and further establish a contingency line. As
prep work is completed, heavy equipment is being demobilized.
Staley Fire: Firefighters are
finishing rehabilitation, monitoring fire activity, and continuing to operate
the sprinkler system as the fire backs toward the established containment line.
Approximately 20% of the fire line is incomplete. Heavy helicopters worked the fire yesterday
cooling hot spots.
Pool Fire: This fire is being patrolled aerially, and
responsibility for the fire will soon be returned to the Middle Fork Ranger
District.
Air Operations Summary
Currently,
four heavy helicopters, a medium heli-torch helicopter, three light helicopters
and an air attack platform are assigned to the Deception Complex.
●
A
temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the Deception Fires 272,
274 and 278; a military training Route (R346) has been closed due to the TFR.
● Oakridge Airport is closed
to civilian air traffic; currently serving as the helibase for the Deception
Complex.
Willamette National Forest Area &
Trail Closures:
●
There
are two closures on the Willamette NF association with the Deception Complex. The
Deception Fire closure is an area, road and trail closure that currently
includes the Lawler and Deception Trails and the Patterson Mountain Road; the
Staley Fire closure includes an area and road closure.
Umpqua National Forest Closure:
●
There
is an area, road and trail closure southwest of the Deception Complex. Forest
Road 17 remains open to Spirit Falls.
Check Inciweb for full closure information, including maps: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4093/ or visit the Willamette
National Forest at http://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette or the Umpqua National
Forest http://www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.
Deception Complex: Started: August 12, 2014 Cause: Lightning Location: Two miles west of Oakridge, Oregon.
SAFETY CONCERNS: Driving hazards in town
with school starting and on the forest roads with heavy traffic on narrow
roads; wildlife in the area, smoke and poor visibility, depending on fire and
burnout activity.
RESOURCE CONCERNS: Threatened and endangered
species, including northern spotted owls and bull trout; timber resources,
impacts to recreation opportunities, threatened communities of Oakridge and
Westfir, municipal watershed of Westfir, Deception Creek watershed above the
mobile home park.
WEATHER: Progressively warmer and
drier weather is expected as high pressure builds over the area and a strong
surface low develops just west of the Cascades. Increasingly dry conditions
will cause very poor humidity recovery, especially above the 2500 ft. level and
create very active burning conditions through the end of the week. N/NW surface winds will shift to NE beginning
late tonight.
Today,
temps will range from low 60s to low 70s today with humidity ranging from
24-29% during the day and 32-52% at night.
Valley winds downslope 2-5 mph through 10:00 a.m., then NNW 6-9 mph with
gusts to 16 mph in N-S oriented valleys. Ridge winds NNW 5-8 mph in the a.m.
and increasing to 6-9 mph with gusts to 16 mph in the p.m.
On
Thursday, temps will range from high 60s to low 80s over the fire area with
humidity ranging from 14-24% during the day and 24-44% at night. Valley winds
downslope 2-5 mph until 10:00 a.m., then ENE 6-9 mph with gusts to 16 mph in
NE-SW oriented valleys. Ridgetop winds
NE 5-8 mph in the morning, becoming ENE
6-9 mph with gusts to 16 mph in the afternoon.
On
Friday, temps mid 70s to mid 80s over the fire area with humidity ranging 8-14%
during the day and 18-34% at night.
TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE BEHAVIOR: Fire behavior will be more
active with moderate surface spread with isolated torching and spotting with
occasional upslope, short duration crown runs.
A convective column build up is likely in the late afternoon. There is
potential for ignition of lichens in the upper canopies and some associated spotting.
COOPERATING AGENCIES & PARTNERS: Willamette National Forest,
Oregon Department of Forestry, Umpqua National Forest, Lane County,
Oakridge/Hazeldell Fire Department, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon
State Police, Bureau of Reclamation, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
-END-
^MARH
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