DECEPTION COMPLEX FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeceptionORFire
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Fire
|
Acres
|
% Contained
|
Total Personnel
|
|
Deception
Complex
|
2,327
|
55%
|
977
|
News & Highlights for the Deception
Complex
Fire Information Line: 541.782.5545
● A red flag warning is in effect today through Saturday due to a
triple threat of dry relative humidity, gusty easterly winds, and unstable
atmosphere conditions (Haines Index 6).
Increased fire activity and active fire behavior is expected.
● A convective column build up is possible this afternoon through
early evening as the fire actively burns and firefighters continue with burn
out operations. Fire activity will be
active and visible at night from nearby communities.
●
Yesterday and during the
last two night shifts, firefighters have successfully completed burnout on the northeast
and eastern containment lines.
●
Today, aerial ignition may
utilize “ping pong” devices which ignite upon hitting the ground. The eastern flank of the fire is located
closest to structures and Highway 58, and therefore, is the priority area for
strengthening containment lines.
·
Topographic features and
geographic locations have been pre-determined for the safe use of fire
retardant drops in the effort to avoid live streams and resource values at
risk.
●
Additional smoke will be
generated as firefighters generate more active fire behavior and progress with
burnout operations. An air quality
monitoring station has been installed on the roof of the Oakridge High School to
determine the level of allowable outdoor activity for students as smoke levels
increase.
● Once the inversion over Oakridge and Westfir breaks this
morning, mixing air may cause smoke to impact Oakridge and vicinity. As east winds develop, however, air quality
is expected to improve as smoke is pushed toward the southwest.
●
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 may occur. Smoke may 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. Later
today, however, winds from the east should push the majority of smoke to the
southwest, away from the Oakridge/Westfir area.
Deception
Complex Operations Summary:
Deception Fire:
Last
night, additional engines and crews were added to the structural protection
group to patrol, monitor, and take suppression actions as needed along the
north and northeast flanks of the fire. Firefighters also continued with
burnout operations during last night’s shift along the eastern flank of the
fire, completing another .5 mile of burnout parallel to the fire line.
Today,
crews will continue to strengthen fire lines along the eastern flank of the
fire, nearest to homes and Highway 58, by continuing to complete an approximate
2-mile section of line of burnout utilizing a road, a ridge line and a tree
plantation to check the fire. The
objective is to consume ground fuels adjacent to constructed fire lines while
maintaining the fire to a low level of intensity. Helicopter water bucket drops
are also being directed by crews on the ground in order to hold the fire within
the control line.
Lines
are being bolstered on the N/NE flank as crews continue to hold and 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 5840,
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.
Crews continue to prepare alternative control lines along the 335 and 300
Roads. Approximately 20% of the perimeter
is “open” or not firelined. As the
fire’s edge advances, crews have the opportunity to go direct with hand line
construction today.
Pool Fire: This fire is being patrolled aerially, and
responsibility for the fire has been returned to the Middle Fork Ranger
District at 6:00 am today.
Davey Fire: Crews are continuing with
rehab, preparing the fire for return to the Middle Fork District for
patrolling. Rehab of exterior dozer
lines near Davey Creek will also begin today.
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 heavy Sky Crane Helicopter has been ordered
and is expected to arrive today.
●
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
are associated with school being in session 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: A critical fire weather pattern is in
effect today. Major weather changes are
occurring bringing a very dry air mass over the fire area with a strong low
pressure system developing west of the Cascades. The surface low supports gusty east winds
across the Deception Complex intensifying already dry conditions. Critical conditions are expected to remain
through Saturday causing gusty easterly winds, atmospheric instability (Haines
5-6), and very low humidities. A Red
flag warning is in effect today through Saturday evening.
Today,
temperatures will range from low 70s to low 80s today with humidity ranging
from 11-24% during the day and 21-44% at night.
Valley winds are forecast to be from the E/NE 8-10mph with gusts to
18mph in NE-SW oriented valleys. Ridgetop
winds are expected to be from the E/NE 8-10 mph with gusts to 18 mph.
Today,
temperatures 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. Haines Index of 6 is forecast for today with
very poor humidity recoveries overnight.
On
Friday, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-70s to mid-80s over the fire
area with humidity ranging 8-14% during the day and 15-33% at night. Haines index of 6 is expected for Friday.
Saturday,
temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-70s to high 80s with humidity
ranging from 8-18% during the day and 19-35% at night. Haines Index of 5 is forecast for Saturday.
TODAY’S EXPECTED FIRE
BEHAVIOR: Fire behavior will be more
active with moderate surface spread and isolated and group tree torching with
an occasional upslope, short duration rapid crown run. A
convective column build up is possible in the afternoon through early evening. Steep slopes will continue the threat of
“rollouts”. There is potential for
ignition of lichens in the upper canopies and some associated long distance spotting.
COOPERATING AGENCIES &
PARTNERS: Willamette
National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, Umpqua National Forest, Lane
County, Oakridge/Hazeldell Fire Department, Lowell Rural Fire Protection
District, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, Bureau of
Reclamation, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency.
-END-
^MARH
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