Single Publication

Willamette Complex South & Red Fire Update

Red, 208, Moss Mountain, Coffee Pot, Tire Mountain, McKinley Creek and Chalk Fires

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024                                    
Fire Causes: Lightning
Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov                      
Information Phone Line: 541-208-1742

Willamette Complex South:             Total Personnel: 580  |  Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,308

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/orwif-willamette-complex-fires-south

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillametteComplexFires/

Red Fire: Total Personnel: 58  |  Total Red Fire Acres: 1,751

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/ordef-red-fire

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2024RedFireOR/

Summary

Recent wet weather and cooler temperatures helped to moderate fire activity. Today’s operations will concentrate on completion of primary lines on lands adjacent to the communities of Oakridge, Westfir, High Prairie, Crescent Lake Junction, Crescent Lake recreation residences, and other values at risk. In areas with prepped indirect line, crews continue mop-up and containment where fire has reached the fireline.

Red Fire (1,751 acres, 0% containment)

Yesterday, firefighters made significant progress by removing smaller trees and underbrush to strengthen the fireline from Whitefish Trailhead to Crescent Lake. As temperatures drop and the forecast predicts more moisture, operations continue to dismantle pumps and hoses along the Whitefish Creek Trail while focusing on measures to keep the fire within the Diamond Peak Wilderness.

208 Fire (8,912 acres, 0% containment)

The fire continues to creep and smolder towards Forest Service Road (FSR) 23 near Vivian Lake Trailhead on the northwest and FSR 21 and 2154 between Middle Fork Trailhead and Pacific Crest Trail. Crews are actively reinforcing these roads to complete a fireline near Groundhog Mountain to the northeast of FSR 23.

Moss Mountain Fire (2,155 acres, 10% containment)

Crews continue strengthening primary lines northeast of Groundhog Mountain while monitoring for changes in fire behavior. Indirect primary and contingency lines are set up to protect values at risk and limit northward fire spread. These lines safeguard Highway 58, Union Pacific Railroad corridors, the Wolf Mountain Communications site to the north, and various infrastructure and cultural sites throughout the fire area.

Chalk Fire (5,991 acres, 86% containment)

Firefighters continuously monitor and strengthening containment lines on the south, east, and north sides of the fire.  On the west side, crews are chipping and hauling slash near Sourgrass Mountain and tying back into the containment line on FSR 1925. Monitoring of the unburned fuel island near Alpine Ridge is ongoing.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Yesterday saw warmer and drier conditions as sunshine briefly returned to the region. Relative humidity levels dropped to between 50-60%, however, the fires within the complex experienced minimal growth. Today, expect partly sunny skies with temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees. Later this evening, another storm system may bring rain overnight. Looking ahead, there is a chance of a wetting rain from Tuesday into Wednesday next week, with cooler-than-normal temperatures continuing. Overall, cool and moist conditions are anticipated.

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuations

• For closure information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/RedFireClosues2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024.
• For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/DesFireRestrictions2024 & https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024.
• For current Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR), visit: http://tfr.faa.gov.
• The Level 1 – BE READY to Evacuate notice remains in effect for the Red Fire. For more information or to sign up for alerts, visit: www.klamathcounty.org/300/emergency-management.