Incident Publication

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST

SPRINGFIELD, OREGON

ORDER# 06-18-01-24-42 FOREST ORDER

LINTON CREEK FIRE EMERGENCY AREA CLOSURE

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 CFR § 261.50 (a) and (b), and to provide for public safety, the following acts are prohibited on the National Forest System ("NFS") areas, roads, and trails described below within the administrative boundaries of the Willamette National Forest. Refer to Exhibit A for the map and Exhibit B for trails and recreation sites that are closed. This Order supersedes Order# 06-18-01-24-37 and is effective on October 1, 2024, through January 1, 2025, unless otherwise rescinded sooner.

PROHIBlllONS:

1. Being on the road. 36 CFR § 261.54(e).
2. Being on a trail. 36 CFR § 261.55(a).
3.  Entering into or being upon National Forest System Lands closed for the protection of public health and safety. 36 CFR § 261.53(e).

CLOSURE AREA:

The closure area is located within the State of Oregon, Lane County, and within the Administrative Boundaries of the Willamette National Forest. The closure applies to the NFS areas, roads, and trails and trailheads described below. The closure area is depicted on the attached map, which is incorporated into this order as "Exhibit A." All areas, roads, trails, campgrounds, and recreation sites inside the boundary of this closure area are closed.

The closure area boundary starts at the Obsidian Trailhead and proceeds southeast along FST 3528 (Obsidian) to the junction with FST 4336 (Glacier Way). It then continues eastward along FST 4336 to the junction with the PCT. Both FST 3528 and FST 4336 are closed and not passable. From the junction at the PCT, the closure boundary heads due east to the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest boundary line. It then follows the Forest boundary line south until it heads due west to the PCT and FST 3511 (Foley Ridge) junction.

The closure boundary then follows FST 3511 west and then north to the Foley Ridge Trailhead. FST 3511 is open and passable. From the Foley Ridge Trailhead, it follows the Three Sisters Wilderness boundary north to Old Mckenzie Highway 242. The closure boundary then follows Highway 242 northeast to FSR 4200-250 (Frog Camp). It then follows FSR 4200-250 to Obsidian Trailhead, where it started.

Forest Service Trail (FST) 3528 (Obsidian), Obsidian Trailhead, Obsidian Stock Trailhead, FST 4336 (Glacier Way), and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) are closed. Recreation sites, trails and campgrounds closed by this order are depicted in "Exhibit B."

Old Mckenzie Highway 242, FST 3532 (Proxy Falls), Proxy Falls Trailhead, FST 3519 (Linton Lake), Linton Lake Trailhead, Linton Lake, FST 3511 (Foley Ridge), and Foley Trailhead remain open. They are marked as open on Exhibit A.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR § 261.50(e)(1) and (4), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.  Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order) specifically exempting them for this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of organized rescue or

fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A

Violations of these prohibitions are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for a corporation or imprisonment for not more than six months or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. § 3551, 3571, and 3581.

Executed in Springfield, Oregon on this 30th day of September 2024.

Digitally signed by DONNA

DONNA MICKLEY MICKLEY

Donna Mickley

Acting Forest Supervisor Willamette National Forest

Daily Update September 30, 2024 - No New Growth Overnight, 50% Containment Gained

Fire Information Phone: 986-200-1941 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

Email: Lessa_Peter@firenet.gov

Acres: 407 (corrected after more accurate mapping)

Containment: 0%

Location: 12 miles west of West Chandler, AZ.
Start Date: September 28, 2024                Personnel: 50   Fuels: salt cedar, mesquite timber

Resources: Local fire response resources and 1 hotshot crew | 8 engines | 1 helicopter | air attack

Highlights: No fire growth overnight, evacuations lifted and power restored to residents. 50% containment gained.

Fire Activity: There was no fire growth overnight and more accurate mapping was provided, correcting the fire size to 407 acres. Yesterday, there was some isolated torching at the head and the heel of the fire in which a type 1 helicopter was able to assist with cooling via water drops. Firefighters focused on a pinch point near the head of the fire while all other resources assessed structures threatened and worked on mopping up the fire. At approximately 6 PM MST, power was restored to the area and the evacuation orders were lifted.

Today, crews continued suppression efforts and gained 50% containment on the fire by 11 AM MST. Firefighters will continue to work on suppression the gain further containment and continue mop up.

Weather: An excessive heat warning is in place for mostly sunny conditions and temperatures up to 108 degrees F. Wind is expected to be a max of 2 MPH with very dry conditions (1% relative humidity).

Fire Restrictions and Closures: Fire Restrictions are in place across the fire area and a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is currently in place.

More Information:

InciWeb (Fall Fire):  https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/azpma-fall-fire 

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

Jackson Wyo., September 30, 2024 - The Fish Creek Fire saw less active fire behavior yesterday than the neighboring Pack Trail Fire. This can be attributed to the fact that the fire is running into previously consumed fuel along its perimeter and is primarily burning interior pockets of vegetation that are not threatening containment lines. These interior fuels are expected to burn for some time and may produce some smoke under certain weather conditions. 

Both the Fish Creek and Pack Trail fires are being jointly managed by the same incident management team which can respond and shift personnel and equipment between the two incidents as needed. 

For the most current update on the Pack Trail Fire, please visit that fire's Inciweb site at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-pack-trail-fire

Willamette Complex South Fire Update

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

Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 

Fire Causes: Lightning

Email: 2024.willamettecomplex@firenet.gov  

Information Phone Line: 541-225-6305

Willamette Complex South:  Personnel: 463 Total Willamette Complex South Acres: 23,594

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

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

Summary

The Chalk, Coffee Pot, McKinley Creek and Tire Mountain fires are 100% contained. The Coffee Pot Fire is in patrol-and-monitor status. Conditions will be favorable for road repair, any needed air support, and any ongoing suppression repair operations. Three helicopters dropped water on hot spots Sunday. Incident Management is reassessing, shifting, or demobilizing resources as the situation warrants. Some personnel from the Willamette Complex have shifted to the Red Fire to support the Type 3 Incident Management Team that assumed command of that fire last night.

Chalk Fire (6,006 acres, 100% containment)  

Slash hauling along the 1912 Road is complete. Control lines are in place and holding the perimeter of the fire. Crews will be working on ditch repairs and control line repairs.

Moss Mountain Fire (2,209 acres, 10% containment)

The work on and near the Wolf Mountain Communications Site is now complete. Crews are continuing repairs to the indirect control lines north and east of the fire.

208 Fire (9,129 acres, 4% containment)

Chipping in the 208 Fire area continues. Due to completed road repairs, Sierra Pacific Industries is now able to safely conduct operations on their property. Some active fire behavior was reported on the flanks of the 208 Fire over the weekend. That is being closely monitored, and work continues on the Swift Creek drainage.

Weather and Fire Behavior

The forecast for the next few days calls for temperatures in the mi-60s to low-70s. Relative humidity is dropping, so overnight recovery is poor. This means we can expect fine fuels and 10-hour fuels to become more likely to ignite. Crews will be patrolling for spotting and torching inside and near fire perimeters.

Closures, Fire Restrictions, and Evacuation 

For closure information, visit:  https://tinyurl.com/WillFireClosures2024. 

For fire restrictions, visit: https://tinyurl.com/WillFireRestrictions2024. 

Jackson Wyo., September 30, 2024 -The Pack Trail Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior on Sunday, burning in heavy timber and growing substantially with 60-mile per hour wind gusts. The fire grew to 19,608 acres yesterday with red flag conditions. “The fire made a 5-mile wind driven run with crowning and spotting during the afternoon,” said District Ranger Todd Stiles. The extreme fire behavior prompted evacuations and an increase in the evacuation alert level for several subdivisions and ranches in Fremont County, WY. Currently the fire is paused on the ridge between Lava Mountain peak and the old Lava Mountain burn scar, above the Lava Mountain Lodge. “The fire is continuing to burn on the interior right now, and that's expected to continue today,” added Stiles.

Firefighters are assessing the area down ridge from the fire edge and looking for spots where the fire is trying to spread. Structure protection groups have been formed to perform assessments and ready structures along the Wind River corridor with protection apparatus. More resources have been arriving all morning, including firefighting hand crews and additional fire engines. A complex incident management team from California, CA Team 10, is arriving over the next two days and is expected to assume command of the fire late Wednesday, October 2 or early Thursday, October 3.

“The winds are expected to moderate somewhat today, but terrain alignment down canyon is still present, and we are still facing warm temperatures and low humidity,” Stiles said.

The Fish Creek Fire to the north saw less active fire behavior yesterday. For more information on the Fish Creek Fire, visit that fire's Inciweb site at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/wybtf-fish-creek-fire.

Current Situation: 

• The Lava Fire is 82% contained at 97,625 acres, with 532 personnel assigned.
• Suppression repair along the southeast corner is progressing according to plan. Crews are removing unneeded pumps, hoses and other accountable property to return to warehouse. 
• Firefighters are working upslope in steep country, mopping up the fire line along the east side of the fire. 
• Two shot crews are working the line down low on spot fire across Hurd Creek. 
• Along the northern perimeter, firefighters made good work securing Anderson Creek. It will take several more shifts to establish containment on that side of the fire. 
• The western perimeter is cold and suppression repair resources are moving north.
• On the Forest Road 653, north of Sage Hen Reservoir, crews are using An Unmanned Aerial system (UAS) to detect heat.  Infrared flights are showing less heat daily. 

Weather: A cold front passed through the fire area in the late afternoon yesterday. Overnight lows were in the upper 30’s. Highs are expected to be in the mid 50’s, lower 60’s. Today will be warmer and drier. However, fire growth is not expected outside of the fire perimeter. 

Evacuations: A Level 1 “READY” notice remains for residents south of South Grays Creek, along Little Weiser River Road in Indian Valley, North of South Grays Creek Road to Highway 95, and the Mesa Area. Valley County Sheriff’s Office has removed Zones 2 & 3 from LEVEL 1 “READY” status. Zones 4 – 6 remain in a LEVEL 1 “READY” Evacuation notice.

Closures: Closures: The Boise and Payette National Forests implemented a joint Lava Fire Area, Road, and Trail Closure for public and firefighter safety. For more closure information see the Payette National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/payette/alerts-notices or the Boise National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/boise/alerts-notices.

Gem County Road and Bridge issued the following road closures: Third Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, Second Fork Road at Nesbitt Lane, and Nesbitt Lane. The Sweet-Ola Highway is closed at the High Valley intersection in Ola. 

Temporary Flight Restrictions: A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been updated. View a map of the TFR and details at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_8199.html. Fire aviation response is halted or delayed if an unauthorized aircraft enters the TFR. Temporary flight restrictions also apply to unmanned aircraft systems or drones. If you fly, we can’t! Learn more about how to use drones safely and responsibly at Home - Know Before You Fly.

Fire Info Phone: 208-780-5003  Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Email: 2024.Lava@firenet.gov             .

Facebook:@LavaFire Inciweb: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/idbof-lava-fire

Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fires Daily Update

9-30-24

Rail Ridge Fire 

Acres: 165,743 – Containment: 80% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 1,038

Operational Update: Yesterday, hot and dry conditions contributed to an increase in acreage on the Rail Ridge Fire. In the Black Canyon Wilderness, the fire crossed Black Canyon Creek onto the ridge east of Honeymoon Basin where firefighters and aerial resources remain engaged. Today’s weather will be much cooler, though winds will be stronger and out of the northwest, and relative humidity will be lower. Weather continues to challenge firefighting efforts. In the northern divisions, firefighters continue to mop up and extinguish isolated heat sources and are working toward suppression repair. Containment continues to increase around the perimeter. In the southern portion of the fire, patrols continue, and suppression repair is ongoing. Repairs continue along roads which received heavy impacts during suppression efforts.

Wiley Flat Fire Final Update

Acres: 30,186 – Containment: 94% – Detection: 09/02/24 – Cause: Lightning – Personnel: 27  

Operational Update: Heavy equipment made progress on road repairs and falling teams are removing hazard trees along road corridors. This will be the final daily update for the Wiley Flat Fire. For questions or information moving forward, please contact the Ochoco National Forest at 541-416-6500

Weather: Today’s wind direction will change and come from the northwest. It will be a dry day as relative humidity is expected in the teens. Temperatures will be much cooler, with highs only reaching into the sixties.

Evacuations 

Rail Ridge Evacuations: Level 1 and 2 evacuation zones for the Rail Ridge Fire remain in Grant County.  

Wiley Flat Evacuations:  Level 2 and 3 evacuation zones remain for the Wiley Flat Fire in Crook County.  

For Current Evacuation Levels all affected counties, please visit: https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire  

Closures: The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have implemented closures for the Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat Fires. For more details and closure maps, visit https://linktr.ee/RailRidgeFire  

#RailRidgeFire2024 #WileyFlatFire2024 #FireYear2024

Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat PIO Map 9-30-24.jpg

Mon, 09/30/2024 - 12:27

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Rail Ridge and Wiley Flat PIO Map 9-30-24.jpg

Yesterday, fire behavior remained moderate as the cold front system passed over the fire area.  Areas of smoke within the fire interior reflected fuels that were partially burned during the initial spread of the fire and are continuing to consume (referred to as a dirty burn).  Crews are making good progress along the fire line, searching for remaining smoldering or burning areas (often stump holes or thick vegetative areas) that could compromise the line.  Skidgens (modified skidders to haul water) are being utilized to access difficult areas, bringing water to crews to help in suppression areas. 

Today, crews will continue on a search and destroy mission for smoldering areas along the fire line.  Crews are evaluating and prepping areas for potential burnout on the northern edge of the fire.  If these operations are implemented, increased smoke will be visible into the afternoon. With an overall reduction in fire behavior and an increase in strengthening the fire line, evacuation levels are being lowered today at 9:00am.  Firefighter and public safety remain our highest priority, crews are continuing to work in the area.  Local residences and property owners entering the area should be cautious of crews working along 4th of July Creek Road and traveling along Big Goosmus Road, Brenner Road, and Parelandra Circle, as well as other local roads in the proximity of the fire perimeter. 

Evacuations and Closures:

Level 2 Evacuation are in effect for residences along 4th of July Creek Road 

Level 1 Evacuations: Town of Danville and the area north of Big Goosmus Road, along Highway 21 to the Canadian Border. 

Roads: Big Goosmus Road and 4th of July Creek Road are closed to the public (LOCAL RESIDENCE ACCESS ONLY)

Homestead/Diamond Complexes and Lane 1 Fires

Sept. 30, 2024

Fire Information: 541-208-7100, 8 AM - 8 PM

InciWeb-Homestead: https://t.ly/syeHa and InciWeb-Diamond: https://bit.ly/4gCfLsp

Seven fires within the Homestead Complex, Lane 1, and Diamond Complex remain under active management by Northwest Team 12. Firefighting resources from the Homestead/Diamond Complexes remain available for initial attack response to new fire starts in the area as needed.

Homestead Complex: 10,041 acres, 35% contained │ Lane 1: 25,951 acres, 99% contained │ Diamond Complex: 11,141 acres, 90% contained │ Total personnel: 570

Fire activity was influenced by gusty, dry conditions yesterday resulting in isolated tree torching, backing, and creeping fire behavior on the Horse Heaven and the Fuller Lake Fires. A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team of interdisciplinary resource specialists assessed resource damage from the fires during a reconnaissance flight. This team will determine appropriate emergency stabilization work required to minimize threats to life, property, and natural resources resulting from the effects of the fires.

Firefighters continue mop-up and patrol work on the Horse Heaven Fire. A heavy helicopter dropped 13,500 gallons of water yesterday to slow fire activity in the northwest portion of the fire. On the southern fire perimeter, engine crews removed hose from the fireline where it was no longer needed. Masticators finished work along Forest Service Road (FSR) 3831 on the north side of the fire. Additional chipping, grading, and mastication will continue in other areas of the fire. Resource advisors will assess these suppression repairs to ensure this work will be effective in preventing further resource damage. 

The Fuller Lake Fire continues to produce visible smoke as it backs and creeps into the Boulder Creek Wilderness. Firefighters are engaged in ongoing chipping and hazard tree removal along road systems outside the wilderness area. On the Bullpup Fire, crews and excavators are making excellent progress with clean-up along FSRs 200, 300, and 3810 and grading will continue along FSR 5850.  

The No Man Fire remains in patrol and monitor status presenting no signs of smoke or fire activity. On the Lane 1 Fire, excavators completed dozer line repair work in the Fairview area. 

Two fires remain uncontained on the Diamond Complex. Chipping equipment continues to mulch woody debris on the Potter Fire and dump trucks are hauling these chips to the Diamond Lake area. Fire managers estimate a few more days of chipping work remains. The Pine Bench Fire continues to show no visible smoke.  

Closures: The Umpqua National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have revised closure orders. Two closure orders impact the Umpqua National Forest https://t.ly/Mvn6G. A BLM Roseburg District closure order remain also remains in place https://t.ly/uWX6l. A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect https://bit.ly/3XJL0cD. 

Weather: Well-above seasonal normal temperatures return to the area today and north-northeast winds will bring very dry conditions. Temperatures today will range from 70 to 85 degrees across the fire areas.

The Line Fire made a run up the Santa Ana river drainage today. The last few days of above normal temperatures have dried out both the vegetation and moisture from the air. Firefighters had expected some movement along the open line in this area however, fire behavior exceeded expectations. The dry vegetation, steep slopes and wind aligned yesterday to create conditions for the rapid fire spread yesterday.

Due to this rapid fire growth, evacuation orders were issued for the Barton Flats and Seven Oaks areas. Evacuation warnings are in place for Angelus Oaks and the southwestern side of Big Bear Lake.

Although work continues in throughout the fire, the Santa Ana River drainage is the priority for today. Additional crews and equipment are focused in this area. Four night-flying helicopters are assigned to the incident and were actively dropping water in the drainage last night.

The San Bernardino National Forest is now in unified command with San Bernardino County Fire, CALFIRE San Bernardino and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office. Additional crews, equipment and air resources have arrived and more will be coming today.