This update is for the P-515 Fire and Lionshead Fire burning on the Warm Springs Reservation. Lightning has been determined to be the cause of both of these fires. These fires are 14 miles west of the Warm Springs community. An Incident Command Post has been established at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The Quartz Butte Fire is in mop-up with no new fire activity to report.
 
Suppression priorities include limiting the spread of the fires, protecting structures, and minimizing the impacts to important cultural and natural resources. The P-515 and Lionshead Fires are actively burning in areas of timber with grass, shrub, and patchy conifer understory. In many areas there are scattered snags and dense stands of young trees. Both fires are being managed for full suppression.
 
Current Situation: Yesterday, both fires exhibited rapid fire spread with spotting and increased acreage due to westerly winds. COVID-19 mitigations are being taken to limit exposure risks to firefighters and the tribal community, per CDC guidelines. P-515 Fire: A Level 1 Evacuation (Get Ready) is in effect for residents on Trout Lake Road east of US-26. Crews began working to protect structures potentially in the path of the fire spread yesterday, and an Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Task Force has joined the structure protection effort today. Firefighters are seeking direct containment opportunities on the east side of the fire in order to keep it from reaching US-26.
 
Lionshead Fire: The Lionshead Fire is burning in the Whitewater River Canyon on the north side of the river. Firefighters are working to keep the fire on the north side of the Whitewater River Canyon, and stop the easterly spread of the fire. Access is difficult on the Lionshead Fire because of the steep terrain and limited road access.
 
Weather and Fire Behavior: A cold front is expected to cross the area with westerly winds gusting up to 30 mph. While temperatures and humidity are moderating, firefighters are expecting gusting winds to cause problematic fire behavior. 

Road Closures:
• Trout Lake Road at pavement end;
• Road B140 at Potter’s Pond;
• Road B210 and Road P-500.

 Currently there are three fires burning on the Warm Springs Reservation: the P-515 Fire is the largest; the Lionshead Fire; and the Quarts Butte Fire. At 6:00 a.m. today, an Interagency 

Incident Management Team (NW Team 7) from the Pacific Northwest (Eric Knerr, IC) assumed management of the P-515 Fire and the Lionshead Fire. Command of the Quarts Butte Fire, which is nearly contained, will remain with Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Fire Management.
 
The P-515 and Lionshead Fires are burning in areas of grass, shrubs, and heavy timber, approximately 14 miles west of the Warm Springs community. Suppression priorities include limiting the spread of the fires and minimizing the impacts to important cultural and natural resources. All three fires are being managed for full suppression.
 
Current Situation: Since the recent lightning activity there is a high demand for firefighting resources nationally and now regionally. Fire managers are looking for opportunities to safely engage the fires while prioritizing firefighter and public safety and protecting values at risk. COVID-19 mitigations are being taken to limit exposure risks to firefighters and the tribal community, per CDC guidelines. With the dry and windy conditions late yesterday evening, the P-515 Fire made a significant push to east.
 
P-515 Fire: The P-515 Fire is approximately 2,326 acres and 0% contained. For today’s operations, firefighters will continue to secure roads and fire lines on the south and west flanks and scouting for potential containment opportunities on other flanks. As of tonight, there will be a night operational period or ‘swing shift’. As conditions merit these crews will complete burning-out to better secure the containment lines and monitor and patrol fire edges.
 
Lionshead Fire: The Lionshead Fire is approximately 368 acres and 0% contained and burning in the Whitewater River Canyon on the north side of the river. Firefighters are scouting the trail along the river for a potential anchor point to begin engagement. Access is difficult on the Lionshead Fire because of the steep terrain and limited road access.
 
Quarts Butte Fire: The Quarts Butte Fire is 29 acres and is in mop up.
 
Weather and Fire Behavior: Dry conditions are expected for the next few days, with cooler conditions. However, on Friday as a cold front crosses the area westerly winds will pick up with speeds of 20 to 25 mph, at least. Today potential fire behavior may include areas of very active surface fire spread where fuels are contiguous.
 
Road Closures: Trout Lake Road at pavement end; Road B140 at Potter’s Pond; Road B210 and Road P-500.
 

The Lionshead Fire InciWeb page is no longer being updated. For more information about Lionshead Fire, please contact the appropriate agency: 

Warm Springs Agency - 541-553-2004, https://warmsprings-nsn.gov/
Willamette National Forest - 541-225-6300, https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette
Mt. Hood National Forest - 971-333-4100, https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood

Lionshead Fire Update

Friday, Oct. 16

REDMOND, Ore. –   Cooperating weather has allowed fire crews to complete suppression repair work this week. Crews have worked with local agencies to complete road repair projects, hazard tree and rock fall removal, and to begin setting up a long-term repair plan. Fire managers will implement a plan to minimize the amount of damage to the landscape after the fire while ensuring public safety.

Fire crews and support personnel have been released to support other incidents, notably the ongoing large fires in California. Aerial resources have been reduced to best support the footprint of the fire. One helicopter will transition from the current team to work with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to monitor hot spots in the coming days.

Today marks the final day Northwest Incident Management Team 13 will manage the Lionshead Fire. Control of the fire will be returned to the local units – the Warm Springs Agency, the Willamette National Forest and the Mt. Hood National Forest.  Each agency will work to manage their portion of the fire in the most effective and efficient method possible while coordinating resources with nearby agencies

Weather: This weekend will bring warm weather; however, fuels are not expected to ignite, and the fire is expected to maintain its current size. Trees and brush have met the season-ending criteria, leaving it unlikely that additional ignitions will occur around the Lionshead Fire perimeter.

Safety: Unpaved roads are muddy, particularly on the west side of the Cascade Crest. Rock falls and falling trees create potential hazards around the fire footprint. Use caution when traveling on newly opened roads, as unmarked hazards may exist.

This is the final daily update from the Lionshead Fire and the final day the Lionshead Fire Facebook page and Inciweb pages will be updated. The Lionshead Fire Public Information Line will no longer be answered but the voicemail will provide contact numbers for the new teams taking over the fire management. Information will be distributed from each of the cooperating agencies, and the fire will be managed by the local units. For more information, please visit:

Warm Springs Agency: https://warmsprings-nsn.gov/

Willamette National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/willamette

Mt. Hood National Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/mthood

Lionshead Fire Update

Thursday, Oct. 15

REDMOND, Ore. –   After precipitation on Wednesday, fuels began slowly drying out but are not expected to reach critical levels. The next weather system is forecasted to impact Central Oregon this weekend, returning to seasonal conditions.

Suppression repair has been completed in the southeastern portion of the fire perimeter near the Metolius River. Additionally, repair work is scheduled for completion today along the southern portion of the fire. Crews are ensuring that fire is no longer active or burning along the fire perimeter.  Firefighters continue completing additional tasks for the local jurisdictional units.

On Thursday, fire managers plan to continue hazard tree removal and road grading activities while patrolling and monitoring the perimeter of the fire for hot spots. Crews do not expect the fire activity to increase but will be available in case smoke increases around the perimeter of the fire.

Northwest Incident Management Team 13 is planning to transition management of the fire to local unit incident management organizations on Friday. “Firefighters continue to work hard to be stewards of the land,” said Incident Commander Brian Gales. Incoming fire management teams will continue the suppression repair, patrolling and monitoring work began many weeks ago.

Weather: Precipitation has ended for the week, bringing a stretch of warmer and drier weather. Officials do not expect fire activity to increase despite the warmer and drier weather. Shorter days greatly reduce the likelihood of increased fire activity, even with forecasted warmer weather. Cooler and drier weather is expected over the weekend with highs in the 60s.

Safety: Unpaved roads are muddy, particularly on the west side of the Cascade Crest. Rock falls and falling trees create potential hazards around the fire footprint. Use caution when traveling on newly opened roads, as unmarked hazards may exist.

Lionshead Fire Update

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Lionshead Fire Update

Tuesday, Oct. 13

Lionshead Fire Update

Monday, Oct. 12

Lionshead Fire update for Sunday, Oct. 11

REDMOND, Ore. –. Firefighters will be assessing any new hazards resulting from Saturday’s rain as well as its effectiveness at suppressing the fire. “I’m optimistic the areas to the west have reached a season-ending event level,” Fire Behavior Analyst Dean Warner said last night. “With the additional rain coming [today], it could be a season-ending event for the entire fire.” By Saturday afternoon, rainfall totals on the west end of the fire ranged from 1-1/2 to 2-1/4”, while the east side received 0.1 to 0.4”. Elevations above 5,500 feet received a dusting of snow. Rain and conditions on the ground forced many divisions to pause operations Saturday, but that does not mean firefighters were idle. Aviation took the opportunity to conduct training exercises, while crews in the field sharpened chainsaws and tools, restocked supplies, performed equipment maintenance, and other chores. Firefighters never rely entirely on the local weather forecast. In the field, crews collect observations for their specific location every hour, including temperature, relative humidity and wind direction, and making tactical decisions based on that information. On large incidents like the Lionshead Fire, an incident meteorologist is brought in to constantly monitor and evaluate the weather in and around the fire zone. Crews relay their field findings to that person to give them additional insight. Satellite data and information collected from National Weather Service Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) also help paint a more comprehensive picture.
 
Showers are expected to continue today and into Monday, then resume late Tuesday. Wednesday will bring in another warming, drying trend, which could stimulate very low intensity burning on the east side of the fire.

“The most we might see is smoldering and creeping, which will produce smoke,” Warner said.

Area closures could remain in place for some time, although they may be modified from time to time. For information about the most current closure orders for the Willamette, Mt. Hood and Deschutes National Forests, and Prineville Bureau of Land Management, go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/ Evacuation levels have not changed since Linn County Sheriff’s Office reopened the Stahlman Cabins community under a level 2 “Be Ready” status.

Start date: Aug. 16, 2020 Containment: 46% facebook.com/LionsheadFire Fire size: 204,469 acres Public information: 971-277-5075 https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049

Lionshead Fire update for Saturday, Oct. 10

REDMOND, Ore. – Rain or shine, firefighters will be hard at work again today, performing suppression repair, hazard removal, chipping, patrol, and many other chores.

“We’re engaged in suppression repair across almost all divisions now,” Operations Chief Trainee John Spencer said. “We’ve achieved our objectives in some areas, but some areas have still got quite a few days to go.”

It takes and enormous amount of time to fall, gather and chip thousands of hazard trees and slash, then spread that material across the forest floor, in addition to line and road repair.

Although Hwy. 46 is not open to the public and roadblocks remain in place, Breitenbush Retreat staff will be allowed to enter the area in groups today, during limited time frames, to retrieve belongings.

Conditions Friday were somewhat warmer and drier than expected, with more active interior burning in the afternoon. Water drops helped cool these areas to keep the fire’s intensity at a level that is not harmful to the landscape.  Today’s rain is expected to knock down many hot spots and virtually extinguish the fire on the west side of the Cascade Crest.

““The big question is – will this be a season-ending event?” Fire Behavior Analyst Dean Warner said. “It is likely to be on the west side. The east side will probably continue smoldering until snow flies, although activity will be significantly reduced.”

Rain showers will be at their heaviest today, with wind gusts of 35 to 50 miles per hour in some areas. Firefighters may stop work at times and seek shelter if rainfall becomes so heavy it obscures visibility, debris flows develop, roads become impassable or large numbers of hazard trees begin to fall.

While there are many hazards in a fire zone, driving or riding in a vehicle is by far the most dangerous thing firefighters and all Americans do every day. In wet weather, paved roads become slick as water and oil make contact. Unpaved road conditions can range from slick to a soupy mess. Slowing and stopping times are longer, especially for large vehicles and heavy equipment.

Closures: The Willamette, Mt. Hood and Deschutes National Forests have all updated their fire closure maps, opening additional areas to hunting and other recreation. The most current closure orders and maps can be found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7049/