Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Release 08/26/20

On August 24, 2020 a pilot flying a Type 1 K-MAX helicopter died while conducting bucket drops while fighting the White River Fire on Mt. Hood National Forest.

Thomas Duffy, a 40 year old male, of Bozeman, Montana, was flying for a contracted company supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s fire suppression efforts on the forest.

Next of kin notifications have been completed.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas Duffy. 

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with the Office of Sheriff, Gallatin County, Montana.  Attached is their press release and a photo regarding Thomas Duffy.

We have also been in contact with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Bosie, ID.  The Wildland Firefighter Foundation also made the following statement:

“Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s main focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. We honor and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.

Wildland firefighters represent the diversity of the land they protect.  They are federal, state and local firefighters, private sector firefighters, interface firefighters, and volunteers from rural communities and towns across the United States.

The WFF has been intimately involved with the Duffy Family through this traumatic experience. Under a Contractor situation protocol and resources are very different and the Foundation strives to step in and fill those voids. We have been helping assist with Honor Watch. We have been assisting along with the Agency for family involvement. We've been working directly with Funeral Homes in both Oregon and Montana ensuring the correct paperwork is in place. We've basically been connecting the dots for everyone involved.” Director Burke Minor, WFFoundation.org

The investigation continues by our federal partners into the cause of this crash. 

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Release

(Gallatin County, Mont.)

It is with great sadness that Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office announces that Tom Duffy, a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter pilot, was killed in a firefighting accident in Oregon Monday. He was conducting bucket drops on the White Fire to help firefighters battle the blaze, which was burning in rough terrain in Mt Hood National Forest.

Tom is the third generation of the Duffy family to fly rescue missions for SAR. He has flown SAR rescue missions for 20 years and his most recent missions was on Aug 15, when he flew 3 times for the GCSAR helicopter team. Tom was a world-class rescue pilot who instilled confidence in SAR volunteers on every mission. He was a big man with a big heart who brought calm and skill to every mission.

When God opened a door, Tom walked through it, which led him to many adventures and skills. In addition to flying, he was a husband, father, business owner, and church member. He went big in everything he did and will be deeply missed in the GCSAR community and beyond.

On Monday, August 24, we lost a member of our firefighting family in a tragic helicopter accident on Mt. Hood National Forest. The helicopter was a Type 1 Kmax that was conducting bucket drops on the White River Fire to help battle the blaze, which was burning in rough terrain. Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Forest Service air and ground resources responded immediately to the accident site. There will be an investigation into the accident, and the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified. The firefighting community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic loss and our condolences go out to the pilot's family, friends, and co-workers.

 

Camp Sherman, Ore. –  Oregon Department of Forestry’s Type 1 Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Link Smith, will hand the fire over to a smaller Type 4 organization tomorrow morning. The Team would like to again thank the communities in the area for their kind hospitality and support during our stay.

The size of the fire is 4,338 acres and is now 85 percent contained. The fire team expects to be at 100 percent containment by end of shift today.
While fire crews expect to meet mop-up objectives by the end of shift today, residents may continue to see smoke for several days from burning stumps and snags well within containment lines.
Now that the smoke has cleared over the Green Ridge Fire, residents should continue to treat fire season with respect. Everyone is encouraged to follow current fire season restrictions to prevent human caused fires.
In addition, residents who live in the wildland urban interface, where communities border forests and grazing lands, should always be prepared before fire threatens. Have a plan that includes making arrangements for persons with special needs, livestock and pets. Learn more about the Ready Set Go Program at www.wildlandfirersg.org/. 
The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place while FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. Visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/ for additional fire and Forest Area Closures information.
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 Camp Sherman, Ore. –  With the Green Ridge Fire showing little sign of activity, Oregon Department of Forestry’s Incident Management Team is preparing to hand the fire back to local resources. Incident Commander Link Smith and his team will transfer the fire to a Type 4 organization Wednesday, September 2. The 4,338-acre fire is now 75 percent contained.

Of concern to firefighter safety, crews observed a private drone flying over the fire area last night. While fire activity has diminished, aircraft is still being used to support ground operations. Even a tiny drone can cause a serious or fatal accident if it collides with firefighting aircraft. In most situations, if drones are spotted near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft must land due to safety concerns. Per the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 9212.1(f), it is illegal to resist or interfere with the efforts of firefighter(s) to extinguish a fire. Doing so can result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance. So, be smart and just don't fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire. No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences. Fire crews will be blessed with favorable weather for today’s mop-up operations. Low clouds with a possibility of sprinkles will hover over the fire area this morning. Clouds will slowly dissipate this afternoon with temperatures in the high 70’s. The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place while FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. Visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/ for    additional fire and Forest Area Closures information.      

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Smoke Outlook for 8/30 - 8/31 North Central Oregon Issued at: 2020-08-30 07:53 PDT  (see attached)

Fire Large wind-driven runs were observed on wildfires yesterday as dry air and high winds moved into the area. Today, cooler air and lighter winds will moderate fire spread and result in creeping and occasional tree torching fire behavior on the Lionshead and White River fires. Even cooler temperatures and increasing relative humidity arrive tomorrow as a second weak cold front moves into the area. This should moderate fire intensity even more. No precipitation is expected. A return to warmer and drier conditions Tuesday through the end of the week. 

Smoke Yesterday's cold front passage brought with it hours of high winds which scoured smoke out of most of the forecast area. These winds also increased fire growth, and that smoke lofted to the southeast and surfaced in the southeast portion of the forecast area, where unhealthy levels of smoke were recorded overnight in the town of Burns. Air quality should improve to "good" in Burns today as west to northwest winds move smoke out of that area. Air quality modeling shows smoke impacts to be mostly local and southeast of the wildfires. Periods of light smoke can be anticipated elsewhere. 

Daily AQI Forecast for Aug 30, 2020 * 

Yesterday Sat Forecast Sun Mon Station hourly 8/29 Comment for Today Sun, Aug 30 8/30 8/31 

Madras 

Redmond 

Sisters 

Prineville 

Bend 

La Pine 

John Day 

Burns 

Issued by USFS Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program www.wildlandfiresmoke.net 

North Central Oregon Current Outlook tools.airfire.org/outlooks/northcentraloregon Smoke and Health Info www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=smoke.index * 

Good None 

Moderate Unusually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion. 

USG People within Sensitive Groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. 

Unhealthy People within Sensitive Groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity. 

Very Unhealthy Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. 

Good air quality this morning moving into moderate this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning moving into moderate this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon. 

Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon. 

Moderate air quality this morning improving throughout the day. 

Camp Sherman, Ore. –  Containment lines surrounding the Green Ridge Fire passed the wind test Saturday afternoon, holding the fire in place with no reported spot fires. The fire remains 4,338 acres in size and is now 60 percent contained. The forecasted Red Flag Warning produced sustained winds up to 18 mph and gusts of 25 mph, but had little effect on the fire. Twenty-one 20-person fire crews will continue to grid for and mop up hot spots as much as 75 feet into the fire’s perimeter. The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place while FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. Visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/ for    additional fire and Forest Area Closures information.
The Green Ridge Fire Incident Meteorologist, Jon Bonk, says conditions will be much cooler today and tomorrow but still fairly dry behind Saturday’s cold front. A marine layer west of the Cascades may bring westerly winds over the next couple of days, but higher humidity is expected. Warm and dry conditions will return Tuesday and will continue for the rest of the week.
Despite the moderation in weather, fire danger remains extreme across central Oregon. The firefighting community is asking all residents and forest visitors to exercise caution with all outdoor activities. All open fires, including campfires, wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires are prohibited on the Deschutes National Forest except in designated campgrounds. Open fires are also not allowed on private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx for more information and additional public use restrictions.  
For the most current fire information, visit https://www.facebook.com/greenridgefire2020/  or contact the Incident Management Team Information Section at (541) 604 8461 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
 

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Camp Sherman, Ore. –  Containment lines surrounding the Green Ridge Fire passed the wind test Saturday afternoon, holding the fire in place with no reported spot fires. The fire remains 4,338 acres in size and is now 60 percent contained. The forecasted Red Flag Warning produced sustained winds up to 18 mph and gusts of 25 mph, but had little effect on the fire. Twenty-one 20-person fire crews will continue to grid for and mop up hot spots as much as 75 feet into the fire’s perimeter.The Deschutes National Forest Area Closure remains in place while FS Road 14 and associated campgrounds remain open. Visit inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7012/ for    additional fire and Forest Area Closures information.

The Green Ridge Fire Incident Meteorologist, Jon Bonk, says conditions will be much cooler today and tomorrow but still fairly dry behind Saturday’s cold front. A marine layer west of the Cascades may bring westerly winds over the next couple of days, but higher humidity is expected. Warm and dry conditions will return Tuesday and will continue for the rest of the week.
Despite the moderation in weather, fire danger remains extreme across central Oregon. The firefighting community is asking all residents and forest visitors to exercise caution with all outdoor activities. All open fires, including campfires, wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires are prohibited on the Deschutes National Forest except in designated campgrounds. Open fires are also not allowed on private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Visit https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/restrictions.aspx for more information and additional public use restrictions.  
For the most current fire information, visit https://www.facebook.com/greenridgefire2020/  or contact the Incident Management Team Information Section at (541) 604 8461 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
 

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 see attached