9/13/2017 Horse Creek Complex and Rebel Fire

Horse Creek Complex: Olallie Lookout Fire, 1,434 acres; Roney Fire, 3,297 acres; Avenue Fire, 2,410 acres; Separation Fire, 17,234 acres, Nash Fire, 6,576 acres; Rebel Fire, 8,331 acres.

Current Resources: Personnel, 401; Crews, 10; Helicopters, 2; Engines, 17; Dozers, 7; Water Tenders, 6; Masticators, 4, Skidgens, 4.

Current Situation:

Nash Fire: There has not been much change in the perimeter during the last few days. It is still burning close to the edge of Nash Lake and is approximately 4 miles from Elk Lake. Crews and heavy equipment working along the Cascade Lakes Highway are removing dense vegetation and thinning trees to create a fuel break. They expect to finish in 5 to 7 days. The fuel break is being constructed to protect the Elk and Lava lakes areas and to halt fire spread to the east, in the event the fire moves over the Cascade Crest.

Separation Fire: The northern edge of the fire, where it has crossed the 242 Road, was active yesterday. Helicopters again supported firefighters dropping water on those active areas. Firefighters had to disengage from going direct on the fire because of increased fire behavior. There is a contingency line in place and firefighters will be looking for options to build a control line closer to the fire edge. As the fire continues to be active, firefighters will evaluate the possibility of conducting burnout operations to better protect the Melakwa Boy Scout Camp.

Avenue Fire: The northern edge is still just south of Foley Hot Springs. The fire continues progressing slowly to the west on the ridge top south of Horse Creek. Firefighters are looking for opportunities to knock the heat out of that portion of the fire before it burns down slope to the established firebreaks. Crews will improve their control lines from King Road to slow it as it moves west towards Cougar Reservoir and along Hwy 242 between Foley Hot Springs and Camp White Branch.

Rebel Fire: Firefighters will work on the southeast edge, where it was active yesterday, to keep the fire in check. There was minimal activity reported on the Olallie Lookout Fire and the Roney Fire. These fires have shown minimal growth over the last few days and firefighters will continue to monitor them.

Evacuations: Much of the upper McKenzie River Valley, Zones 3 through 9, remain under a Level 1 “Ready” status. In Zone 10, Foley Hot Springs and Camp Melakwa remain at a Level 3 “Go” Evacuation Notice. Visit Lane County McKenzie Bridge Evacuation at http://bit.ly/2gPHzAn for details and map. In Deschutes County, the areas surrounding Elk Lake and Hosmer Lake remain at Level 2 “Set” Evacuation Notice. The areas surrounding Lava Lake and Little Lava Lake are in a Level 1 “Ready” status. Contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for more information, (541) 693-6911 or www.deschutes.org/emergency.

Flight Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fires. Pilots looking for more information on the TFR should go to http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. The objective is to provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations. Public Reminder: that it is illegal to operate drones within a TFR.

National Forest Closure Orders: Hunters and recreationists need to be aware of closures on the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests. For current closure information please go to:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/willamette/fire/?cid=fseprd552029

http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/Deschutes/alerts-notices.